CHRISTMAS CLEANALONG

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Hi all. So for the first time ever I will be hosting Christmas Day dinner in my home.

And to that end, I've decided to give my house a massive clean, declutter & reorganisation (very badly needed!).

I've worked out there are 16 weekends to Christmas (well actually 17 but I want to use the last one for food prep) so I'm dividing my house into 16 sections & going to spend one day every weekend on a different section.

I'm starting this weekend. Would anyone like to join?

Sorted my sofa cushions - a long story, but when made the manufacturers did not use feather proof fabric to encase the feathers - I had an extra cover made to go between the inner and outer covers to try to keep the feathers in.
So today, I put the huge cushions into the newly made covers, and stitched them in, then put the lot into the outer covers. Took a couple of hours, but tis done!

And the pantry is done! Took me 4 hours, but everything is clean and sorted.
There are some large crates for Christmas food, which I will start adding to.

I've got the empty Very Merry Munch tins from last year, and am wondering if it would be possible to make the mix up myself, rather than just buying the refills.

Off to do some research!

I’d love a pantry, yours looks functional and interesting.

Porch and bedroom switcheroo done, three bags ready for donation.

Thank you @Icepinkeskimo , sadly it's days are limited, as we're in the process of securing planning permission to extend the house, with a bigger kitchen.

It's in a single story lean-to extension, from the 30's, as the kitchen is tiny. It is really useful, but flipping cold in winter, as it is unheated and single skin walls.

Probably will do the linen cupboard while having breakfast.

You have a linen cupboard? I am green with envy. I have a shove it in any how it will fit type of house.

@TiredBoredGay I aspire to a beautiful linen cupboard. What I do have is a hot press (airing cupboard) which is full of all bed clothes, towels, face cloths, swim suits, spare duvets/pillows, and any other crap we can't find space for.
When I'm doing that section I will hopefully turn it into a thing of beauty. If so, I will post pics.

I am sure other Mumsnetters do not have scuffs and ground in dirt marks that won't come off with Cif, but I have just used a Multi Eraser on my doors, I had marks where my keys hang, and on a kick board, and they have gone!
Won't need doing again this side of Christmas.
These things get bad press, but I have worn mine out this morning and will certainly be buying some more.
I think they work on a sugar soap method, removing a little of the surface, so be careful if trying.

Looking for motivation this morning. I am about to go tackle painting the wardrobe and sorting the stack of doom that lives on top of it. 😐😵‍💫

We're having work done on the bathroom this week, so I'm using at as a reason to tackle it today. I'm going to empty it completely and only put back what is absolutely necessary.

After the work has been finished, I can do the deep clean.

I did my pantry Week 1 and I keep taking a peek inside to admire how organised it looks!

Week 2 was kitchen but that's an ongoing project so I don't feel quite so much pride.

Sun is out today, so I'm doing loads of seasonal washing before it gets put away for next year.

I have hauled out one sofa and cleaned the skirting board, which won't need to be done again before Christmas. I have also cleaned the glass in all my doors - though that will be on going.

I cleaned the French doors in the lounge, as well as the balcony metalwork this morning. They'd been to check the balconies this week and the windows were covered in brick dust and bird poo from our resident house martins. They're now sparkling. I think the house martins may have gone back to Africa now, as I've not seen them today, so that'll mean we're free of frequent poo til they arrive back next year!

Please let us keep this thread going, it is motivating me!

Well nothing done so far today. Supposed to be sitting room but ds is finally getting some new matching furniture for his room (he's in the box room & has mismatched old pieces of furniture) & it's arriving on Tuesday so I've decided to do his room next while he's not here.
I've to pull out a tall skinny drawer unit & a battered bookcase and then clear out any junk in there. His bed is built in so can't pull it out so will have to clean underneath it as best I can.

Nothing like having guests I haven’t seen In years planning to call in on Monday. Today I have not stopped cleaning 😂 and tomorrow will be the same. I’ve got two young kiddos so it does feel a bit fruitless, as soon as I’ve got one room tidy they make a mess again.

It my bedroom this weekend (1 of 3 weekends I need to dedicate to it) but with classes and kids parties I haven't even started. I think I will do bedside drawers and under the bed and that will be enough to keep me busy tomorrow!

We've attached the lights onto the balcony which will go on at Christmas! Much more pleasant to put them on in good weather than when it's freezing.

I did my kitchen cupboards yesterday so I feel able to join now!

It was lovely to open them this morning.

Thanks for the motivation.

Frustratingly, I am having to break it into small pieces as I am working one armed (temporarily). I am quite resourceful at getting at the areas I need, but it throws my balance out. I keep head butting walls!
I have been lucky, I am fit, and should be again - donkeys years of yoga have helped - but never before have I got down and thought 'Now how the hell am I going to get up?'
This thread is very motivating.

Ah well done everyone! I'm particularly impressed with Christmas lights up and ready to go! Yesterday did not go as planned for me, it's all taking much longer than I'd planned on. Today I'm tackling painting my wardrobe. I am also going to redistribute the stack of doom and order baskets for better storage on top of the wardrobe. I will also mow the lawn before green bin day tomorrow. My car boot is full of bags for charity shop so that's on the agenda for tomorrow.

Been very slovenly but this has given me renewed vigour.

Have football in an hour but have pulled out the airing cupboard and will complete that today. Baby steps

Well I'm feeling very accomplished this weekend.
Got ds's room done. All that's left is to assemble his new furniture & sort his clothes into them & he can do that. His room is sparkling.
I also got all the general housework done & made a pot of stew for tomorrow's dinner.
This evening I got a fit of energy so I did a deep clean on the downstairs loo as well.

So I'm ahead but that suits me cos next weekend I have an afternoon tea for a friends 50th on the Saturday. It's 1.5 hours drive away so will take up most of the day. On Sunday I have more football & also general housework so if I don't do any of the deep cleaning it's ok.

1 Kitchen part one ✅
2 Kitchen part two ✅
3 Sitting room
4 Utility room part one
5 Utility room part two
6 Playroom
7 Downstairs loo ✅
8 Larder
9 Hallway incl under stairs press
10 Stairs/landing incl hotpress
11. Bathroom
12. My room part one
13. My room part two
14. En suite
15. Dd’s room
16. Ds’s room ✅

What a great idea!