CHRISTMAS CLEANALONG

[Alsonification]

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?

Cleaned the stairs, scrubbing all of the woodwork. And sorted/dusted the bookcase at the top of the stairs.

I've purchased Oven Pride - just summoning up my courage to tackle the kitchen/oven, which will likely be next Wednesday.

Today, I'm off on the hunt for the illusive magic erasers. I've used my last one, and need to tackle the pencil marks DS has left on the wall.

I also picked up some Christmas nibbles in M&S yesterday, which are in my Christmas crate, in my lovely tidy pantry.

Even DH has remarked that our home is looking cleaner.

If I've got time today, I might tackle the skirting board in the front room. Once I've made a start on a room, I feel more motivated to carry on.

Took me three sessions to do DD’s room in the end and I am depressed about the state of the bathroom which looks as grubby after a deep clean as it did before. Boooooo. Tackling the hall, stairs and landing today which involves two drawer units and the dreaded under stairs cupboard…

Oh and the dirty hand prints on the wall all the way up the stairs – thanks DD…

Everyone is motoring along nicely.

I'll be back at it this weekend. I'm going to do utility room I think. It's a disgrace & is the only way through to the guest loo so any visitors that come in have to see it.

Can I just say that to wash anything these days, I have a bucket of warm water (cos it’s nicer on the hands) with 1/4 cup washing powder. I do my bath, sink, walls, cupboards, doors etc. It’s cheap, handy and does quite a good job.

I use one of these www.diy.com/departments/yellow-polyurethane-pu-super-absorbant-jumbo-sponge/5059340461113_BQ.prd

@TheSandgroper thanks for that washing tip - I'll try that.

I did the utility room last weekend and it wasn't as bad as i thought it was going to be. I've got a spare cupboard now for Christmas treats.

I was also going to paint the utility room but I've decided to stick a wall decal on instead as its easier.

I've got round to the conservatory today which is me caught up with my list. Whoop! Kitchen next . Might make a start this weekend, but it's going to take doing bits all week I think. Quite pleased with progress so far though. 😊

Defrosted the Fridge/Freezer ,cleaned the shelves and drawers

It's ancient so not frost free , it;s something I need to do as an ongoing thing .

I have not been checking in with the thread consistently but I have done

• finished decorating DDs bedroom, curtain pole up, clear out toys and clothes
• reorganise, clean & declutter hallway
• deep clean upstairs bathroom and repaint ceiling
• surface tidy utility room

Not quite 1 room a week but none of it would have happened of not for you lot so thank you !

Well, I just undertook another job which desperately needed doing (which I'd hoped DH would do on his day off before now), but wasn't on my list:

a. Sort my drawers out and ditch old crappy socks / t-shirts etc to make space. ✔️
b. Tidy up the painting I've done, as some needs touching up. Hallway ✔️ Bedrooms - x 2 ✔️ One to go.
c. Sort the garage so we can actually get the car into it when it's really cold.
d. Hang pictures up. ✔️
e. Tidy, clean and sort DS' bedroom. ✔️ He had some MAHOOSIVE cobwebs under his bed, behind the storage units (cabin bed). No sign of Aragog and friends, thankfully! 🕷️ 😬🤣

Also adding:

f. Tidy, clean and sort (with furniture rearranging) the kids' lounge which, again, I'd wanted DH to do, but apparently won't get done without my involvement. 🙄

Another mad weekend here so didn't get the utility room done. But did the larder instead. Delighted with it.

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 ✅

Photo just to show off cos it probably won't last like that hahaha

Bellisima!

Those lists are looking good!

Weather here was horrible last week so I snatched some time in the autumn sun yesterday to go out on a family walk.

I am going to redecorate the bathroom and treated myself to some new bits and bobs to colour coordinate - matching bathmat, hand towels and shower curtain. The actual painting will need to wait till next weekend once a plumber has replaced the radiator.

Today I made some progress with DHs office / spare room. Washed the sofa bed covers, cleaned the shelves, and sorted out a couple of boxes containing stationery, including cards and gift wrap. I can cross Christmas wrapping paper off the list!

I still want to find / make some small reusable gift bags for family although DD is doing her best to persuade me that this is what middle aged ladies do. (I think I fall into that category anyway!)

IKEA have some large and small reusable bags and I've seen some at Dunelm as well. I've been picking a few up over the past couple of years. Pillow cases work as well. Just tie with a nice ribbon. 😁

I made my first cotton gift bags …OMG … thirty years ago! I used three different patterns, I think. I have about a dozen in differing sizes. The trick is to get them back after the gifts have all been opened.

Over the years, DM asked for a set, DB1 asked for a set and DB2 asked for a set. Under the tree looks really cheerful for a while.

Thank you @lilightningstrikes - I like the idea of making bags but have a feeling that buying some might be more cost effective and lead to a less straggly result! I should check what fabric we have already, including pillow cases.
We've reused Amazon gift bags for a couple of years but in-laws usually keep them on Christmas morning as pp suggested. Most find their way back to us during the year or the next Christmas though!

The oven is clean 😱

It's taken me 4 hours, but it is clean!

Tomorrow I need to do the normal household jobs (putting the washing away, hoovering, batch cooking, shopping) but I might also try to squeak in an hour to scrub the skirting boards in the front room. Or, dust the bookcases and TV. Either would be good.

Won't be able to finish a complete room this week, but will get a good chunk done.

Wish I'd seen this earlier.

I need a pre Christmas declutter and clean, how many weekends, sections have I got?

Coincidentally I did food cupboards (including baking shelf) and presently have a stack if school uniform that no longer fits anyone piled high and a huge bag of clothes for charity on kitchen table.

So subconsciously I am sort of in the zone.

Same! I need to get on it.

Everything all gone a bit to pot here. Had to have our darling dog pts last week; he was only eleven years old and he had heart failure but it was fairly well controlled on medication, until last week when he deteriorated rapidly in 24 hours. Our lovely vet came out in the early hours and was so kind (I'm feeling tearful again just writing this). He was very happy and contented in his life up until the last 24 hours, which is all one can ask for I think.

Anyway, the house is very quiet and I'm trying to keep busy. Have rejigged my cleaning schedule and will crack on next week.

8/9 En suite
15/9 Dressing room
22/9 Master bedroom
29/9 Kitchen part one
13/10 Kitchen part two
20/10 Utility room
27/10 Sitting room
03/11 Larder
10/11 Bathroom
17/11 Spare room
24/11 Hallway, stairs and landing, incl airing cupboard
01/12 Study
08/12 Any areas missed

@IIDareSay I'm so sorry to hear that. They break our hearts don't they. 😞

I've had a busy morning. Have deep cleaned, decluttered and oiled the cabinets in part 1 of the kitchen. Also deep cleaned the dishwasher and washing machine. I've also made a good start on the dining room whilst moving dishes round. Plan to tackle part 2 over the next week and another charity shop run.

sorry to hear that @IDareSay, sending hugs x

i've got very behind but hoping to start catching up next weekend - the rooms i did do seem to be looking messy again. Need to move the kids out i think!

@IDareSay my condolences. Very sorry to hear that.

Got started on my bedroom yesterday. Started clearing out drawers & got 2 bags for charity shop already. One chest of drawers is totally empty now. I intended to try fix it cos the drawers are dodgy to say the least but now I'm wondering am I better off getting a bigger one cos I could do with more clothes storage. So I spent last night on Facebook market place to see if I could find anything.

Going to try finish my room today.

@IDareSay sorry about your dog what a shock, but he was clearly loved and cared for

Can I ask you to define kitchen part one and two please if you don't mind

I basically need lists someone better than I at this has already thought out.

I tackled the "meat cooking fat spitting" oven, this week, took half a day to get it to "being able to see things cooking inside" (inspired by this thread by the way) it will need a further going over again but I am fingers crossed more of a surface than total dismantling of door glass. But I have form for being too optimistic in these areas.

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 ✅

Well my room part one is done. Really only my wardrobe left to clear out so probably 85% done.
Every bit of me aches now. Going to have a shower now & some dinner.