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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Is anyone doing the January cure?

284 replies

larryphilanddave · 22/12/2014 19:07

I first discovered it (thanks to MN!) for Jan 2014 but didn't do it - ended up having to move so wasn't really up for the tasks of 'wash floors, buy flowers' etc as had too much else to do.

However just got the email for Jan 2015 and I'm thinking, maybe I'll give it a go. Anyone else in?

OP posts:
spiderbabymum · 01/01/2015 12:29

Last year they came thru after lunch
Maybe about 14:00 ish ......whuch is a but late but still doable
I LOVE the January cure

CurlyWurlyCake · 01/01/2015 14:07

I'm in. I will be a sahm this year and looking forward to getting back on top of things again after working ft for the last few years.

Christmasbargainshopper · 01/01/2015 17:23

I still haven't received anything yet.

Chimichangaz · 01/01/2015 17:47

The emails don't start until tomorrow.

Chimichangaz · 01/01/2015 22:51

Not sure if really relevant here, but I've spent a day getting all my 'admin/to do' stuff together (pulling together all the notes I had in various notebooks, sticky notes, on my phone etc) and compiling a big master list (which actually looks a bit scary but at least it's all in one place!). Going to work on using a notebook with a section per day to write out my things to do daily (pulling them from my master list) so I am more organised. Also spent this evening writing out my calendar and diary for 2015.

What I need to work on now is being more focussed and disciplined on actually getting stuff done instead of being distracted by Twitter, Mumsnet and general internet browsing!

Looking forward to getting my first 'cure' email tomorrow!!

PolkadotRosa · 02/01/2015 15:01

Hello & happy new year! Can I join in? Determined to stick this out ('tis a New Year Goal) Anyone else read theirs/started? Going to crack on with the 1st 'assignment' after writing this (cleaning/hoovering all floors) whilst bambinos are out with Granny.
The flowers thing I may have to begrudgingly leave out as we're on a frugal mission at the mo and even £2 for a small bunch from Aldi seems frivolous! Do you think I could compensate by lighting some new scented candles recently received as a gift??

Vivacia · 02/01/2015 15:07

I'm a bit non-plussed at Assignment 1 Confused

I don't want to start off all grumpy, but floors are something that get done nearly daily here (three children and two golden retrievers = twice daily hoovering downstairs some days).

I think candles sound an excellent alternative to flowers. In fact, I may have to steal your idea Polkadot.

MrsMinton · 02/01/2015 15:48

I posted up thread about a 365 day challenge. Today that one is setting up a notebook for jobs and tomorrow is setting a routine.

Maybe that one might be of more interest?

PolkadotRosa · 02/01/2015 16:21

Hi Vivacia I know what you mean about being a bit non-plussed re: floors. With two toddling crumb monsters our hoover isn't bored either! I guess though it's a good starting point for those that don't get the mop/hoover out that often. I've just swept, steamed, scrubbed & bleached the kitchen floor. Which is something I don't always do. Go meWink
My cloths were clothes in a former life, before I Marie-Kondo'd them, so feeling doubly virtuous!!

Candles lit and wafting lovelieness though the house - glad you think it's a good idea and please do pinch

Mrsminton hello! Will check your post out too. Sounds good. Although not sure I could stick to 365 days!

MrsMinton · 02/01/2015 16:39

No I don't know if I will either polka but it covers all the house a little bit at a time.

Ponyphysio · 02/01/2015 16:46

I haven't had the email today :( By the time it comes through I'll be too knackered to do it :(

cottageinthecountry · 02/01/2015 16:50

It's too american for me. We live in flats not apartments.

Vivacia · 02/01/2015 16:57

I think of people who have quite cluttered floors. Hoovering and then mopping/wiping all of the floors could be a bit daunting and very time consuming. It makes me think "come back FlyLady, all is forgiven".

holmessweetholmes · 02/01/2015 17:09

I like the look of this - have just signed up. Anything which makes me look at housework with a 'make your surroundings a pleasure to be in' attitude, rather than an 'Oh god, my house is a tip - I must be a terrible slattern!' attitude is fine by me Grin. And what a nice idea to get flowers. I've never bought flowers just for me/my own house before.

Chickengirl · 02/01/2015 17:10

I haven't had my email either.

tribpot · 02/01/2015 17:17

The do all the floors thing is a good starting point for me. I am taking it literally, which is 'chuck all the shit off the floor that is preventing you from hoovering it, hoover it, do not attempt to put all the stuff away'.

Am I right in thinking I have til Monday to get this sucker done? I hope so.

I like the idea of flowers as a home blessing type thing, but probably not to the point where I can be bothered going to the supermarket to buy some. Candle seems like a great alternative.

Btw in terms of linguistics, I'm sure I read recently that Americans have started saying 'flat' for apartment - at least in places like New York.

nicknamenonsense · 02/01/2015 17:33

I got the email whilst at work and have been contemplating the task on my drive home. I think that by floors they mean cleaning / hoovering every inch of floor, including the bits under furniture. This seems a big job, moving bed, sofas etc. Add to that the fact that there is at least one room in my house that I can't see a lot of the floor and in order to fully hoover there it would need a serious tidy up, decs & tree taking down so storage boxes and furniture that have been moved into the dumping room can be put back where they belong.
However, having said all that I am determined not to fall at the first hurdle so am going to aim to do 2 bedrooms this evening.
I also like the candle idea. I never buy myself flowers but might alternate as we go along.
It will be worth it in the end I'm sure! !

flashyballs · 02/01/2015 17:38

Signed up, back to work soon after maternity and so I need to sort the house out Smile

Chimichangaz · 02/01/2015 18:33

MrsMinton where is your post about the 365 day thing? Couldn't find it... Confused

Karbea · 02/01/2015 18:37

Hi All, yes I think they mean move everything and Hoover/sweep everywhere. I'm hoping I might get time to wash the carpets too, but that's a full on job.
Looking forward to buying the flowers, I might even buy a new vase as my dog when he was a puppy smashed mine and I've not gotten round to replacing it with anything nice.
Do we have till Monday to get this done?

MrsMinton · 02/01/2015 18:38

Chimichangaz it's this link.

www.home-storage-solutions-101.com/organized-home.html

You can get a month at a time PDF. It focuses on all of the house over time.

larryphilanddave · 02/01/2015 18:55

January Cure 2015 main page.

We also vacuum and sweep regularly (toddler and baby), however I want to clean the carpet and bought some carpet cleaner so that will be my main task. Not sure on the flowers, we have little surface space so it will just take that up and need to be kept out of toddler's reach! But, I have a herb planter that needs some TLC so I will tend to that.

Main areas have to be done whilst toddler is asleep, so we'll see how that goes.

OP posts:
larryphilanddave · 02/01/2015 18:57

PS I'm moving the sofa to clean, but no way am I moving our bed. Or things like drawers. Surely they don't mean drawers?! It's not like anything can get underneath them...

OP posts:
Chimichangaz · 02/01/2015 19:00

Thanks - will have a look but don't want to overwhelm myself with too much to do, and end up doing nothing.

Vivacia · 02/01/2015 19:43

We're going to give upstairs a go. No clubs or activities going on this weekend, so we can all get stuck in for an hour. I think we'll move furniture if it's easily moveable.