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Housekeeping

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Original poster

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:
IDidNotKnowThat · 07/01/2015 12:43

Thanks RunningKatie, that sounds good too. I'll see what I can find! I like the idea of doing the odd job off the hit list to keep progress going. Am awaiting today's mission with some trepidation!

Karbea · 07/01/2015 16:18

Re today's task... Does anyone have anything that lists the best way to store things in a pantry? Ie beans next to pasta sauce etc my cupboards are all over the place, I can never find anything

CMP69 · 07/01/2015 16:57

I keep cereals in one cupboard. Dry goods - herbs spices grains rice pasta etc on one shelf and oils vinegar sauces etc on the second shelf of another and tins jars etc in a third cupboard. I don't have a "larder" but lust after one like Nigellas Envy

RunningKatie · 07/01/2015 17:39

I don't have a larder either, and I have some cupboards with strange black holes in them. Last November I found an Easter egg hidden in one of them!

I keep tins in one cupboard, pasta and rice, plus onions & potatoes in another, then cereal and crisps plus easter eggs in another. Herbs and stuff are in a top cupboard so the dc's don't get them!

I thought this was an easy task, now I'm rethinking that.

Karbea · 07/01/2015 18:10

I don't either just two of those tall larder cupboards, one used to have a metal pullout contraption on it, but in ripped that out and replaced it with shelves.
Off to pinterest to see if I can find something to waste time useful.

Mitchdafish · 07/01/2015 18:42

Lea and Perrins Worcester Sauce, BBE March 2009... I never did know what to use it for...

atticusclaw · 07/01/2015 20:08

I'm doing really badly (although I am very busy with work this week). So far I've managed to read each email and think - "that's a good idea, I'll do that." By the time I get around to doing anything I'll be on email 10 and then it will all go tits up.

Karbea · 07/01/2015 20:56

I've throw two bin bags out, so much stuff out of date. The cupboards look empty much better.

IDidNotKnowThat · 07/01/2015 22:03

Done. Nearly killed 'D'P in the process Hmm, but done. Roll on tomorrow!

MorelloKisses · 07/01/2015 22:12

Pantry. Done. Nearly killed me!

nicknamenonsense · 07/01/2015 23:46

Well done all of you! I had friends over so only did one cupboard before they arrived but as we were supposedly gossiping crafting a friend took a carrier bag of adzuki beans as well as a random mixture of other dried beans to fill the doorstop she was making :)
I will continue with the purge tomorrow if I have time alongside whatever other task we have and if I don't get it al done I will finish it as part of the kitchen weekend.

RunningKatie · 08/01/2015 13:19

Kitchen weekend? I don't like the sound of that.

I've done one drawer plus a cupboard so far, nothing too bad in either although I've discovered the sweets I was saving for party bags have all gone. DH will be told off about that later!

I've also given the outsides of the sorted cupboards a good clean so am pleased with that.

The email does come through so late that the tasks slip over to the next day for me too.

Karbea · 08/01/2015 16:12

Carpets all washed finally I still need to wash my hall, kitchen and utility room floors, this is a normal Thursday chore so should just get on and do it!

Karbea · 08/01/2015 16:34

P.s still need to wash the carpet on the stairs.

RunningKatie · 08/01/2015 16:44

Debating todays task.

Our living room is a tip and the reason I can't invite people round for coffee. Toys are everywhere. The simple answer is bunging toys in dining room expedit unit and shutting the door. Except the unit is overflowing so I think my project is to do a big declutter so toys can be put away quickly and easily. Dd has a birthday in 4 weeks so it would be great to clear some space for the inevitable avalanche of stuff.

Kitchen cupboards all done except the herbs & spices one but I need a chair to reach that so it's an evening task.

Karbea · 08/01/2015 16:57

I should do my herbs and spices...umm.
Tiled floors all washed, going to have a cup of tea now and work out what to do next...

Karbea · 08/01/2015 17:05

I think I'm going to do the jobs in my d/s loo, study and landing. This might sound a bit strange but I think we've w/e's or days for the other rooms that are on my list.
I'll do the herbs and tea/coffee cupboard too.

Mitchdafish · 08/01/2015 19:16

This is brilliant, have become so much more focussed and effective! Except for the failure with the floors, I am enjoying having set tasks rather than aimlessly wandering about pretending to tidy. Plus the mystery of the next task... I've read the month's timetable and I'm finding it weirdly compelling. Anyone else feeling the same?!
I'm going sit on the floor of my bedroom where I can stare at the crud under the bed. It was either that or under the stairs... Do you have any ideas for under the stairs? Mine has vacuum, coats(on hooks), bags, shopping bags, extension leads, jump leads, motorcycle kit (not used forever) all in a large pile. and the boiler.

nicknamenonsense · 08/01/2015 19:22

I've tried to pick stuff that I don't think will feature in other tasks too but have stuck with the sitting room as being the most used room in the house I think this is where my projects will have the biggest impact. I have a wooden framed mirror I bought AGES ago with the intention of painting or gilding it for the chimney breast and I also want to do something in the fireplace (I'm thinking a jam jar light fitting) but I'm not certain that is totally realistic to complete this month so it may just be the mirror.
Also aiming to get at least two more kitchen cupboards cleared and cleaned tonight so that I am not too behind for the weekend. I had a good sort out of my spices before Christmas when hunting for the cloves so at least that part is done already!
Have you decided on a specific project to work on in any of those areas Karbea

nicknamenonsense · 08/01/2015 19:28

Mitch I haven't even considered under the stairs, actual rooms is bad enough!! If it is any consolation there is motorbike stuff under our stairs too that hasn't been uses in years. I think I have been on the back of DH's bike once since the DC were born and DS is now 10!

CMP69 · 08/01/2015 19:49

Lordy I'm way behind already. I'm doing my cupboards and list tomorrow. The meditation glaring at pile of crap will have to wait until Saturday Grin . If the weekend task is the kitchen I may survive, if not I'm screwed, as I have 2 days/3 nights in fancy London town with work next week Angry

PeoniesforMissAnnersley · 08/01/2015 20:06

I'm going to do today's task before bed, it will be calming. I made a New Years resolution to meditate for 5-10 mins a day and haven't done it yet. Blush
Did pantry (in our case 3 cupboards and a drawer), got rid of quite a lot.

Karbea · 08/01/2015 20:54

nickname yes I've pretty much done the d/s loo project, I needed to tidy up under the sink, I also need to buy a new plant. (Through out the no longer flowering orchid). The upstairs landing I want to sort out the airing cupboard, the study has a few small jobs but the big one is sorting out the shelves (books, CDs, cr@p).

Mitchdafish · 09/01/2015 14:22

nickname your motorcycle kit under the stairs is sustaining me! I bought trousers a size up after DCs (!) but only used a couple of times.
peonies was it calming, the meditation? Mine slipped. I thought it might stop me sleeping!
My project could well be under the bed... or under stairs... dithering.
Hoping to get family on to vacuuming bedrooms this weekend also wiping skirtings in bedrooms as they are gross (I hate to think what that particular dust is made of) yet I hope they will get satisfaction from seeing the filth, and it will make them have to move stuff that is dumped on floor.

CMP69 · 09/01/2015 17:36

End of week 1 and I feel reasonably pleased

Done my "pantry". Found some Chinese five spice with a use by of 1999!!!!!! Don't even remember buying it, and don't think I have ever used it Blush. Also some gluten free spaghetti, no one I know eats GF food - bizarre.

I got side tracked and rearranged a few other cupboards too, so I suppose that's me started on the weekend task.

Made my list, it's every bit as scary as I thought, but I'm going to contemplate the under stairs cupboard or the hall and stairs area generally tomorrow to pick a task

Everyone else seems to be on track. Keep it up folks Smile