Pre Christmas clean thread?

[BernardsarenotalwaysSaints]

I'm about to make 'the list' would anyone like to join me? Thankfully the dc don't break up until next Friday but I do have the 2yo & 4 month old with me so I won't be entirely unhindered. Think the kitchen will be #1, I did the cooker last week & need the oopmh to do the rest now

Oh God, yes. Kids break up Friday but I'm working till Thursday. And the washing machibe is being fixed today so have a massive backlog of laundry. Never going to get it all done!

I hate washing backlogsIheart they're so demoralising as they never seem to go down quickly enough because the buggers are always being added too

I've been on this for the past few weeks. We've had some illness and so forth and the house got soooo backlogged I did have a little cry when I walked in the kitchen about a week ago. I've been trying to make sure the entire house gets a deep clean each week but with a toddler it's hard work!! What's the worst in your house? Any idea on how you're going to tackle it?

I am in!

The worst thing in my house is the STUFF

Stuff everywhere

For example my dining room table currently is home to -

Last years school books x2 dc
An advent calendar
Pack of baby wipes
Some knex
Pens and pencils
Large pile of screws
Paper
A toy car
A dirty spoon
Kitchen cleaning spray
Cutlery tub
A load of unwritten christmas cards
A book
Some of dc3s artwork

Oh and my dc break up tuesday so think yourself lucky!

See now turkey this is why we need this thread - we're the people who'd rather type out a list of what's on the table than pick it all up

I'm cheating. Just booked an oven cleaning man to come this afternoon. Judge away!

Ah I’m with you! I’m starting with de cluttering everything and have been listening to podcasts to motivate me while I dye my hair

My kitchen needs a once over but it got attacked the over day and I can finally see the counter which is progress!

I might add I have a 5 week old and a 2 year old, hence the backlog

The only reason I didn't get a man in is because I was too ashamed of my oven

My loung is ok, we did it over October half term as dh was off.

It's my kitchen that needs doing. It's clean but so cluttered. There's just paperwork & bits everywhere. It's not helped by the fact we've had to take a large cupboard down as our bolier is fucked has a broken part & they needed access. They've just called me to arrange the repair for 4/1 though so I'm going to get dh to put it back up tonight until after Christmas & New Year.

Our bedroom needs sorting too but it's currently being used to hide presents so I'm limited with what I csn do

I'm feeding the baby then am going to make my list while the toddler & I eat lunch.

iheartkingthistle ha ha yes I have a very comprehensive list, I’m good at those. Rather less so at getting through it! I’ve taken to not going to bed until I’ve ticked off at least 5 things on the list so may get there. Trouble is it encourages me to cheat by writing down lots of small tasks rather than 1 big “clean dining room” thing.
Supposed to be putting up the tree this weekend but it’s had snow all over it all week, should I let it dry out a bit more? Maybe put it in the garage?

Yes kingthistle that is true. I still havent moved the stuff but to be fair have just got in from shopping and school

I have half cleaned my ovens. Ran out of cleaning stuff

The oven men have been! I have one clean thing in my house.

Big TICK on the list...

Literally turkey, ONE clean thing....

Think there is a teaspoon in mine ....

I fear I’ve left it too late. Been away this week and I think I’ve missed the last bin emptying day.

Oh well, I’ll stick the kettle on instead 👍 all round.

Can I join? My house is heaving with shit at the moment. I'm naturally a very tidy person, but since DD was born (she's 14 months) I have less time to primp and tidy - I find myself having actual nightmares about how untidy bits of the house have become.

So far I have:

1. Sent all our towels and spare bedding to be laundered (using a laundry service, probably a bit of an unnecessary expense, but drying washing, without a tumble drier, in this weather is a thankless task).

1. Had the oven professionally cleaned, I swear they scraped out a whole duck.

1. Tidied-out the understairs cupboard.

I need to:

1. Tidy the larder, it's very narrow, and there are things at the back we'll need for Christmas.

1. Freezer audit - to get Christmas food in

1. Cupboard audit - as above

1. Hoover (this happens anyway, but it's looking pretty leafy in here today)

1. Mop hard floors (as above)

1. Find somewhere to put the presents. We no longer have a spare room (dumping ground) for presents, so they're strewn around our bedroom, some wrapped, some not, balancing precariously on top of each other. They will go under the tree when it's delivered on Sunday (I am yet to see whether DD will take an interest in them, they may have to be stashed).

1. Get rid of the high-up cobwebs (very high ceilings, I can hardly see them, let alone reach them).

1. Wash the cushion covers.

1. Get someone tall to change the lightbulb in our bedroom, seriously, DH and I can't even reach it with a ladder (and we're average height).

10. PANIC

Joining!

DH is good at doing ovens, so he’ll be tasked with that and I’d deep clean the rest of the kitchen. My tasks for tonight are:

1. two big bags of laundry to iron and put away.

2. Ensuite to clean

I have one at school and a 2 year old at home. So also hoping to have everything done including presents wrapped by the time School finishes.

Look what this furry fucker has done to the tree. If I fix it he'll do it again. Might pretend it's supposed to look like that.

Once you've done this 1) two big bags of laundry to iron and put away. no one must wear any other clothes, for the rest of the fortnight, they'll just have to make-do with what they're wearing right now

anon i have an almost 14 month old i feel your pain

And a 4 year old

And an 8 year old

And a 9 year old

.... i think this might be my issue....

Anyway ive cleared the table. But now its tea time.

Ha Afresh you're are battling greater odds than me! I can't even begin to think how you do ANYTHING.

At least DD doesn't actually make much mess (aside from posting food over the edge of her highchair, toys all over the place, and the ludicrous amount of paperwork that a child in nursery creates).

New item for my list:

11. Pull out DD's changing table and find out what she's posted down the back of it (clue: everything).

Oh good there are lots of us to motivate each other! I've written the list & I've sorted the hall so the coat hooks don't have as much on, turfed the shoe box out so our winter shoes fit in it & got rid of all the crap off the radiator cover. Only a small job after the school run but I have at least started now.

Afreshturkeyplease it would all be so simple if the dc could be magically occupied & unable to make anymore mess wouldn't it?! I've got 5 ages- 7, 6, 4, 2 & 4 months.

I'm joining, don't have a clue where to start though please help!! Not bad messy or cleaning wise - but I need to do a huge 'winter clean' and sort through cupboards and drawers and chuck out everything before new year

Anon that is the plan! Hoping everyone is going to wear their Christmas jumpers from now until Jan

Bernard!!! My two are messy tornados of destruction, how you manage with your babies I’d beyond me. —suspect you might be superwomen for even contemplating tidying—

Bernard how are you finding 5? Sometimes when i see a lovely snuggly newborn i think maybe. Then there are THOSE days where i contemplate sterilising myself....