Pre-Holiday Whole House Cleanup Accountability Thread - 2021 Edition

[lizzywednesday]

Aaaaaaand we're back!

'Tis the season for the pre-winter-break whole-house cleanup accountability thread, which was absent in 2020 because both DH and DD were underfoot all. the. frickin'. time. thanks to remote school and teleworking, but which should now resume with a vengeance!

We just did some minor household repair work on two windows, we're getting a new washer/dryer at the end of the week (week of 11/29), and the downstairs hasn't been deep-cleaned in 2 years. (Even by my extremely low standards, I have to say "yuck.")

I need my checklists and goals for the weeks ahead; we do not have family coming for the holiday, but we absolutely do have repairpeople, plumbers, tile workers, and other home improvement/construction folks to be scheduled for a bathroom remodel and, possibly, a carpet replacement.

I'll start writing out my schedule in a new post.

As a reminder, here are my house zones; feel free to slice and dice your home/task list however it works for you:

ZONE 1
Living Room

ZONE 2
Dining Room

ZONE 3
Kitchen

ZONE 4
Upstairs Hallway - includes a storage closet (4C) and guest/DD's bathroom (4B)

ZONE 5
3rd Floor - DH's telework office (does not need work)

ZONE 6
Entryway, Stairs, & 1st Landing - includes coat closet (6C) and powder room (6B)

ZONE M
Master Bedroom - includes linen closet (M-L), clothes closet (M-C), and bathroom (M-B)

ZONE DD
DD's Bedroom

[lizzywednesday]

Proposed schedule as of 11/29/2021

WEEK 1: Monday, 11/29 through Friday, 12/3
DAY 1 - Monday, 11/29
GOALS - ZONE 1:
Living Room - Declutter Shoe Storage
Living Room - Clean/Dust Shoe Storage
Living Room - Shift Shoe Storage to Regular Spot


DAY 2 - Tuesday, 11/30
GOALS - ZONE 1:
Living Room - Declutter End Table
Living Room - Dust End Table
Living Room - Take Down Pumpkin Decorations from Mantel
Living Room - Dust Mantel and Endtable
Living Room - Sweep, Swiffer, Vacuum Floors
Living Room - Dust, Sweep, Swiffer, and Vacuum Behind TV Stand


DAY 3 - Wednesday, 12/1
GOALS - ZONE 2:
Carryover tasks from Day 1
Dining Room - Declutter Table
Dining Room - Organize Girl Scout Supplies (boxes on floor)
Dining Room - Organize School Supplies Bookshelf
Dining Room - File and Scan Girl Scout Paperwork
Dining Room - Sort Through Catch-All Box
Dining Room - Clean Glassware on Bar
Dining Room - Dust & Reorganize Bar
Dining Room - Sweep, Swiffer, and Vacuum Floors
Dining Room - Clean/Dust Table
Dining Room - Reorganize Shoe Storage
Dining Room - Shift Table to Proper Spot


DAY 4 - Thursday, 12/2
GOALS - ZONE 3:
Kitchen - Declutter Table
Kitchen - Sweep, Swiffer, and Vacuum Behind Pantry and Space Where Bins Were
Mudroom - Disconnect and Move Washer and Dryer (DH & FIL)
Mudroom - Sweep, Swiffer, Vacuum, and Mop Area Under and Behind Washer and Dryer
Mudroom - Move Empty Laundry Baskets to Dining Room or 2nd Landing
Carryover tasks from Day 3

DAY 5 - Friday, 12/3
GOALS - ZONE 6:
Kitchen - Declutter Top of Pantry
Kitchen - Shift Pantry to Allow Delivery of New & Removal of Old Washer/Dryer
Kitchen - Shift Trash, Recycling, and Towel/Napkin Bins
Entryway - Vacuum Doormat
Entryway - Sweep, Swiffer, and Vacuum Tile
Stairs - Rubber Broom and Vacuum
1st Landing - Reorganize Girl Scout Supply Box
Powder Room - Clean and Disinfect Sink
Powder Room - Clean and Sanitize Toilet
Powder Room - Declutter and Reorganize Vanity Cabinet
Powder Room - Clean and Disinfect Wastebasket
Powder Room - Sweep, Swiffer, Vacuum, and Mop Floor
Coat Closet - Sweep, Swiffer, and Vacuum Floor
Under-Stairs Closet - Put Away Random Halloween/Fall Decorations
Under-Stairs Closet - Pull Out Christmas Decorations
Carryover tasks from Day 4


WISH LIST TASKS - WEEK 1

Living Room - WISH LIST: Vacuum Behind and Between Sofa Cushions
Living Room - WISH LIST: Vacuum Behind and Between Chair Cushions
Living Room - WISH LIST: Launder and Re-Hang Drapes on Side Windows
Living Room - WISH LIST: Launder and Re-Hang Drapes on Front Windows
Living Room - WISH LIST: Clean Windows
Living Room - WISH LIST: Mop Floor
Dining Room - WISH LIST: Mop Floor
Dining Room - WISH LIST: Launder and Re-Hang Drapes
Dining Room - WISH LIST: Clean Windows


WEEK 2 - Monday, 12/6 through Friday, 12/10

DAY 1 - Monday, 12/6
GOALS - ZONE 4 & ZONE 3:
Carryover tasks from Day 5
Guest Bath - Clean and Disinfect Sink
Guest Bath - Run Toothpaste Caddy and Toothbrush Holders Through Dishwasher
Guest Bath - Sweep, Swiffer, Vacuum, and Mop Floor
Guest Bath - Launder Bath Mat
Guest Bath - Clean and Sanitize Toilet
Guest Bath - Clean and Sanitize Wastebasket

WEEK 3 - Monday, 12/13 through Friday, 12/17

[jgenie]

I love these threads!! Thanks so much for starting this!!

KITCHEN
clear and wipe counters
Clean and organize drawers
Clean and organize cabinets
Fridge / freezer

PLAYROOM
Closet
Shelves

FAMILY ROOM
Surfaces

LIVING ROOM
Surfaces
Donations

DINING ROOM
Drawers

LIBRARY
Counters
Shelves
Cabinets
Toys

BASEMENT

BASEMENT STORAGE 1
BASEMENT STORAGE 2
BASEMENT STORAGE 3

MASTER
MASTER BATH
DS1
DS2
HALL BATH
MY OFFICE
GUEST ROOM
GUEST BATH

[lizzywednesday]

DAY 1 - Monday, 11/29
ACCOMPLISHMENTS - ZONE 1:

Living Room - Declutter Shoe Storage
Living Room - Clean/Dust Shoe Storage
Living Room - Shift Shoe Storage to Regular Spot

I started later in the morning than I could have, but I still accomplished a lot! Today, I'm using timers so I don't get super-distracted when I take breaks.

Carryover Tasks from Week 1/Day 1 (W1D1)

Living Room - Declutter End Table
Living Room - Dust End Table
Living Room - Take Down Pumpkin Decorations from Mantel
Living Room - Dust Mantel and Endtable
Dining Room - File and Scan Girl Scout Paperwork
Dining Room - Sort Through Catch-All Box
Living Room - Sweep, Swiffer, Vacuum Floors
Living Room - Dust, Sweep, Swiffer, and Vacuum Behind TV Stand
Living Room - WISH LIST: Launder & Re-Hang Drapes on Side Windows
Living Room - WISH LIST: Launder and Re-Hang Drapes on Front Windows
Living Room - WISH LIST: Clean Windows
Living Room - WISH LIST: Mop Floors
Living Room - WISH LIST: Vacuum Behind and Between Sofa Cushions
Living Room - WISH LIST: Vacuum Behind and Between Chair Cushions

[trentsmom]

I went looking for this thread a couple of days ago because I was hoping you'd post it! It always helps to give me a kick to get things done around my house. I like how you break everything down into small, manageable tasks. Thanks!

[gymnbomb]

I love the idea of using timers! They work really well for DS, but for some reason I hadn't really thought about using them for myself.

[lizzywednesday]

I went looking for this thread a couple of days ago because I was hoping you'd post it! It always helps to give me a kick to get things done around my house. I like how you break everything down into small, manageable tasks. Thanks!

I suspect that I have undiagnosed ADHD, so the task breakdown helps my executive function challenges with what "finished" looks like.

Posting it to the internet, in a fairly public fashion, helps me stay accountable, so I accomplish more in a week than I do in a month if I plan properly.


I love the idea of using timers! They work really well for DS, but for some reason I hadn't really thought about using them for myself.

So, ordinarily, I would be listening to podcasts and have the goal of finishing X task by the end of Y episode or whatever, but with DH still teleworking and our open-ish plan house, that's rude - also, most of the pods I listen to are very sweary, so if he ever has to take a call for work, the risk that an ill-timed "f^ck" will be background noise is too great.

Timers work super-well for DD to do maintenance tidying in her bedroom and they work really well for me everywhere when I decide to use them.

[lizzywednesday]

DAY 2 - ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Living Room - Declutter End Table
Living Room - Dust End Table
Living Room - Take Down Pumpkin Decorations from Mantel
Living Room - Dust Mantel and Endtable
Dining Room - File and Scan Girl Scout Paperwork
Dining Room - Sort Through Catch-All Box
Living Room - Sweep, Swiffer, Vacuum Floors
Living Room - Dust, Sweep, Swiffer, and Vacuum Behind TV Stand

The floors remain un-mopped and probably will until next week because we'll have a delivery person in for the new washer/dryer headed our way this Friday (12/3), which means the Kitchen and Mudroom tasks will be re-prioritized for Thursday.

DH and FIL want to shift the old machines so we can clean under/behind them before the new ones go in, and I don't disagree.

NOTE: I've updated the original post to reflect my changed goals/accomplishments.

[jgenie]

I suspect that I have undiagnosed ADHD, so the task breakdown helps my executive function challenges with what "finished" looks like.

Posting it to the internet, in a fairly public fashion, helps me stay accountable, so I accomplish more in a week than I do in a month if I plan properly.



So, ordinarily, I would be listening to podcasts and have the goal of finishing X task by the end of Y episode or whatever, but with DH still teleworking and our open-ish plan house, that's rude - also, most of the pods I listen to are very sweary, so if he ever has to take a call for work, the risk that an ill-timed "f^ck" will be background noise is too great.

Timers work super-well for DD to do maintenance tidying in her bedroom and they work really well for me everywhere when I decide to use them.

You need earbuds! I have a podcast on almost always. They make cleaning the kitchen or bathrooms almost enjoyable!

[lizzywednesday]

You need earbuds! I have a podcast on almost always. They make cleaning the kitchen or bathrooms almost enjoyable!

I hate 'em; they aggravate some sensory issues that I've got, so I find them very hard to deal with.

[lizzywednesday]

DAY 3 - ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Dining Room - Declutter Table
Dining Room - Organize Girl Scout Supplies (boxes on floor)
Dining Room - Organize School Supplies Bookshelf


CARRYOVER TASKS - DAY 3

Dining Room - File and Scan Girl Scout Paperwork
Dining Room - Sort Through Catch-All Box
Dining Room - Clean Glassware on Bar
Dining Room - Dust & Reorganize Bar
Dining Room - Sweep, Swiffer, and Vacuum Floors
Dining Room - Clean/Dust Table
Dining Room - Reorganize Shoe Storage
Dining Room - Shift Table to Proper Spot

[lizzywednesday]

DAY 4 - ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Kitchen - Declutter Table
Kitchen - Sweep, Swiffer, and Vacuum Behind Pantry and Space Where Bins Were
Mudroom - Disconnect and Move Washer and Dryer (DH & FIL)
Mudroom - Sweep, Swiffer, Vacuum, and Mop Area Under and Behind Washer and Dryer
Mudroom - Move Empty Laundry Baskets to Dining Room or 2nd Landing


DAY 5 - ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Kitchen - Declutter Top of Pantry
Kitchen - Shift Pantry to Allow Delivery of New & Removal of Old Washer/Dryer
Kitchen - Shift Trash, Recycling, and Towel/Napkin Bins
Kitchen - Scrub, Mop, and Steam Mop Floors

ACCOMPLISHMENTS - SATURDAY

Living Room - Take Down Drapes
Living Room - Launder Drapes
Living Room - Clean Front Windows
Living Room - Clean Side Windows
Living Room - Vacuum Heating Vents
Living Room - Vacuum Back of Entertainment Center
Living Room - Vacuum Cobwebs in Corners/on Walls
Living Room - Vacuum Moulding at Wall Base
Living Room - Vacuum Base of Blanket Crate
Living Room - Mop Floor
Living Room - Steam Mop Floor
Living Room - Re-Hang Drapes on Side Windows
Dining Room - Launder Drapes
Dining Room - Vacuum Dust from Window Frames
Dining Room - Clean Windows
Dining Room - Clean Window Sills
Dining Room - Re-Hang Drapes

TO-DO - SUNDAY

Coat Closet - Sweep, Swiffer, and Vacuum Floor
Under-Stairs Closet - Put Away Random Halloween/Fall Decorations
Under-Stairs Closet - Pull Out Christmas Decorations

CARRY OVER TASKS

Entryway - Vacuum Doormat
Entryway - Sweep, Swiffer, and Vacuum Tile
Stairs - Rubber Broom and Vacuum
1st Landing - Reorganize Girl Scout Supply Box
Powder Room - Clean and Disinfect Sink
Powder Room - Clean and Sanitize Toilet
Powder Room - Declutter and Reorganize Vanity Cabinet
Powder Room - Clean and Disinfect Wastebasket
Powder Room - Sweep, Swiffer, Vacuum, and Mop Floor

[lizzywednesday]

UGH! Derailed by a new washer & dryer (12/3) and contractors/demolition (12/8 thru 12/10), I had to use precious weekend time to finish certain tasks.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS - WEEK OF 12/6

Under-Stairs Closet - Pull Out Christmas Decorations
Under-Stairs Closet - Put Bins and Other Items Away
Under-Stairs Closet - Put Coats Away
Kitchen - Vacuum, Swiffer, Scrub, and Mop Floor
Guest Bathroom - Pre-Demo Wipedown
Powder Room - Post-Workmen Counter/Sink, Toilet, and Doorknob Clean
Powder Room - Post-Demo Surface Clean
Master Bedroom - Put Away Clean Laundry
Master Bedroom - Change Sheets
Master Bedroom - Launder Sheets, Pillowcases, and Duvet Covers
DD's Bedroom - Change Sheets
DD's Bedroom - Launder Sheets, Pillowcases, and Spare Duvet Cover
Regular Laundry - Cold Water, Hang-to-Dry
Regular Laundry - Cold Water, Dryer-Dry
Holiday Prep: Package, Wrap, and Drop Off Gift Drive Gifts from Girl Scout Troop


TO DO - set new goals for week of 12/13 based on carry-over tasks and intended accomplishments.

Priorities are DINING ROOM and GIRL SCOUT PAPERWORK.

[lizzywednesday]

Today's accomplishment was ... getting out of the house.

I had recruitment supplies to drop with another Girl Scout Leader as well as patches, model cars, and a cookie handbook to pick up at various houses all over town - the supply drop helped shift some stuff off my dining room table, which is good, but the pickups mean I have additional work to do, which is less good.

Oh well; today was a wash, but the end-goal is to get the dining room in shape so DD, DH, and I can eat there for Christmas. (I'm assuming that we will not be visiting the ILs, but one never knows.)

[jgenie]

You are doing awesome!! I am so far behind!! :crying: Thankfully we’re not expecting guests for the holidays. Hoping I can get stuff done this week!

[lizzywednesday]

... Thankfully we’re not expecting guests for the holidays. ...

Neither are we, although DH mentioned today that he'd like to maybe host a game night ... which requires me to prioritize the dining room, which I've been procrastinating on, but I've made some progress with sorting the stuff I picked up/dropped off the other day.

Maybe I'll finally write out the sympathy cards for my uncle & cousins; they're overdue, but I want to say something about how it feels when the entire world has moved forward while you're still missing a piece of your heart. I'm simultaneously good and horrible with words when it comes to things like this.