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  1. #1
    lizzywednesday is offline Red Diamond level (10,000+ posts)
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    Default Pre-Holiday Whole House Cleanup Accountability Thread - 2019 Edition

    It's been almost 2 years since I managed to get a whole-house cleanout done because I broke my ankle in mid-November last year and my house is hurting.

    I've managed to get my kitchen (mostly) decluttered, progress has been made on my dining room table (despite DD and DH insisting that it's the place to store all of their random crap ... I've already warned DD that the table is not for storage and I will ask her ONCE to put her stuff away before I proceed to toss everything), and my endtables aren't in horrible shape.

    BUT ... I still have stuff to do and two weeks left before the family party we're hosting.

    Here are the house zones:

    ZONE 1
    Living Room

    ZONE 2
    Dining Room

    ZONE 3
    Kitchen

    ZONE 4
    Upstairs Hallway - includes linen closet (4C) and guest bath (4B)

    ZONE 5
    3rd Floor - includes three closets

    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

    ACCOMPLISHMENTS

    DAY 1 - 12/2/2019

    • Cleared kitchen table
    • Cleared kitchen countertops
    • Threw away miscellaneous paper trash under kitchen table
    • Steam-mopped most of kitchen floor (under table, area near sink/stove, area under trash can)
    • Cleaned trash can
    • Dry-Swiffered baseboards
    • Dusted (with Pledge!) table and chairs
    • Started dining room table declutter
    • Laundry (cold water, washed)


    DAY 2 - 12/3/2019

    • Laundry (warm water, washed)
    • Continued dining room declutter
    • Rubber broom started on stairs


    DAY 3 - 12/4/2019

    • Folded & put laundry away
    • Cleanup supplies laundry (hot water, washed/dried/put away)
    • Laundered DVD storage totes (cold water, air dry)
    • Alphabetized DVD collection
    • Put alphabetized DVDs away


    DAY 4 - 12/5/2019

    Morning was a wash; DD stuck paper in her ear on Monday (insert eye-roll here) and we attempted to flush it out using various techniques, but none worked. So ... I called the pediatrician & took her in just before lunchtime.

    Accomplishments so far:

    • Washed new jeans (cold water, hang to dry)
    • Washed crummy towels used in yesterday's cleanup of DVD totes


    Remaining TO DO for ZONE 1 (Living Room) and Laundry:

    • Wash regular towels
    • Declutter top/bench of shoe shelf
    • Swiffer behind TV stand
    • Clean window behind TV
    • Toss & replace pest traps in living room
    • Sweep leather peelings from under loveseat
    • Declutter 1 x 2 shelving unit
    • Declutter end table
    • Declutter niche area


    Tomorrow is my final GS meeting prep for our game night - the goal is to have them earn their Detective (Junior & bridging Brownie) and Special Agent (Cadette & bridging Juniors) badges by working through the activities I have planned for them.
    ==========================================
    Liz
    DD (3/2010)

    "Make mistakes! Get messy!" - Miss Frizzle

  2. #2
    jgenie is offline Red Diamond level (10,000+ posts)
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    Oct 2007
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    I’ll join you!! I have a huge mess to clear up before the holidays! I have a sitter coming tomorrow and DH is traveling so I’m hoping to get quite a bit done tonight.

    KITCHEN
    - unload dishwasher - DONE
    - clear kitchen counters - DONE
    - wipe stove - DONE
    - fold kitchen linens - DONE
    - carry out recycling - DONE
    - open new vacuum and put away - DONE

    BASEMENT
    - put away Halloween decorations - DONE
    - put away Easter decorations - DONE
    - put away camping items - DONE
    - put ski items in gym closet - DONE

    SMALL BASEMENT STORAGE
    - clear closet - DONE
    - organize empty bins - DONE
    - organize shelves - DONE
    - pack up donations - DONE

    LARGE BASEMENT STORAGE
    - remove items for donation - DONE
    - organize shelves - DONE

    PLAYROOM
    - organize closet
    - organize shelves
    - weed out books

    LIBRARY
    - counters
    - drawers
    - cabinets
    - shelves

    LAUNDRY ROOM
    - countertop
    - baskets
    - sink

    GUEST BEDROOM
    - clear closet
    - clear storage chest
    - clear drawers

    OFFICE
    - clear desk
    - clear floor
    - closet

    GARAGE
    - put away Halloween decorations
    - put away ski items
    - clear out tubs
    - clear out closet
    - miscellaneous items on floor
    Last edited by jgenie; 12-05-2019 at 11:09 PM.

  3. #3
    lizzywednesday is offline Red Diamond level (10,000+ posts)
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    Updates and Accomplishments

    DAY 4 - 12/5/2019

    • Cleaned window behind TV stand
    • Swiffered behind TV stand
    • Dusted TV stand
    • Cleaned window-sill behind the TV stand
    • Tossed old pest traps
    • Steam mopped behind TV stand
    • Dusted TV stand


    DAY 5 - 12/6/2019

    • Steam mopped living room
    • Quick errands for scout meeting prep
    • Printed written materials for scout meeting
    • Steam mopped living room
    • Washed and replaced couch cover


    DAY 6 - 12/7/2019

    • Quick wipedown of powder room surfaces
    • Quick steam mop of powder room floor
    • Vacuumed living room
    • Dusted mantle
    • Un-installed fireplace child lock
    • Cleaned fireplace windows
    • Vacuumed random soot/dust from fireplace
    • Put up Christmas tree
    ==========================================
    Liz
    DD (3/2010)

    "Make mistakes! Get messy!" - Miss Frizzle

  4. #4
    KrisM is offline Clean Sweep forum moderator
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    Mar 2004
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    MI, USA.
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    I'll join, as we are hosting Christmas Eve this year. I've recently done the kitchen counter, including behind the sink and window sills, which seem to be where DH puts random little things.

    Thankfully, only the main floor needs to be in really good shape. I need to work on the upstairs too, so that in January I can hit the basement hard. So much to do down there!

    Kitchen - finish the counters, neaten the pantry, clean out the cabinets.
    Dining room - clear off the tops of the hutches, clear off the piano, wash the floors really well, dust the baseboards.
    Family room - not bad, really. Just will need a normal pick-up, dust, vacuum.
    Bathroom - clear off the top of the cabinet.
    Entry - go through cookbooks, find a home for bowling bags.
    Mudroom - needs help! Too small and too full of junk.
    Laundry room - needs lots of help!
    Playroom - sort games, puzzles, wash futon cover?, clean off computer desks.

    I'd like to organize the bedrooms more too. DD has been cleaning hers and is doing great. DS2 needs help finishing sorting clothes and then i can put away things. DS1 has a pile of things to go through.
    Kris

  5. #5
    lizzywednesday is offline Red Diamond level (10,000+ posts)
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    So, yesterday was a lost day - I forgot DD had a dentist appointment in the morning, then DH came home from work early, and I had a GS leaders' meeting in the evening, so I managed one load of laundry and put most of the Christmas decor bins away.

    I still need to:

    * Reorganize my GS meeting bag
    * Put meeting bag away
    * Prep Cookie Season packets for troop
    * Dig out travel backpacks
    * Reorganize art supply bin
    * Vacuum closet floor
    * Iron DD's badges & patches on her GS vest
    * Reorganize shoe storage
    * Dust, vacuum, and mop dining room
    * Finish decluttering of dining room table
    * Clean bar (including glassware)
    * Deal with 2nd landing
    * Deal with miscellaneous beach towels
    * Quick-sort 3rd floor
    * Vacuum-bag DD's stuffed animals
    ==========================================
    Liz
    DD (3/2010)

    "Make mistakes! Get messy!" - Miss Frizzle

  6. #6
    Melaine is offline Blue Diamond level (20,000+ posts)
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    I love these threads!

    Over the last few years, I've zero'd in on clutter as a major trigger for my anxiety (and my anxiety is major). So we have put in hours of decluttering. It's definitely paid off for us, but but the clutter grows back. I created a Facebook group for decluttering with daily mini-challenges to help me stay on track, if anyone wants to join:
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/chasingsimple/

    We replaced our kitchen flooring a couple weeks ago (I've been needing this done for like 8 years) and in the painful process deep cleaned most of the kitchen. Would love to do more deep cleaning over the holidays but the weeks are going by sooo quickly!

  7. #7
    lizzywednesday is offline Red Diamond level (10,000+ posts)
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    Quote Originally Posted by Melaine View Post
    ...

    Over the last few years, I've zero'd in on clutter as a major trigger for my anxiety (and my anxiety is major). So we have put in hours of decluttering. It's definitely paid off for us, but but the clutter grows back. I created a Facebook group for decluttering with daily mini-challenges to help me stay on track, if anyone wants to join:
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/chasingsimple/
    Thanks for the FB group, Melaine!

    I know that clutter triggers a lot of people's anxiety ... including my DH's. It's hard for me, as someone more comfortable with a little clutter, but I'm trying to find a happy medium.



    We replaced our kitchen flooring a couple weeks ago (I've been needing this done for like 8 years) and in the painful process deep cleaned most of the kitchen. Would love to do more deep cleaning over the holidays but the weeks are going by sooo quickly!
    They always fly, so I like to plan out my week here ... which then keeps me accountable.
    ==========================================
    Liz
    DD (3/2010)

    "Make mistakes! Get messy!" - Miss Frizzle

  8. #8
    WatchingThemGrow is offline Blue Diamond level (20,000+ posts)
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    Jan 2008
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    I’ll join in!

    -Sort through teaching materials and move it from a big bin to something manageable.
    -Lay out all kids’ papers for them to sort through- Down to ONE box and ONE art portfolio, plus my report card files.
    -Deal with CL/FB marketplace/give away/consignment pile
    -Hang artwork at correct height.

    -Christmas cards!
    -finish hanging all the new blinds
    -sort through the leftover low use kitchen items -DONE
    -sort through everything on the ikea cart



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