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(81 Posts)
Berylsgranny Sun 27-Dec-20 09:49:40

Does anyone do their New Year’s cleaning of the whole house? I have always done that, whole house gets properly done, front and back doors get washed, clean bedding on beds. It’s something my mum taught me to do to start off the New Year. Just wondered if anyone has this tradition.

crazyH Sun 27-Dec-20 16:18:59

It was my ‘ritual’ as well. Getting rid of all bad vibes. But it got too stressful and tiring ...

Callistemon Sun 27-Dec-20 16:13:04

My mother was an enthusiastic cleaner, always washing paintwork, cobwebbing etc.

I am not so enthusiastic but do it on a 'needs to be done' basis.
I may work through the house in the Spring, all being well, but it will take some time.

Davida1968 Sun 27-Dec-20 16:08:06

Good grief, no "big" cleaning jobs until well after new year has got going. Just the routine stuff, as it come along.

AmberSpyglass Sun 27-Dec-20 14:34:02

Oh, my 2020 planner got abandoned for a good six months! Picked it up again in the autumn and I’m thinking about what I can achieve that doesn’t rely on going out and doing things...

Jane10 Sun 27-Dec-20 14:16:23

It would be great to sort out the year in advance. I always used to. Looking at last year's diary and kitchen calendar is nothing but crossings out and TBAs from March onwards.

AmberSpyglass Sun 27-Dec-20 14:12:13

I’m having a proper tidy up/clear out today! The wreath has been taken down along with the cards and most of the decorations and the turkey carcass is simmering in the slow cooker before becoming what I hope will be a very nice stock to go in soup with the sourdough bread I’ll make later today. A massive amount of laundry and dishes have been done and need to be put away, and I want to sort out the study to get started on 2021 properly!

Making a list of the things that need to be done around the house - I want to paint the stairs Farrow & Ball Hague blue and the front door in Pelt inside and out. I need to make a plan for taking the last two carpets up - bedroom and study - and choosing rugs for both of them. I’m thinking a soft grey sheepskin for the bedroom, and we need to get new curtains in sunny yellow velvet.

I’m about to put on a face mask and have an afternoon of pampering my skin whilst I sort everything out and then settle down with my 2021 planner and sort out the year!

lemongrove Sun 27-Dec-20 14:02:45

Never heard of this ritual ( and am Yorkshire born and bred)
So maybe it’s more to do with fussy Mothers?
I certainly wouldn’t be doing it just because it’s a custom/ tradition etc ( in fact it would make me determined not to do it)? ‘follow your own path’ etc .....especially at our age.
I shall keep the decs up all of Jan this year for some cheer and
Glitter.Feb will be a new start all round.I don’t indulge in any form of Spring cleaning, but the house is kept clean and tidy all year round....enough to satisfy us, at any rate.

Oldbat1 Sun 27-Dec-20 13:57:55

I’m Scottish and it was something my parents would do before “the Bells”. They would change curtains, change all the beds, change cushion covers and arm rests covers etc ready for the First Footers at midnight. Glasses would be laid out alongside drink and black bun. It isn’t something I’ve ever done as an adult in my own house though.

Lexisgranny Sun 27-Dec-20 13:55:42

Many years ago, I had an irate husband waiting for me in the car whilst I, in full length evening dress, emptied the hoover bag into the dustbin, something that I had overlooked! Nowadays I always change bedding and towels for the New Year, make sure there is no washing or ironing to do, and ensure that decorations and other Christmas odds and ends are stored away. DH and I are neat freaks, so the house is generally clean neat and tidy but the car is also cleaned and filled with petrol. I’ve always done it, so I’m not likely to change now, but each to his own.

merlotgran Sun 27-Dec-20 13:53:35

I prefer to wait until Spring cleaning time. I think the Scandinavians call it, 'Washing the winter out of the house'

I make the usual start with enthusiasm then give up and disappear to the greenhouse. grin

SuzannahM Sun 27-Dec-20 13:51:35

Yes. 'Fraid so.

Don't do anything except the necessary for three days from Christmas Day, then start. Certainly don't do it all in one day - do the least used rooms first, any washing and ironing, then New Years Eve change bed, finish cleaning bathroom and kitchen. Only takes a couple of hours a day as it's pretty clean and tidy anyway.

Georgesgran Sun 27-Dec-20 13:48:02

I think it is perhaps a ‘Northern’ thing - so I shall be carrying on the tradition. We are from Durham but I lived in Harrogate as a child, before coming back. I was always told you must go into the next year clean, tidy, no washing or ironing to do and debt free - even if you just owed the milkman £1! Start the year off like that and you’d be the same throughout the year.

BlueSapphire Sun 27-Dec-20 13:45:45

As Urmston said, not a chance. A quick Hoover round once the decorations are down is all my house is likely to get.

Nanna58 Sun 27-Dec-20 13:43:31

Kittylester you are a genius, I usually hate cards but now I shall see them as a useful Allie against housework!!!

ginny Sun 27-Dec-20 13:43:17

No. As normal , things get done as they need it. Far more interesting things to do. Yes, even these days.

Marthjolly1 Sun 27-Dec-20 13:39:16

I keep a clean, well ordered house all year round and do like to have a good sort and clean as soon as the decs are down. They seem to create a lot of dust. I did notice a cobweb fluttering on my bedroom ceiling yesterday so went round all the ceilings and covings today. (Well there's not much else to do) I was surprised how many cobwebs I found, so maybe I'm not such a good housewife as I thought tchhmm

NfkDumpling Sun 27-Dec-20 13:28:54

Nope. Must be a Scottish thing. I do like to clean when the tree comes down and all the greenery gets chucked out - although putting it all through the shredder doesn't have the same satisfaction as a bonfire - but that's mainly because there's bits of green stuff scattered all over everywhere.

Auntieflo Sun 27-Dec-20 13:24:42

Nope.
We do the regular cleaning, as and when, but now I just don't have the energy to flit round the house, looking for work.

Shinamae Sun 27-Dec-20 12:13:40

It’s a no from me. ?

Charleygirl5 Sun 27-Dec-20 12:12:03

I also try to follow the tradition having being born and bred in Scotland. These days I am lucky if I get the bedding changed. I do try but cannot do it all in one day.

BlueBelle Sun 27-Dec-20 12:09:26

NO NO NO

Calendargirl Sun 27-Dec-20 12:08:57

No.

Riverwalk Sun 27-Dec-20 12:03:01

Good grief, no!

That said, if I could afford it I'd pay for someone to do it smile

Redhead56 Sun 27-Dec-20 11:03:57

No way! I dust a bit to put decs up for Christmas. I keep up with bins being emptied dishes done and washing sorted bathrooms cleaned but not because it’s New Year. I hear people say ‘oh I get decs down and clean the house top to bottom’ . I think get a life!

HAZBEEN Sun 27-Dec-20 10:48:47

I do a sort of New Year clean, can't be a***d to do too much!
I do however have a rule of all rubbish bins emptied just before midnight, bedding changed and all washing done (not the ironing!)
I think it comes from my Grandmother who always said dont start the New Year with a house full of trash.