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Spring Cleaning

(55 Posts)
grannyactivist Sat 04-Jan-14 19:02:38

Is it only me that has the urge to purge at this time of year?
I've thoroughly cleaned the sitting room and rearranged the furniture, ditto the dining room and have also made a start on cleaning the kitchen cupboards. The house has been mopped from top to bottom and on Monday (we're out all day tomorrow) I shall attack the bathrooms. I'm pretty much always like this after Christmas, I can't seem to wait for Spring before getting stuck in to some serious cleaning.

Tegan Sat 04-Jan-14 19:12:57

It hit me on Christmas Eve. Mind you I always seem to be Spring Cleaning but nothing ever looks any better.

Bez Sat 04-Jan-14 19:22:48

Yes - it will suddenly come upon me - had a slight attack this morning and did quite a lot of cleaning downstairs and then moved upstairs and started sorting drawers etc - the spasm died before I finished but I am sure it will re- emerge next week.

shysal Sat 04-Jan-14 19:28:32

Not Spring Cleaning as such, but I have cleared out my tiny spare bedroom, which is a dumping ground for all manner of cr*p. Have taken 8 bags to a charity shop as well as filling a wheelie bin with rubbish. I have to give in to the urge when it happens, because it is a very rare occurrence!

Nonu Sat 04-Jan-14 19:45:26

SPRING CLEANING , what is that ?
A flick here and there with the feather duster , is the most I can manage !
I am afraid , YOYO , in my book anyway ............

twinkle

mollie Sat 04-Jan-14 22:14:56

I used to but I'm actively fighting it. Right now I want to seriously declutter rather than clean but it amounts to the same thing...

jinglbellrocks Sat 04-Jan-14 22:26:30

I got loads of "spring" cleaning done before Christmas, while I was banned from Gransnet. Kitchen cupboards cleaned, windows polished, freezer defrosted.

All looks about the same now though.

Gally Sat 04-Jan-14 23:32:52

I did it solidly for 2 weeks before I left for Oz at the beginning of December. I have this compulsion to leave everything shipshape before going away and completely wear myself out. I don't know why I can't just keep the house clean and tidy on a daily basis and not leave everything to the 11th hour, but I seem only to be able to operate when under pressure. I know that after I am home, within a week the place will be back in a mess and I will go through the whole process again the next time I go away hmm

Anne58 Sat 04-Jan-14 23:37:01

Oh heavens, I did find myself earlier saying to Mr P that tomorrow I was going to give the sitting room a "good do"! I.e wash paintwork, sort out the book shelves, polish the candlestick collection etc, so it would appear that it might be contagious!

I've probably only got a mild case though!

seasider Sun 05-Jan-14 09:04:15

Gally I am just like you!if someone is coming I can whizz round the day before and get the place looking great so why no save myself the stress and do a bit every day? I was quite cheered over Christmas though when I called unexpectedly on friends whose house is always immaculate when we go. It was great to find out they were just as untidy as us! My SIL is an obsessive cleaner who "bottoms" the house before she goes away. We always joke about her tidying up for the burglars!

Iam64 Sun 05-Jan-14 09:05:56

We took the decorations down yesterday, and dusted, wiped, hoovered everywhere downstairs. The house had a good seeing to before the decorations went up, so it's in an acceptable state from top to bottom. Well, apart from the spare bedroom where we put everything we wanted to tidy away - you can't move in there. That's my next room when an attack of domestic duty comes over me again.
I love the place full of lights and decorations, but the evening after the clean up when they are put away, is a joy as well. Everywhere looked sparkling when I went down to make my morning cup of tea. Fabulous, I'll enjoy it till we get back from another muddy dog walk, and everything is splattered by the wet dogs

Ariadne Sun 05-Jan-14 09:48:47

I think it is taking down the decorations that gets me moving - that and wanting to restore order after the DGC and their parents have departed! This is the first time for many years that I have not had a cleaner (couldn't justify it) and I quite enjoy doing it myself. Within limits - I shall happily get someone in if there is any big thing that needs doing!

Yesterday, though, the sun shone into the living room and I was dispirited by the dust that seems to have accumulated in a few days. Where does it all come from??

Thistledoo Sun 05-Jan-14 10:05:42

OH yes the purge hit me this morning, gutting the dinning room after discovering thick dust on the curtain poles. I don't know what brings this on but I'm definitely not pregnant. It hits me about once a year, Mr T says he's getting out before he finds himself in the bin.

petra Sun 05-Jan-14 10:09:26

No need to spring clean in my flat. I love cleaning so all the things mentioned above are done all the time.
The last thing to be done when we go away is shampoo the carpets. That way I know they won't be walked on until they are completely dry.

jinglbellrocks Sun 05-Jan-14 10:56:47

There were cobwebs up there when I put the paperchains up. They will be there waiting for me when I get them down tomorrow. I hope I can find some motivation somewhere.

Lona Sun 05-Jan-14 11:12:19

I had a small burst between Christmas and new year, washed nets, cleared out two cupboards and a drawer and put the decorations away.

I'm a tidy person and I use my rechargable Dyson a lot, BUT there is always a layer of dust! blush
Where the hell does it come from? hmm

janerowena Sun 05-Jan-14 11:15:08

Cleaning? I think I used to do that many years ago, it was a hobby that I grew out of.

Valbeasixties Sun 05-Jan-14 11:19:46

The intention each spring is to focus upon one room thoroughly each week - washing paintwork, clearing/cleaning out cupboards etc but sadly I do not always progress beyond the thinking stage! There is really not any excuse this year as I have just retired from teaching but I seem to be embracing the mantra: 'There is always another day!'

merlotgran Sun 05-Jan-14 13:02:00

I've just hung new curtains in our bedroom. It must rate as one of the jobs from hell for those who are recovering from whiplash!

DH 'helped' by taking the weight as I plugged the hooks in the rings but telling me I'd missed one when I got to the end didn't help my frayed temper!

Iam64 Sun 05-Jan-14 13:04:35

Valbeasixties - enjoy this early phase of your retirement. There is always another day I've found, and I'm 3 years on.

On the spring cleaning front, we had an extension and other stuff done over several months last year, the builders/plumbers/electricians finally left at the end of August. We cleaned and cleaned some more. In the pre-Christmas frenzy of cleaning, I did the conservatory again - plaster dust in all the nooks and crannies. How can that be when I was certain I'd got the lot between September and November!

Nelliemoser Sun 05-Jan-14 13:28:05

| would have been doing that but I am still feeling poorly so I am taking it easy and staying warm. I think I am at the stage of not feeling quite so bad as I did yesterday until I try to get up and do something. That is a sort of progress.

I treated myself to a steam cleaner in B&Q sale so I want to get my use out of it.

ninathenana Sun 05-Jan-14 13:50:03

Maybe if I have a blitz I might find the never worn boots that I bought in last years January sales! I need them for when we go to Switzerland in a couple of weeks. You would think that was enough motivation wouldn't you. Ho Hum

Iam64 Sun 05-Jan-14 16:22:26

Nellie, I'd welcome an update on how useful your steam cleaner is. I keep wondering about buying one of them.
Keep warm, and have comforting food and liquids and you'll be up there steaming with the best of them within a few days I'm sure

KatyK Sun 05-Jan-14 18:45:46

Retirement has made me so lazy. I found that when I was working I had a definite routine. Windows, floors, cooker etc all cleaned on a regular (ish) basis. Now I just think 'oh well I can do that tomorrow' and everything is going to rack and ruin. I thought it would be the opposite but it hasn't worked out like that. Must get a grip.

Anniebach Mon 06-Jan-14 16:06:58

I don't get an urge to clean , Spring or any other time . My daughter bought me a new cooker, arranged fitting, delivery etc, I thanked but asked why a black one, I realy do not like black cookers - the reply ' you don't like cleaning them either '. Ouch