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House and home

too early to spring clean?

(72 Posts)
appygran Sun 10-Jan-16 13:07:29

Forget cleaning I brightened the house and cheered myself up with half a dozen bunches of daffodils. House now looks bright and cheerful.

BRedhead59 Sun 10-Jan-16 12:29:54

New cushions works for me!

marpau Sun 10-Jan-16 10:56:38

After taking down decs the house does look bare so I usually fill 2 or 3 vases with flowers to brighten things up. Lidl had some lovely ones this week

annodomini Sun 10-Jan-16 10:37:08

It's great to see the sun when it does make an appearance, ajanela but it shows up the fact that my west-facing windows badly need cleaning. Washing curtains is easy enough; ironing them is something else! What I must do is make new ones for my bedroom. The old ones are badly faded down one side due to exposure to the sun.

ginny Sun 10-Jan-16 10:01:14

We are about to embark on some decorating, dining room and kitchen .
As for 'spring' cleaning. I just do things when it needs doing and I am in the mood. Although, we tend to do the big job in the Autumn and winter so we can get out and about when the weather is better.

ajanela Sun 10-Jan-16 09:59:52

Ask the sun to come out and then everything will look better and you can see better what needs doing.

If you are going to get rid of the rug try washing it, nothing lost. Went to someone's house yesterday and she had removed a rug because she had tripped on it and broken her foot and without the rug everything looked better and was safer.

I also wash most curtains, they do shrink a bit biut they were long enough to still look good.

Lesley1 Sun 10-Jan-16 09:49:35

I spring clean twice a year, once in February/ March and again just before Christmas. However the one before Christmas is mainly just the downstairs that gets done. Well it's the only part of the house that visitors see. We are in the process of decorating the upstairs, well my other half is as he's got three weeks hols starting tomorrow. I just supervise and pick the colour scheme, make drinks and feed him lol.winksmile

granjura Sat 09-Jan-16 17:59:33

Same as Mama- no Spring clean as such- but I do leave big obs well alone in winter. Since last year, as this rambling place is a bit on the large side... I pay my younger neighbour and friend to help me with big jobs and decorating- much more fun together- we have a good natter and the music on- much better.

Galen Sat 09-Jan-16 17:40:04

Surely a quinquennial clean is sufficient?

MamaCaz Sat 09-Jan-16 17:05:15

I don't have "spring" cleans - I keep the place as clean as I can on a day-to-day / weekly basis and do a "deep clean" whenever a part of the house looks to need it.

Decorating, on the other hand, I would prefer to do at a warmer, drier time of year. However, that said, I don't think I can put off some serious work on the lounge and I've got some paint tester pots sitting here right now. All that remains is to either get DH onside or find a way of keeping him out of the way while I get on with it. Wish me luck, as I'll need it!

grannylyn65 Sat 09-Jan-16 17:01:55

Never have, never will!!!

petra Sat 09-Jan-16 16:54:15

What would you leave to clean only once a year?

tanith Fri 08-Jan-16 21:45:51

I don't clean in the Spring I just do 'stuff' when it looks grubby but my house is small and easy to keep clean. I do open my windows every day Summer and Winter, I just like fresh air in the house each day can't abide a stuffy house.

granjura Fri 08-Jan-16 21:35:46

I am a Spring cleaner myself- and decorator- when I can open all the windows. I could never understand why anyone would want to do so in winter. Bought a VAX carpet cleaner from Asda last week to bring back here- but again, won't be using it until said windows can stay open all day.

Wheniwasyourage Fri 08-Jan-16 21:28:29

For the last few decades years I've assumed that spring cleaning should happen in spring, but then if the weather is good in spring, it turns out that the garden is much more inviting and so the spring cleaning fades away. That means I feel that if any extra cleaning (sorry, I'm having great difficulty with these concepts) is to be done, it should be done now while the weather is horrible. This is Step 1. Step 2, which is yet to materialise, is actually to do some cleaning. Don't, as they say, hold your breath... hmm

Alea Fri 08-Jan-16 18:59:21

YES, YES, YES much too early, but I know what you mean, decs and Christmas cards are an excellent excuse for not dusting!

rosesarered Fri 08-Jan-16 17:56:52

I nearly always wash things that say dry clean, with perfect results.Including a faux fur throw, which I was doubtful about, cushion covers and ALL curtains.

Hildie Fri 08-Jan-16 17:33:05

oh, I like the sound of the range nottooold, i shall have to find out if there's one near me! I likje the sound of the cushion particularly.

pittcity i was hoping you wouldn'[t say that! I've been eyeing up the rug and my bottle of vanish... too hopeful?! probably. maybe it's time to go shopping for a nice bright new one... how awful grin

Pittcity Fri 08-Jan-16 17:14:06

The I think it's a problem with all of us at this time of year HildieThe rug will need professional cleaning or you can do it with a borrowed machine. Sometimes it's cheaper just to buy a new one.
We are planning a bit of redecoration and then I will have my carpets cleaned.
I have left some fairy lights up on a tall grass thingy to brighten things up and I find that simply moving things around a bit makes a change of outlook.

NotTooOld Fri 08-Jan-16 17:13:02

Do what I did - visit the Range (oh, dear, does that count as advertising? I might get deleted...) They sell all sorts of stuff for the home and it's cheap. I bought two electric candles (they run on batteries) for £1.99 each, two crackled glass candle holders (£1.49 each), a big silver bottle (£6.99) and a nice cushion with butterflies on it. They've really perked up the sitting room since the decs have gone. Mind you, DH wasn't best pleased (there were mumblings of 'spending money on tat') but men don't understand these things.

Hildie Fri 08-Jan-16 16:40:44

oh sorry for the typos!

Hildie Fri 08-Jan-16 16:38:42

I know it's only January, but putting the decs away doesn't really feel sufficient looking around. I've hoovered up the pine needles and am now left with a grubby rug that I'm not sure how to wash (not machine washable( and an uninspiring living room.

what can i do to brighten the place up a bit without spending a fotune or getting the paint rollers out - any suggestions gratefully received...i feel a 'project' cominh on grin