Where I live in Queensland, Spring is a very busy time of the year, leading up to Christmas. It's not a great time for me to actually do any spring-cleaning! Then added to the 'busy-ness' of the season is the fact that we usually have quite a few of our family staying with me for a few weeks in December and January - and there is really no point in cleaning before they come! It's so wonderful to be together as a family, but after they have gone and it's just me roaming around our house, I see the accumulated dust and grime and mould and sticky little finger marks from our beautiful great-grandchildren. It's then time for me to get into spring-cleaning mode!
There is usually a three-week period after they have all gone before my many usual activities start in February. That's definitely my time to get the house deep-cleaned from top to bottom, ready to start the new year's endeavours. This year I decided to make concession for my age, and pay for a contractor to come and do it for me. However, there was no response to my email, then no returned phone call from my further contact a day or two later.
In a 'fit of madness' and feeling really well (not something I can always say), I decided to do it all myself! Even after paying people to clean, I usually still have to polish the furniture and wash curtains which are not included, then they charge extra to clean ovens, windows and shutters, and I have had contractors add another $100 to the cost when they see how many windows we have! The clincher was a project I had in mind which could be funded by the money I saved if I did the cleaning myself!
Out came the ticksheet with the list of jobs to do in each room of our large 17-room house. I figured that if I tackled one room each weekday (and allow two days for the family room with its eight floor to ceiling windows), the job was manageable and achievable by the end of January.
In contrast to my initial madness, in a stroke of genius, I decided on a plan which worked brilliantly. I'm usually awake at first light, try to get back to sleep unsuccessfully, and after an hour or so I end up getting up and going for an early morning walk. The plan was to forego the lie-in and walk (I figured there was going to be enough exercise happening in its place), and use those hours before the sun comes up and delivers its searing heat.
Most days went to plan. The air was still pleasantly cool at 4.30 am and I had 2½-3 hours to tackle a room, then have a shower and still have my whole day of normal activities, medical appointments, visits to hubby etc ahead of me! The windows, frames and sills were cleaned, the curtains washed, the skirting boards wiped, the furniture polished, the cupboards sorted, the brass shined, and the high dusting completed with God protecting me so I didn't fall off the ladder. The only things that are still on the list are sorting out my sewing room cupboards and cleaning the oven.
I've enjoyed the great sense of achievement and satisfaction from accomplishing so much, not to speak of the pleasure of having everything sparkling again. I'm so convinced of the benefit of using those early waking house that now I'm tackling the weeds in the gardens at the same time of day! ... And I have ordered two new internal Plantation Shutters to replace broken blinds - so much better use of my money than paying it to a cleaner!
When I haven't been cleaning or with family, there has been some stitching happening, as you can see from the photos!
Happy stitching!
Val
