Day 12 – Decorate and Enjoy!

by StephBuckwalter on December 15, 2012

Although it can be a chore, there’s something special about decorating for the holidays. No matter what your family does for the holidays, you can intentionally reinforce the family traditions you grew up with or create some of your own.

Christmas Decor

Here are some ways to create special memories for the Christmas holiday:

  • Decorate the whole house with one theme.
  • Buy special ornaments one year with each person’s name or the year.
  • Make homemade ornaments.
  • Make homemade gifts for each other one year.
  • Bake together.
  • Work through an Advent Calendar.
  • Work at a food shelter in the days leading up to Christmas.
  • Use your strings of lights in a completely new way this year.
  • Drape string along a wall and hang your Christmas cards on the string for all to see.
  • Design a special combination of spices and nature items to create a signature holiday potpourri.

There are so many more things you can do to decorate and create memories. Let your imagination soar. The important thing is to do things with each other and for others.

 

Image courtesy of nirots / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Day 11 The Twelve Days of Christmas Cleaning

by StephBuckwalter on December 14, 2012

Day 11 – Dusting

Dust all surfaces. Use a cloth rather than a duster. A duster can throw the dust up in the air, only to resettle on the surfaces you just cleaned.

Vases

For dust bunnies or pet dander on the floor, don’t use a broom to sweep. Use one of the sweepers that has a pad that collects dirt or use a vacuum device. Sweeping with a traditional broom throws a lot of it back into the air. Then it resettles, leaving a fine layer of dust over everything.

 

Image courtesy of chokphoto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Day 10 The Twelve Days of Christmas Cleaning

December 13, 2012

Day 10 – Rugs, Carpets and Floors Remember, this is just a holiday touch up, not a deep cleaning. Spot clean the worst areas of rugs and carpets. If you have stairs and the carpet is dirty on the leading edges, spot clean those, too. It will make a big difference. Sweep and mop floors. […]

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Day 9 The Twelve Days of Christmas Cleaning

December 12, 2012

Day 9 – Appliances and Trash Cans The list is short, but this can be a lot of work depending on the last time you tackled these projects. Appliances. Wipe down the outside of the kitchen appliances. Think both big and small. Take a good look at your small appliances you have out or will […]

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Day 8 The Twelve Days of Christmas Cleaning

December 11, 2012

Day 8 – Decorative Items and Cabinets Clean decorative items gently to remove dust and grime. If you have something in a frame, don’t use cleaners that can seep under the glass. Plastic items can be run through a dishwasher. Take your time and clean things well. This will add a nice sparkle to your […]

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Day 7 – The Twelve Days of Christmas Cleaning

December 10, 2012

Day 7 – Windows, Light Fixtures, and Ceiling Fans Today, think “light” and “air.” Here are things to examine to see if they need cleaning: Windows and glass doors: Clean inside and out. Mini blinds. You can use a sock on your hand, a specialized tool, or even spray them down in the shower. The […]

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Day 6 – The Twelve Days of Christmas Cleaning

December 8, 2012

Day 6 – The Walls Now it’s time to start cleaning. Today, just work on the walls. Believe it or not, the cleaning tasks I will assign the rest of our 12 days will make your house look wonderful. So far, you’ve only gotten stuff out of the way. Even if you haven’t done any […]

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Day 5 – The Twelve Days of Christmas Cleaning

December 7, 2012

Day 5 – The Bathrooms The biggest organizational challenges in the bathroom tend to be no place for towels and too many bottles of cleaning supplies and body cleansers. For the first prone cheap solution is to get an over-the-door rack for the towels to keep them off the floor. We have one like the […]

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Day 4 – The Twelve Days of Christmas Cleaning

December 6, 2012

Day 4 – The Kitchen The kitchen can be a big deal. Counter space is hard to come by in most kitchens so finding more space, especially for entertaining, can be a real challenge. Here are some suggestions: Consider boxing some of the large appliances that you won’t need–at least for the holidays. Instead of […]

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Day 3 – The Twelve Days of Christmas Cleaning

December 5, 2012

Day 3 – The Dining Room Use the same routine here to get rid of items that don’t belong. Either put them away or box them. The dining room may be very quick and easy if it is a single-purpose room in your home. Clear all surfaces and leave out only decorative items. If not, […]

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