Nothing like Thanksgiving (esp. when you're the host) to bring cleaning the house, doing the dishes, and all that stuff into focus.

I'm losing my mind in piles of little socks and underwear, half used glasses of juice and milk, stuff left everywhere, and mud pies in the hallway.

Anyone have a good housekeeping tip or two?  

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we hosted our very first thanksgiving dinner, didnt have to clean up to much just had to move some boxes around and get some stuff put away. we just moved into our new house and my husband really wanted to cook turkey so we did, just made sure we got the tv trays from the apt and bar stools to use at the island since we dont have a dining room table yet everything went off without a hitch. we even had some extra vistors, when my sister showed up 2 dogs followed her to the door guess they went back home since i have see them again, then later that nite after everyone left we had a black and white kitten showed up in our backyard and its still there tonite guess i get to go knock on doors tomorrow to see if anyone is missing a family memeber.

I started cleaning my house for Thanksgiving 2 weeks before the big day!  All my friends were laughing at me.  However, this year was the first year I did not feel completely overwhelmed on Thanksgiving morning.  I started my cleaning with everything up high first...pot shelves, blinds, celing fans, windows, & light fixtures, then everyday I did something else...washed finger prints off walls, baseboards, basic dusting & even did all the yard work.  There are 6 people in my house and we still have to live here.  I just continued to do something everyday until all that was left was to vacuum and prepare the food.  I did get lucky because even though I had 30 people for dinner, everyone brought a dish.  It made for a wonderful day.  I so enjoyed myself, that Friday morning I called my neighbors over for breakfast and we had 13 people for breakfast and lunch!  Thanksgiving leftovers are the best! And so much more enjoyable when you can share!  I plan on adopting this new routine for all my Holidays.

Hey...I guess I better get started again as Christmas is right around the corner.

I'm starting today to get ready for Christmas (cleaning wise.)

As in, getting some old unused stuff out of the way to make way for gifts.  And just to make way!

Maybe some lights too, but that will require some yardwork first.  We'll see!! 

I just looked up at my ceiling fans the other day and was absolutely horrified. There's something I always forget to look at or clean. So gross.

ewey.... i have seen a fan like that at my dads house... he called me over one day to clean it he said that stuff started falling off hte fan.... large chuncks of dust.... he never turns it off... so when i turned it off i was completely discusted! yuck.... i had to  hook up the oreck portable vac and clean it, it was just to  much for a rag.

i hate cleaning ceiling fans...it seems like i just cleaned them and they are already dusty.....GRRR.... I hate dust!!!

Yup..... I also have wooden blinds in the LR and den and they are NASTY!!!!!!  I can never get them dust free.... partly becasue I don't have the patience to go through and dust every slat.....  not my cup of tea..... but they look horrible.....   I do the best I can and keep them turned....   and I can relate to the fan situation too.... I did it for the first time a few months ago since moving here and I couldn;t beleive the chunks of dust!!!!!

1. Always fold the clothes and PUT them away immediately if you don't they sit the laundry basket forever! LOL

2. Do the dishes immediately after dinner or they'll sit in the sink or the dishwasher. Get them done and put away.

3. Do cleanings in the mornings then you have the rest of the day just to do what you need to do.

4. If your kids are old enough have them organize their toys. Make their beds.

5. Make beds first thing when you get up. I always do when I follow this routine for myself my day is alittle less overwhelming because everything is pretty much done. I usually have to vaccum and that is it.

Necessary evil.

Dust in the nude. That's a couple more pieces of laundry you won't have to do.