Deep Dark Cleaning

This week I am getting up an hour early every morning to deep-clean the house. This morning I crept past Daisy's door, had my coffee while peering out into the dark, foggy pasture, then got out my gingerbread kit and got to work.

I love the idea of heading into Advent with a clean and peaceful house, so I am following my

Simple Guidelines for Deep Cleaning One Room at a Time:

•Deep breath.
•Put away everything that's out of place, throw away trash.
•Do anything that's going to make a mess, like trimming plants.
•Collect loose items and set them outside the door so they're not in the way.
•Can anything go in the laundry (curtains, rugs), or dishwasher? Do it.
•Dust walls and ceiling with a long duster. Dust everything else within reach with a microfiber cloth. Wipe baseboards and quarter-rounds.
•Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum.
•Vacuum upholstered furniture.
•Get a bucket of hot, soapy, fragrant water. Wipe everything that needs it--edges of floors where the mop doesn't get, light switches, any painted walls with fingerprints or smears. Then use bucket to:
•Mop the floor.
•Polish furniture with lemon oil.
•Clean mirrors and glass.
•Put everything back.

I did three rooms today--the sitting room, living room, and sewing room, which are my usual Monday routine. The whole house will be sweet by Friday, and next week will be time for cookies and a few of these trees .