The new cleaning closet - 2

My next task was to assemble any tools that I thought might be needed. There were no written instructions, only pictures, so I did not know exactly what I might need and had to guess. I started with a screwdriver and a glass of wine.

Now, whilst many people may not recognize the necessity of a glass of red wine in DIY and decor, I do. I have assembled typing chairs and tv cabinets in the past - and I recalled the confusion and rejection of seeing hundreds of pieces that mostly looked alike when we ordered that shed... The wine was a 'just in case' relaxant, for dealing with problems such as missing parts, things not working as they should, or puzzling diagrams that did not make logical sense, should I encounter such.

Starting properly, I assembled the first piece - the top - and items needed to be attached to it.

Having inserted the long lumpy screw-things, and screwed on the magnetic latch, I assembled the second picture worth of pieces - for the bottom. This only needed four metal blobs inserting.

This is where I first needed a swig of that wine I mentioned earlier.... because one of the little metal lumps would not insert deeply, whilst the other three went right into their holes. (Fiddle, fiddle, thump, fiddle, fiddle, sip)

Next, I did likewise with the two side pieces - long screw-things and little metal lumps needed to be inserted as I raced my way across the top line of the instruction guide within mere minutes...

 

As you can see by my last photo, I was getting through the bits and pieces quickly and already I had done the top line. I then decided I had better deal with the troublesome little metal thingys as 3 of them would NOT fit into their holes correctly.

The new cleaning closet - 1

The above picture shows why we needed to purchase and install a new kitchen cleaning closet. Not only was the entire object falling away from the wall, lopsided, but the door was falling off its hinges. The first task, of course, was to purchase a new closet. This is what I selected from the choices available online:

The next task was to await its arrival....

 

...and then play pass the parcel, with me unwrapping it every time.

 

Until, finally, we had the pieces escaping into the upper hallway ready to use.

 

I unpacked all the small pieces, of which there were quite a few - BUT, unlike our shed erection saga of last year, they were all easy to identify and matched items listed on the instruction sheet. I did notice that I seemed to have 4 screws and 8 wooden rawplugs in excess, though...

February Update

Firstly, a photo to share of the pantry - I am already wondering if I can enjoy another clean out and reordering, but there are more important things to be done! Spring disappeared for a while, but is apparently back again, so it is time to get on with the half-started project of spring cleaning the house.

 

I left off with the piece of lino cut for the toilet floor - of course, a toilet floor is not a simple rectangle like the bathrolom and there is plenty more work to be done before it is properly lain and neatly 'ready'. Looking at how the toilet was BEFORE may give you a clue as to why I feel it needs lino - one large mat and 4 small ones with another toilet mat on top is very hard to keep clean/vacced. Next job is to remove the carpetting and newspaper - and dust - and lay the lino then glue it into place and hope nobody needs to use the toilet for a few hours - maybe I should borrow one of my dad's diapers, just in case?

 

The kitchen closet under the draining board is coming away from the wall as the fabric bar I glued it to last year is now peeling from the wall. Additionally, the door fell off its hinges recently. This necessitated the urgent purchase of a new self-assemble closet, which thankfully had far less pieces and complication than the horrendous shed of last year. My next task was to assemble it. I am happy to say that this task was sucessfully completed this morning, within an hour, and with photos stored on my camera ready for my next write-up!

Spring Cleaning - job one.

Well, it appears to be spring - albeit in January. The frogs are croaking in the pond of an evening... so I must spring clean! This is what I intended to do, yet have only just begun. The spring air and sunshine has made Dad enjoy trips round the block in the wheelchair, until it promptly disappeared and winter began much later than expected.

 

I have done one spring cleaning chore so far - the grotty corner of the kitchen. I began by removing the two stools and the antique three cornered table and then cleaning the floor over. There were several tools laying on the floor which needed to be washed - ones that I shall probably never use - so have been stored in a bucket in Dad's pink & white room.

 

It was truly a ghastly task - my first spring here, I tackled some of the kitchen - but not this area - and last year I barely did any spring cleaning - so this specific corner could quite easily have remained uncleaned for 5-7 years!

Next, I cleaned the walls - although the photo of the completed task does not show them as ultra clean, due to stains and other irremovable smudges, rust marks, etc - I think readers will agree it looks better, if not perfect. You can definitely see where I stopped scrubbing at the wall!

Replacing the furniture, I was able to tidy things up a tad, allowing for a now clean and tidy area - but, one that stills looks like it needs some attention. Perhaps I should suggest Dad buys some paint....