The key to entertaining for the holidays is preparation. Certainly, you can’t predict what will happen once your friends and family walk through the door, but you can welcome them into a cleaned and organized home.
Use this holiday cleaning list from The Maids to make sure that your plans go off without a hitch.
- Touch up the entryway. This is the first place your guests will see, so dust all surfaces, polish the doorknob and decorate with seasonal items to immediately put your guests in the holiday spirit.
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- Make room in your coat closet for your guests’ outerwear. Add extra hangers if necessary. Consider donating any outgrown apparel to a local charity organization.
- Launder bedding for any overnight guests. Make sure to leave clean towels in each guest bedroom and bathroom.
- Launder throw rugs so they look fresh for houseguests.
- Clean out your refrigerator to make room for leftovers. Make sure you have adequate storage containers and space for the extra food before the meals begin. Leave an open box of baking soda inside to absorb any odors your holiday goodies might leave behind.
- Give your garbage disposal some extra attention. To cut down on odors, chop up a whole lemon and let the disposal go to work. Toss in several ice cubes to sharpen the blades.
- Clean the inside of the oven and the top of the stove. You don’t want the smell of roast turkey, ham or chicken to be overshadowed by the smell of last Thursday’s “meatloaf surprise.”
- Empty all trash containers. Clean and disinfect inside and out with warm, soapy water and a neutral disinfectant. Drop several extra trash liners inside each container before relining for a quick and easy way to remove future trash when it really starts to pile up.
- Have a big family? Plan ahead by moving furniture, like small end tables and large potted plants, to a spare room to allow for extra chairs and sitting space. Be sure to dust and vacuum the new furniture — especially if it hasn’t been used in a while.
This holiday cleaning list is sure to help ease the chaos of friends and family gatherings, allowing you to focus on what’s most important: their company. To further prepare, cook a few dishes ahead of time and freeze them. Consider renting a few family-friendly movies or stock up on your family’s favorite games in case bad weather hits.
Need an extra hand around the house to prepare for guests? Call The Maids and schedule a holiday cleaning to really impress your guests. We also invite you to save the infographic below, which outlines our cleaning checklist.