‘Tis the season for celebrating and decking the halls. If you’re anything like us, you love holiday hosting. But suddenly one can be very inspired to clean when they realize they'll soon be hosting guests in their home! This holiday season, we’ve put together a holiday cleaning checklist (and we checked it twice) that can help take your home from naughty to nice!
Holiday Cleaning In The House
Walls: Wipe down to eliminate scuffs and marks. Using Mr. Clean's "Magic Erasers" will be your fastest, easiest option. But even something as simple and warm water and dish soap will do the trick in most cases.
Windows: Use a strong glass cleaner to remove dog nose art and handprints from the little ones. Some glass cleaners are scented in pine, orange or lemon, to spice up your holiday cleaning.
Floors: Vacuum or sweep and mop all floors. Don't forget to wipe down the baseboards. If cleaning hardwood, using a special hardwood floor cleaner is ideal.
Under couches: This isn't completely necessary, but for those who want to take their cleaning to the next level, get under there to vacuum and mop! If you want a half-measure, use a swiffer stick!
Behind the refrigerator: Same as above, this goes into deep clean territory and not necessary for your guests. If you do clean behind the fridge, try to find some help while moving it.
Carpet: Spot clean to remove stains. Then run a vacuum over the perimeter of every carpet. If you want to go above any beyond you can also steam clean.
Houseplants: Your plants get dustier than you might think, especially if you live with furry friends. Wipe down plants with larger leaves using a damp paper towel. Plants with smaller leaves should be misted with room temperature water. Depending on the situation, a standard duster or hand-held vacuum might do the trick.
Entryway
Wipe down doors. Especially around the handle! *TIP* Set a designated space for visitors’ shoes and coats. Store a boot tray by the front door to contain the mess from guests’ dirty shoes. Remove out-of-season items from the coat closet to free up space for guests’ coats and stock the closet with sturdy hangers.
Ensure each entryway has a mat and throw rug to prevent dirt from being tracked throughout the house. Shake out doormats and launder if necessary.
Kitchen
You and most everyone else will spend a lot of time in here. Wipe down all surfaces, countertops, kitchen appliances and your stovetop, double-checking for grease stains. Gleaming countertops give the appeal of a clean kitchen.
Deep-clean the oven, fridge and freezer. We find the best way to get out the hardest stains is by taking whatever cleaning spray you're using and soaking that spot. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes and come back. It should wipe right off.
Dust everywhere—don’t forget the top of the fridge! Some people are tall enough to see.
Clean any dirty dishes left in the sink.
Deodorize and clean out the fridge and wipe down all inside surfaces. Throw out anything past its expiration date to make room for holiday leftovers. Some folks peep into the fridge by habit.
Wash all hand towels, aprons, potholders and dish clothes, ensuring they’re clean and ready for holiday hosting.
Condition your cutting board for an added accent to the kitchen.
Take out the trash.
Empty the dishwasher.
Polish the sink.
Clean out the garbage disposal.
Living Room
Carpet: Spot clean any noticeable stains.
Arrange and fluff pillows and sofa cushions.
Spot-clean any noticeable stains on the furniture and other surfaces.
Wipe all surfaces (coffee table, side tables, shelves and all furniture) with a damp rag or microfiber duster.
Launder all throw blankets and fold neatly.
Vacuum furniture and spot clean stains. If you have dogs or cats, you may need to lint-roll any furniture.
Vacuum any pine needles that may have fallen around the Christmas tree.
Dining Room
Polish all silver.
Wash all dishes that you plan to use for serving.
Clean and press any napkins or table cloths that you plan to host with.
Polish the dining room table.
Ensure that you have enough seating for guests.
Set the table with enough place settings for guests in attendance.
Keep coasters on table tops to prevent drink rings on furniture.
*TIP* If you can, top the table off with fresh flowers for a centerpiece.
Bathroom
Clean mirrors with a powerful glass cleaner to remove water spots. Enjoy a streak-free reflection.
Declutter the vanity of personal products.
Wipe down countertops, the faucet and the sink. Really make sure the faucet is sparkling and has zero fingerprints or streaks.
Stock the bathroom with fresh bath towels, washcloths and hand towels.
Give the toilet a go with a toilet brush and toilet cleaner.
Clean the tub and shower (or at least close the shower curtain if you don't!) .
Refill the soap dispenser and replenish all toiletries, supplying extra for anything your guests may forget. Supply tissues and hand sanitizer.
If you want to go the extra mile, check for leaks and anything that may be broken. Have them fixed before your big night.
Bedrooms (if any guests are staying over night)
Make the bed. Fresh sheets and pillows guarantee a warm welcome.
Fluff pillows and neatly arrange blankets.
Go the extra mile. Provide magazines, clean towels, extra toiletries, a luggage rack and bottled water for guests. Make them feel special like their at a hotel!
Record the Wi-Fi password for guests, making it easily accessible.
Remove all personal belongings from the guest bedroom.
Holiday Prep Outside Your Home
Windows: Use a powerful glass cleaner to clean the outside of all windows.
Put up and turn on holiday decor and lights.
Inform your neighbors that you plan on having several guests over for the holidays sooner rather than later. People are more likely to be considerate of overnight street parking if they know in advance.
Put any yard tools away, perhaps in a shed or garage. This includes rakes, lawnmowers or snow shovels.
If there’s winter weather, be sure to shovel and salt the walk/driveway.
More Tips for Holiday Cleaning
Don’t Procrastinate It’s always better to begin sooner rather than later. Wait until the last minute, and you’ll be left in a heated scramble while cleaning for the holidays to get your space looking spotless.
Everything Has its Place Declutter any lingering items such as coats, miscellaneous pieces of mail and other misplaced objects. As they say, a place for everything and everything in its place. Picking up clutter prior to cleaning saves time in the long run. If an item is out of place, put it where it belongs.
Use Specialized Cleaning Products While it may be tempting to use an all-purpose cleaner as a one-size-fits-all cleaning solution, it could be detrimental in the long run. Permeable surfaces, leather, wood, stone, etc., require a specialized product to protect their surfaces. Dedicated cleaners extend the life of your home décor and possessions.
Tackle One Room at a Time In the grand scheme of things, holiday cleaning creeps up on the best of us. But, tackling one room at a time breaks up the work and makes the tedious tasks less stressful.
Focus on Rooms With High Traffic The goal is to clean your entire home, but if you can't, place your focus on rooms where guests are likely to congregate, like the dining room, kitchen and living room. These spaces should be the focal point of your holiday cleaning.
Set the Mood Light a holiday candle and flood your space with pleasant aromas of pine, spice, and holiday tidings. Throw on your favorite tunes and adjust the thermostat to a comfortable temperature. Going the extra mile to make your guests feel comfortable is a gesture they won’t soon forget. When your home is spotless and ready for the holidays, hosting will be a stress-free breeze!
Hire someone to clean for you! If you're too busy and don't have time, don't worry because you're not the only one! That's where we come in. This is what we do and we'd be happy to help you get prepared for your guests arrival! Or what about after they leave? We can help with that too!
If for any reason you need help cleaning this holiday season, reach out to us at Homes of Acadia! We can help with all types of cleaning, even down to decluttering and reorganizing your home to help free up space in your home and your mind. Plus with our handyman services we can assist you with any home improvement projects you may want to get done before your guests arrive. Please visit our website for more info!
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