You’ve decked the halls of your house with decorations, there’s the telltale winter chill in the air, the holiday music is perking up your mood, and you’re thinking of hosting a holiday party. The best part of hosting a holiday party is taking a break from your busy holiday schedule to enjoy time with friends and family. The worst part of hosting a holiday party is getting your home clean for guests. Just thinking about having to get your house party presentable is enough to make you want to get rid of the whole idea. Not so fast! We have some handy tips with the help of Better Homes and Gardens to help make your pre-party cleaning routine manageable.
Deep clean vs. quick clean
Ideally, before party day arrives you’ll do a thorough cleaning of your entire house. Realistically, this time of year can be busier than normal and before you know it, you only have a short amount of time to dedicate to cleaning. When you’re pressed for time, focus on cleaning and organizing the areas your guests will use and see. The following areas should get the most attention:
Entryway – start from the outside and work your way in. Clear your front steps or porch of any unnecessary clutter such as toys, shovels, or tools. Make sure the walkway and steps are clear of snow and ice. Once inside, check the corners of your foyer walls for cobwebs. Don’t forget to clean your chandelier or ceiling lights, too. If you have a glass front door, be sure to remove all fingerprints or smudge marks. Eliminate all unnecessary items that tend to collect by the entryway, such as shoes, umbrellas and bags.
Bathroom – spend extra time getting your bathroom guest-ready. Besides cleaning the toilet, bathtub, sink and vanity top, extra touches make more of an impact. Clear the counters of personal hygiene items and empty the trash. Make sure your shiny surfaces glow–clean the faucet, fixtures, and mirror. Set out fresh hand towels and fill the soap dispenser. Check your light switch to make sure it’s not grimy – it’s the last thing guests will look at before leaving the bathroom.
Kitchen – as with the other areas, clear the counters of as much clutter as possible. Relocate items such as your mail and children’s homework projects to another room. If you have stainless steel appliances, wipe the surfaces to remove unsightly water marks, smudges, and fingerprints. If time permits, clean inside your oven and inside your refrigerator; guests giving you a hand with the food prep may be peeking inside these areas.
Living Room, or the area you’ll be doing most of the entertaining – In addition to a quick vacuuming and dusting session, spend a bit of time making the main entertaining area welcoming. Make the seating areas inviting and comfortable. Fluff the couch cushions and decorative pillows. If you have a stubborn stain on your couch, try covering it with a decorative throw or blanket. Get rid of pet hair on couches and chairs with the help of a sticky lint roller brush, or pieces of mailing tape.
Consolidate your pile of magazines and books on your coffee tables into smaller piles, or consider removing them, especially if guests will need the room to place their drinks and plates.
Final tip: to help you decide what areas of your house to focus on cleaning, think of when you go to other people’s homes; what areas do you notice? Where has your eye caught a cobweb? Think of these places when getting your home ready for holiday guests.