The holidays inevitability means houseguests for many of us. Not only do you have the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, baking and wrapping, but you want your house to look, feel and smell clean by the time guests arrive.
Whether you have a few minutes before they arrive or a few hours, I have a few tips that will have you welcoming guests with open arms!
Guest Room / Spare Bedroom
• Strip the bed and put on fresh sheets
• Put out extra towels and showering essentials
• Empty some space in a dresser drawer or closet
• Vacuum and dust. Be sure to check for cobwebs
• Add fresh flowers or a plant
Living and Dining Rooms
• Pick up stray items, if they don’t belong in that room – get them out
• Dust and straighten and you go
• Vacuum and include upholstery if you have time
• Clean electronics with a damp microfiber cloth
• Freshen up pillows and throws by tossing them in the dryer on the air-only setting with a sheet of fabric softener
• Polish silverware
• Put out fresh flowers and / or light candles
Refresh Bathroom
• Spray down mirror, vanity and light fixtures with multi-purpose cleaner. Let the cleaner sit while you replace towels, then wipe surfaces with microfiber cloth
• Clean toilet, inside and out. Let disinfectant sit in bowl until you’re finished with the rest of the bathroom
• Empty wastebasket
• Shine fixtures using an unused dryer sheet
• Clean shower
• Wash shower curtain
Kitchen
• De-clutter counters
• Spritz counters, and cabinet fronts with disinfectant and wipe down with microfiber cloth
• Empty trash
• Go through the fridge. Get rid of old food, then wipe down shelves and doors
• Wipe down microwave. Microwave one cup of water for 1 to 2 minutes and let sit for another few minutes so you can easily wipe down the inside. Be sure to remove the glass turntable (if applicable) and wash with hot, soapy water.
You can’t stop the holidays from coming…or the parties and houseguests! But, follow these steps and you can stop the worry and stress and enjoy your guests!
For keeping up with your home on a regular basis, you can download my Countdown to Clean Series Checklist for daily, weekly, monthly and annual cleaning schedules.
About TidyMom:
A self-proclaimed neat freak, Cheryl chronicles her journey through homemaking on her blog, TidyMom, where she shares recipes, tutorials, crafting and her ever-growing love for photography. This St. Louis mom juggles her passion for life, her daughters and her tiger-loving husband, all while her obsession with tidiness cleans up the trail blazed behind her. Follow Cheryl on Twitter and join her on Facebook.
Great tips Cheryl. I love the idea of filling the house with fresh flowers and plants to make guests feel welcome.