The holidays are here, which means it’s time to clean up and get ready to host and entertain. For some people, cleaning is fun but for others, it can be a daunting task.
To help those less inclined, we’ve developed a simple checklist that will guide you while cleaning your house for the holiday and prep your home for entertaining.
Entryway
The entry is the first place your guests set their eyes on. Some ways to help manage this area is to have enough room at the entryway for coats, bags and shoes. The best way to begin your cleanup at this point is:
Wipe entry table surface
Dust frames and decorations
Organize any furniture that is around the entryway
Living Room
The living room is a room used in different ways by people during a gathering; either for sitting, watching the game, maybe a public space where kids can play. Keep an empty basket where kids can put all the toys when they are not playing. This will make clearing toys much easier. To make sure your living room is holiday ready:
Declutter table tops
Dust the fan and light fixtures
Wipe the blinds and dust window treatments
Wash your windows
Shine your furniture with polish
Clean rugs and carpet by shampooing
Fireplace & Hearth
A lot of people will say that the fireplace is the heart of your home, so you need to treat it as such. Additionally, if you don’t have a properly cleaned and working fireplace, that could become a safety hazard. The best and most available cleaning supplies are ammonia and most oven cleaners will also work well. Some fireplace cleaners come prepackaged so look around for some organic fireplace cleaners at your local store.
Remove any debris
Sweep the chimney thoroughly
Spray in the cleaning supplies
Let the cleaning agent sit a while
Clean off the build up by buffing
Bathrooms and Vanities
Bathrooms are probably the most used areas during holiday gatherings (I’m looking at you, barbecue little smokies that grandma brings every year). When guests come to your home, chances are they will use the bathroom. Ensure that your bathrooms are ready to do their job and make you look good in the process by double checking the plumbing and giving it a good clean.
Wipe mirrors, countertops, and sink
Clean the tub, shower and tile
Scrub the toilet bowl and seat with disinfectant
Wash and fold towels, stock up on these too
Fill soap and shampoo bottles
Stock up on toilet paper
Bedrooms and Guest Rooms
If you’re hosting guests on an overnight stay, you’ll want to make sure that they have a clean, welcoming room to stay. In addition to cleaning, ensure the closets have space to keep the guests’ change over clothes. Also ensure that you have extra towels prepared for the guests you are expecting to sleep over.
Clean window treatments
Change out sheets and pillow cases
Empty trashcans
Dust fans
Sweep and vacuum floors
Home Office
If your home office is in an open part of the home, ensure to keep away the things you prefer to keep private in an organized. Keep all your files and folders neatly organized on a shelf or table top out of reach of children.
Organize the books and paperwork
Dust off frames and books and decor
Clean the windows and window treatments
Dining Room
The dining rom is bound to get busy during the holidays. While people may not use that space to hang out, it will be the setting for dinner. If you keep utensils in the dining room, ensure they are all cleaned and well organized. Once you have covered the basics, you are set to get cleaning.
Clean your blinds
Clean floors
Wash your tabletop linens
Dust furniture, frames and decor
Water your plants if you have them
Kitchen
Many guests end up in the kitchen at one point or another in a party. Inevitably, you’ll need to do a deep clean to get ready for cooking.
Clean out the sink
Clean the stovetop
Wipe the cabinet doors
Degrease all countertops
Prep all of your serving dishes
Sweep and mop your floors
For those of you who need a real deep cleaning, you can get in touch with Maid-zen today!
