There’s enough time before #Christmas to complete the 12-day holiday cleaning countdown Real Simple suggests to get the whole house in order with just a little daily effort. On the first day, simply stock up on #cleaning supplies. Next, clean out the pantry; you may be doing some cooking, and expired items will get in the way. Ten days out, take stock of your tableware; then clean the oven, refrigerator and kitchen floors. Move on to the bathrooms and guest rooms. With targeted but ongoing efforts, all you’ll need to do is empty the trashcans and sweep the floors by the final day before your guests arrive.
Tag: holiday tips
Start Your Holiday Cleaning ASAP
Start your #holiday #cleaning early, Forbes advises. #Declutter things that have a tendency to collect in places they don’t belong, such as laundry, mail and other objects. Tackle a room at a time, starting with the ones that will get the most use: the dining room, living room and kitchen. The entryway is important to maintaining cleanliness, so designate a space for guests’ shoes and coats, including a boot tray or doormat for mucked-up footwear. Once you’ve completed the #cleaning to your satisfaction, set the mood by mulling a hot beverage or lighting a scented candle. Turn on the holiday tunes and enjoy the season!
Deep-Clean or Quick-Clean for the Holidays
Hosting for the #holidays? You’ll probably need to #tidy up before friends and family arrive. Better Homes & Gardens offers tips for a seven-day, comprehensive, preholiday deep-clean; targeted, one-hour spruce-ups; and emergency triage for holiday stains. If you only have an hour or two before your guests arrive, focus on the bathrooms they will use, as well as the entryway, living room and kitchen. “Carry a laundry basket throughout the house, picking up #clutter as you go. Once filled, put everything in its place or hide the basket.” Revisit the basket after the holidays to see what you might #donate to ClothingDonations.org.
Begin Your Holiday Baking Now
#Holiday stress will really start to #snowball after Thanksgiving. Why not get some of your baking out of the way now? There are plenty of #recipes you can make ahead of time and pull out of the freezer to enjoy at a later date, Parade says. Homemade cookies and confections such as peppermint bark, peanut brittle, sugar cookies, gingerbread, fudge and (everyone’s favorite) peanut butter blossoms can be baked weeks in advance. Freeze them and thaw them out a few hours before giving them as a gift in a festive tin or plating them for the holiday feast. You’ll have more time to relax and enjoy the celebration! #HolidayTips
Take Stock of Your Home Early in the Season
Take stock of your home early in the #holiday season, the Seattle Times says. Start with holiday #decorations by weeding out anything you don’t use and #donating those things before you have the chance to store them for another season. “It’s also a good time to go through and #donate clothes, coats, toys and books,” the story says; services such as ClothingDonations.org make it easy to get those items to homes that want them while contributing to a good cause. Finally, guest-proof your house by making sure there’s adequate seating, that all surfaces are clear of clutter, and plenty of fresh towels and linens are available. #HolidayTips