If you’re responsible for hosting holiday events, then you know how exhausting it can be to prepare the food and decorations, let alone making sure your home is clean and presentable to your guests. The holidays are just around the corner and should be spent celebrating and enjoying the company of family and friends rather than spending every waking second cooking and cleaning. We’ve put together some holiday cleaning tips that can be accomplished throughout the week leading up to the big day so you can stress less and feel more relaxed this holiday season.
Day 1: Wash Throw Rugs
A week prior to your guests’ arrival, wash any throw rugs that you have and set them aside to fully dry. Keep them tucked away until the day of to ensure they do not get any dirt or stains on them that would require attention. Be sure to vacuum or shake the rug prior to washing to remove any loose dirt and excess debris that may be in the fibers.
Day 2: Clean Baseboards
You may not think to do this, but guests will notice stains or scuffs that may be on the baseboards in your home, such as in the kitchen, dining room or family room. This is why cleaning your baseboards is a must for holiday preparation and is one of our holiday cleaning tips you’ll want to remember. For painted baseboards, Magic Erasers will work well for this task. If you do not have any, you can substitute by cleaning your baseboards with a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar. Soak a sponge in the mixture and wring thoroughly prior to scrubbing to ensure the baseboards are not left too damp.
Day 3: Clean Furniture
For both leather and upholstered furniture, remove the cushions and vacuum them to remove larger debris that is hidden in the crevices. For leather furniture, create a cleaning solution that is equal parts water and vinegar to clean the leather. Then, condition with a solution that is one part vinegar and two parts flaxseed oil (or linseed oil) and apply lightly, leaving on overnight and wiping down the next day. For upholstered furniture, find the tag that tells you what the fabric cover is made out of, as this will determine what cleaning products to use. Most upholstered furniture allows for water-based detergent; however, some also require steam or professional cleaning. Be sure to follow the cleaning instructions to avoid damaging the cloth.
Day 4: Deep Clean Your Bathroom
Nothing is more unappealing to guests that walking into a dirty and grimy bathroom, so preparing your bathroom is one of the most important holiday cleaning tasks. Some bathroom holiday cleaning tips include cleaning mirrors, wiping down the sink and vanity area, cleaning the shower or tub and of course, the “commode.” Make sure the bathroom has fresh hand towels, a full soap dispenser and extra toiletries to accommodate your guests. If you only have one bathroom in your home, consider doing this the day before guests arrive or spot-cleaning the bathroom later in the week, as well.
Day 5: Deep Clean Your Kitchen
Since this is one of the main rooms that you and your guest will gather in, you’ll want to ensure your kitchen is as clean and inviting as the other rooms of your home. Clean your stove top and grates, as well as your microwave and other small appliances that will be left out, such as your coffee maker. If possible, store any small appliances or items that will not be used in a pantry or closet to provide more room. Reducing clutter on your counters will give an appearance of a cleaner kitchen.
Day 6: Thoroughly Dust
It seems that dust accumulates faster than we realize, so this is one task you’ll want to reserve for a day closer to guests arriving. One of the most obvious holiday cleaning tips entails polishing your bookshelves, dining table and other obvious wooden surfaces in each room. Be sure to pay attention to the less-obvious surfaces, such as ceiling fans, windowsills and blinds, as they tend to accumulate a lot of dirt and dust.
Day 7: Vacuum or Mop All Floors
The day before guests arrive, be sure to go over all flooring with a vacuum to clean up any extra debris and dirt that may have accumulated earlier in the week. For non-carpeted flooring, be sure to mop the areas that guests will be gathering in. If you have a Swiffer Wet-Jet or Swiffer Sweeper, this will suffice for your tile, hardwood or laminate flooring in place of mopping. If you’re planning on shampooing your rugs and carpet, be sure to complete this task earlier in the week to ensure your floors are completely dry by the time your guests arrive.
If Holiday Cleaning Tips Aren’t Enough, Contact Stanley Steemer
You can cut corners and save time by only cleaning rooms you know you will be using and entertaining in. However, if our holiday cleaning tips are still leaving you feeling overwhelmed with “to-dos,” then let the experts at Stanley Steemer take a few tasks off of your list. Stanley Steemer does more than provide expert carpet cleaning solutions for our customers. We also specialize in tile and grout cleaning, hardwood floor cleaning, furniture cleaning, area rug cleaning and air duct cleaning that can prevent added dust from circulating throughout your home. To learn more about our residential services or to get a quote, visit the residential cleaning service page on our website or call 1-800-783-3637 today!