The holidays are almost upon us, and if you’re like most families across the United States, you’ll be gearing up to welcome some festive visitors, including Santa!
Having an untidy home throughout the holiday season might be par for the course for many, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Keeping the place tidy and relatively clean is within your means, and fortunately, without too much effort. Here are some simple tips for a tidier home this holiday season:
Keep your entryway clean at all times
If you do have visitors over Christmas, unexpected or otherwise, you’ll want to give them a good first impression by keeping the main entryway to your home, as clean and tidy as possible. String lights across the doorway and a wreath on the door are a welcoming addition, and with a little luck, these might distract visitors from noticing the cobwebs in the corners!
However, for a truly clean entryway, you do need to eliminate cobwebs and dust, and ideally, have a place for outside footwear and coats etc. so that dirt doesn’t get tracked through into your home. A mat for wiping feet on is a helpful addition, and if you’re worried about the space getting a bit smelly, try a plug-in fragrance device.
Make sure the sink is clear of dishes
Even if the dishwasher is full and getting fuller with every passing minute, your dirty crockery is at least hidden away inside it, and not out on plain view in the kitchen for anyone to see. Ideally though, run your dishwasher a little more often over the festive period, to avoid a build up of dirty plates and glasses, and to ensure that visitors have something clean to drink from when they turn up unexpectedly at your door!
Clean the couch
Crumbs and general detritus always find their way to the couch during the holidays, but there’s nothing worse than sitting down on a hosts couch only to find that when you stand up, you’ve got crumbs, dog hairs and sticky sweet wrappers stuck to your pants! Vacuum your couch at least once a day, try to encourage members of the household not to eat food while sitting on it, and make sure that if your pets are allowed onto the couch, that they always sit or lie on a blanket.
Focus on problem areas
Spaces like the family bathroom, kitchen and living room are likely to get untidy and cluttered, especially over the holiday period when everyone is at home, so even if you don’t have time to clean anywhere else in the home, try to make sure that these are at least tidy.
Use fragrance to disguise unclean smells!
While scented oils and candles help create a festive feel over the holidays, they are also wonderfully effective for masking and neutralizing nasty smells that can easily build up in a home with pets and children. You can also try placing some freshly cut herbs in vases dotted around your home.
Call in the pros
Who really wants to be cleaning over Christmas? Professional cleaners, that’s who! It’s their job and most are grateful for the money at this typically expensive time of the year, so why not alleviate your stress levels and free up your time by hiring a cleaning service.
With these tips, you can easily keep your home clean and tidy over the holidays, and have more time for relaxing with friends and loved ones over a glass or two of sherry!
