Tips in Home Cleaning for A Stress Free Season

Stay tidy this holiday season, with the Clean Feels Good Holiday Blog Hop

Got caught up with the hustle and bustle of December? Wanting the Holidays to be beautiful and perfect in every way? Make this holiday season more simple, more organized and less stressful.

Here's a few tips to help you prepare for the holidays, so you can enjoy friends, family and your home .

TIDY UP AND  PRIORITIZE

Your holiday to-do list is probably endless…..am I right?  Finding time to clean and what to clean is probably not as bad as you think. Begin with the simple things.  A tidy home looks cleaner than a cluttered home. So without any cleaning at all, you can make a much better impression on guests if you take some time to grab a laundry basket and pick up all that stuff that belongs elsewhere.   Holiday Cleaning Tip:  Move from left to right around the room (do this when picking up and cleaning).  This helps you to remember everything behind you is now considered a clean, clutter-free zone and everything ahead of you requires attention.

When you are ready to start cleaning, if you can, space it out over a few days and start in the most important, or difficult, room in your home.  Prioritizing your room ensures you get the most meaningful rooms done first — so if you run out of time, you’ll still be ok.

PREPARING GUEST BATHROOM FOR VISITORS

• Most importantly, make sure the entire bathroom is squeaky clean.
• Place a basket in the bathroom with little amenities your guests may have forgotten to pack, such as cotton swabs, toothpaste, a toothbrush, hairspray, ibuprofen and more. Even the most organized travelers will forget something.  Stock shower with shampoo, conditioner, soap and a razor.
• Brighten up the bath with fresh flowers, scented soaps and holiday decor.
• Stock bath towels, washcloths and hand towels.  I like to splurge on a few thick, 100 percent cotton towels (watch for clearance sales) in a color different from our regular towels, so we always have the “good” towels ready for guests.
• Fill a tub side bin with an assortment of sponges, bath salts, loofahs, bath brushes along with scented soaps and lotions to treat your guests to a spa-like experience.
• If space allows, provide guests with a basket or bin for stashing used towels and linens.

FRESHEN UP NATURALLY

Uses herbs like lavender and chamomile to freshen your home. Fill a spray bottle with 20 drops of lavender essential oil, 1 teaspoon vodka and water to create a linen spray. Lavender is known to reduce stress, promote calm and aide in relaxation. Mist bed linens, lamp shades, shower curtains and drapes. Grind up lavender and chamomile with baking soda in a food processor to sprinkle on rugs and carpets to remove odor. Just leave overnight and vacuum the next day.  Holiday Cleaning Tip:  choose essential oils in holiday scents, like peppermint or pine, to spray sofas and drapes other living spaces.

PLAN AHEAD

Send your invites early: This will help you budget for food, time, chairs, dinnerware etc. Choose your menu well in advance:  Go through traditional family recipes, cookbooks, or visiting your favorite food blog, or websites for ideas.  If choosing a potluck, make a list of what type of food you’d like guests to bring and let them know once they accept the invitation.

PLAN YOUR HOLIDAY TABLE

• Clean Your Table

Start by removing everything from your dining room table and giving it a good scrub down or polish.

• Plan and wash dinnerware, glassware, serving ware, table linens (table runner or table cloth, napkins). If you need to shine silver flatware, do it now too.
• Lay It Out

After you have all your supplies, lay them out on your table to get an idea of what they look like together. Grab a couple chargers and place them in front of each chair. Go with plain chargers and then get decorative with the plates, glasses and napkins.

• Add Finishing Touches

Now that you have the basics covered, its time to add all the details! Grab some holiday touches;  holiday candles, ornaments, fresh pine and other seasonal decorations. Spread them out across your table however you like. Add more, move things around, make your holiday tablescape perfectly you!

ENLIST HELP

If you are a type A (like me) you might like to take the honor of making and planning the entire holiday gathering.  Things will run much smoother and be less stressful if you have some help.  People often WANT to help!  Just ask.   If your uncle is good at cutting the turkey, ask him if he can arrive a little early to cut and plate it. Older kids and teens can help bring out chairs, and take guests jackets as they arrive. Remember, you want to enjoy the day as well.

COOK IN ADVANCE

You don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn to do all of the cooking and baking on the day of the event. Many vegetable side dishes, casseroles and desserts can be made in advance and kept in the refrigerator or freezer.

The holidays only come around once a year, cherish those around you, and give thanks for having loved ones near.

Remember, be flexible in your plans, life happens and unforeseen holiday challenges may arise. With a little planning though, your guests will enjoy your company, holiday home and meal. Keep the memories not the mess.


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