With the holidays right around the corner and all your piled up to-do lists, you might find yourself lost in a situation where you don’t even know where to start cleaning the house! But worry no more, simply gather up your supplies and follow the steps below for a speedy cleaning to have your home ready and presentable to receive all your friends and family for the holidays.
- De-clutter and dust
- Using a microfiber cloth and a dusting spray, start dusting from the top, working your way to the bottom
- This is also a good time to clear the coffee table and shelves from things littering it. Newspapers, receipts, mails or anything that is not in their right place and arrange whatever you can or toss them into a trash bag. Continue this process as you go around the house from one room to the other
- Dump clothes lying around the room in a basket and move it somewhere out of sight (along with the trash bag to be sorted out later if you have the time!)
- Don’t miss this great opportunity to wipe down any mirrors, windows or glass surfaces you may have with a glass cleaner
- Turn on the vacuum cleaner
- For an easy way to achieve cleanliness, a vacuum cleaner is your perfect tool! While vacuuming, start from a corner and work backward out of the room
- If you notice any pesky stains on the carpet, get rid of them by spraying a mixture consisting of 1/4 cup of white vinegar, 1 tbsp. of a dish soap and some water. After allowing it to soak for about 5-10 minutes, blot the stain with a clean, dry cloth
- If you have pets whose fur you can’t get rid off, a trick is to rub a damp rubber glove all over the sofas and carpet which will collect all the fur onto its sticky surface
- Arrange the guest bedrooms
- This is where you want to spend a little more time in cleaning if you have guests staying over. Replace the bed sheets and pillow covers with nice, fresh ones
- Make room in the cupboard for the guests to store their clothes
- Place a few potted plants to add more life and freshness to the room
- Take a step back and see if you are satisfied with the look
- Clean the kitchen
- Make room in the countertops for your holiday cooking by removing the less used items and storing them in the cabinets and drawers
- Next, wipe all the surfaces with a microfiber cloth and warm water, including the cabinets, countertops and kitchen appliances to remove dirt and streaks
- If you have dishes piled up in the sink, load them in the dishwasher
- Proceed to cleaning the refrigerator, tossing away all the out-of-date items
- Clean your stovetop with an oven cleaner or a mixture of baking soda and water to scrub off any gunk
- A quick hack for cleaning the oven without the hassle is by filling a pot with water and half a cup of vinegar, place it in the oven and let it boil for 30 minutes at 350°F. Once it cools, just wipe off the gunk with a paper towel or cloth
- Lastly, clear the trash and replace with a new bin liner
- Clean the bathroom
- Clear all the toiletries from the counter by tucking them in the cabinet
- Using an all-purpose cleaner, spray the counter, sink, faucet, tub, shower as well as the outside surface of the toilet. While you let that sit, move on to the toilet
- Squirt a toilet cleaner or sprinkle some baking soda into the bowl. Some hard scrubbing with a toilet brush and a flush of water and voila, 90% of your job is done!
- Now, go back to your pre-sprayed surfaces and wipe them all
- For the mirror, a glass cleaner works best when sprayed and wiped in circles
- Proceed to mop the wet floor for a dry and clean bathroom
- Lastly, restock with new toilet paper rolls, soap and hand towels as well as fresh flowers
- Additionally, put an air freshener to make the bathroom smell pleasant at all times
Now that your home is spick and span, it is time to hang the festive holiday décor, light scented candles, play some music and relax in the company of friends and feast on hearty food. Happy Holidays!
