Don’t get on Santa’s naughty list: Start checking tasks off your holiday to-do list now.
With holiday parties, concerts and last-minute gift shopping on the horizon, the last thing anyone has time for in December is a deep clean of your home. It’s great to get ahead of the game by getting your house ready for decorating and the fun of entertaining guests – a November spring cleaning.
Start outside by cleaning the front walkway, front door and light fixtures of dust build-up and then get out the greenery and outside decor because once that’s in place, it looks great all season! Then, tackle all the indoor chores and preparations. Here’s a list of top-priority items to get you home ready for holiday cheer!
Guest ready
Are the bed sheets laundered and the guest room cleaned? If you have no guest room, an inflatable mattress, and extra pillow(s) and bed linens will help you comfortably accommodate any last-minute guests.
Kitchen ready
The kitchen is one of the hardest working rooms in your home – especially during the holidays. Now is a great time to organize cupboards, clean out the fridge, put the oven on self-clean and ensure your most-needed counter top appliances are standing guard and ready to go for baking and entertaining tasks.
Organize and clean table linens
Whether you use paper napkins for casual gatherings or fine linen for sit-down meals, having a selection of cocktail, lunch, and dinner-sized napkins on hand eliminates this task from the last-minute holiday to-do list.
Plan your signature holiday scent
Sweet cookies, fresh pine or candy canes? It’s best to choose one delectable fragrance for scented candles, sprays and diffusers throughout the home, so stock up early. If you have an artificial tree, it can be nice to use the scent of evergreen around the house to bring your tree to life.
Clean the floors and shampoo carpets
Now is the time to rent the carpet shampooer and get out the broom & dustpan! Get those hardwoods gleaming and the carpet smelling fresh and looking vibrant.
Get ready for the kids!
Keeping little visitors busy ensures everyone has fun when families visit. Stock the freezer with pre-baked holiday cookies and have store-bought icings on hand for a fun and impromptu cookie-decorating session; or throw a fuzzy blanket on the bed and have a favorite kids holiday movie to keep the little ones cozy and entertained.
Speed round
Short on time? Here are a few services that will help get your home holiday ready:
Most florists can provide outdoor planters filled with easy-care holiday greens to last the season. Some landscaping & repair companies will hang your outdoor Christmas lights and take them down when the season ends.
A cleaning service is often the remedy when work days are long and energy is low. Schedule early, as cleaners are the most busy two to three weeks before Christmas.
Your local bakery can supply you with all the goodies you need for your entertaining. Order undecorated cookies and then have a cookie-decorating party to personalize them for gifts, treats and to enjoy at home.