Life gets busy around the holidays. Life gets busier when you’re the host of the next family holiday. So how do you get your home ready for the influx of family, friends, and guests quickly…and without turning your home into chaos? Use these tips to get your home clean faster for your next family holiday so you can host the best family holiday EVER.
Have a plan
A clean house doesn’t mean much if your guests are waiting to eat their Thanksgiving or holiday dinner until midnight. Plan out your day so you can accomplish both goals: dinner ready and your home clean. Do as much meal prep as possible in advance, and ask your guests (if possible) to bring a fair amount of the meal. On the day of, even if you have a fair amount of cleaning to do, schedule your day so you can get the turkey or main course in the oven, and set alarms throughout the day so you can keep an eye on it during the day.
Bring in help
When it comes to preparing your home for a holiday dinner, dividing and conquering is the way to go. To make the most of your time, make a list of cleaning tasks that need to be done. Ask members of your family to do specific tasks off the list. If the list is too long, or you don’t have time to tackle everything (especially the deep cleaning), bring in the pros to get your house ready (you don’t have to tell your guests!).
Be efficient
When time is tight, make every movement count. Know what you need for each project and put all your cleaning supplies into a bin so you don’t have to run back and forth for cleaners and brushes. This simple step saves you time from continually running back and forth for what you need.
Devote your efforts to the important areas
As much as you want to clean out your closets or organize your craft room, put your time and energy into the areas that your guests are going to be in. Deep clean your bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, and any other places that are going to be used for your holiday gathering. Don’t be afraid to close doors to untidy rooms, and to bring in help to get your home cleaned for the holidays. You’ll be glad you did when you’re receiving all those compliments on your clean and beautiful house.
