The holidays are prime time for entertaining. If you’re anything like us, you may find yourself subject to a seemingly endless parade of people coming through your home during this season. Your high-traffic areas will see even more guests than usual, so it’s important to keep them looking clean. From your front door to the quintessential gathering space in the kitchen, there are several spaces that guests tend to frequent. Use this guide to keep every area fresh and welcoming.
Entryway
Every guest will see your front door and entryway. Make sure your first impression is a great one and you’ll set the stage for a delightful holiday gathering. Start outside and give your front porch a thorough cleaning. Tackle cobwebs with a broom, sweep away leaves and twigs, and wash the front door with soap and water. Clean the glass or glazing with vinegar and warm water. Check the weatherstripping under your door and replace it if needed. This will not only look sleek, but it will also increase your energy efficiency by keeping warm air in the house where it belongs.
Shake out and vacuum all your entry rugs, both inside and out. Moving into the entryway, make sure your guests step into a clean, clutter-free space. Relocate any piles of shoes or coats that usually live here. We love wide open spaces, so don’t feel pressured to cover every available surface in decor. A minimalist approach can often provide the cleanest and most welcoming look.
Bathrooms
Deep clean your bathrooms before guests arrive so that everyone has a comfortable place to freshen up. This means scrubbing the grout, laundering the shower curtain, washing the mirrors, dusting the floorboards, and thoroughly cleaning every part of the sink, counter, tub, and toilet. Some areas, like the toilet or tub, may need some time to soak if you’re dealing with rings or stubborn stains. Start this job at least a day ahead of time so you’re not scrambling to finish on the day of your party.
Banish any clutter like hair ties and makeup so the only items out on the counter are those that a guest will use. Provide a full bottle of hand soap and a neat stack of clean hand towels. Hand sanitizer is a nice touch as well if guests want a quick pump after touching up lipstick or fixing their hair. If you’re having overnight guests, provide a stack of fresh towels for showering and a small caddy of essentials like soap and shampoo so they’ll feel perfectly pampered.
Common Areas
Your common areas are the spaces where guests hang out the most. This is typically your living room and dining room. Guests are sure to notice things like comfortable crumb-free upholstery as they’re sitting around the living room or clean rugs while they’re seated on the floor around the fire. Thoroughly vacuum every part of your sitting area including the space between cushions, underneath the couch, and in the nooks and crannies around the fireplace.
If you have a mantle or shelves with photos and decorations, guests will naturally feel drawn to these displays. It’s important to make sure your picture frames have clean glass and your knickknacks are well dusted. Wipe down baseboards and the fronts of cabinets. We suggest spending a few moments seated in all the places where guests may gather so you can look around for dust bunnies and other messes. This includes the floor around the Christmas tree and any chairs tucked in the corners, even if you don’t typically use them on a daily basis.
Kitchen
Guests tend to gather in the kitchen whether you intend for them to cluster there or not. It’s wise to give this area a thorough cleaning before your begin your holiday meal prep so it’s easier to tidy up when you’re finished. This is a great time to finally get down and clean your grout, wipe off the baseboards, clean the oven, and scour the filter under your range hood. Launder any window hangings in this area to get rid of grease, stains, and the types of food odors that tend to accumulate in the kitchen.
If you’re preparing food or drinks, clean as you go. Put dishes directly into the dishwasher when you’re done so they don’t pile up in the sink. Clean up drips, splatters, and spills as soon as they occur so food stains don’t have time to dry. A little forethought, like putting a pile of clean rags near your workspace, can help you maintain a sparkling area even as you put together your meal.
If you need a little extra help keeping things clean for the holiday season, contact us for an estimate. Our professional team can help you tackle any area and get the deep, thorough clean that you want for the festive holiday season.
