With the Holidays rolling around, you will surely want to have the house all tidied up before guests come over! There are a few simple tips that many people forget about, but they are some of the first things your guests surprisingly might notice.

  • Focus on cleaning up the kitchen! People tend to gather around where the food is situated, and you want to make sure it is clean and smells nice. For your kitchen sinks, make sure to flush sink drains with boiling water.
  • Make sure to dust your light fixtures so it doesn’t look like your lights are growing a winter coat! When your guests arrive, make sure a lot of lights are on because a brighter home will look more inviting and cleaner.
  • Cleanup the front entry way. This will be the first thing your guests will see when they arrive at the front door, so shake off your welcome mat. Also, wipe down your front door and door handles if there is any dust or fingerprints.
  • Clean the toilets, no one wants to use a filthy loo! Also, it’s good to make sure there is soap and toilet paper in all the bathrooms for your guests to use.
  • Make sure the mirrors in the bathrooms are all clean and spotless.
  • Keep the windows streak free. This not only makes the overall appearance of your home look cleaner and brighter, but will also help you see when your guests are arriving! You can use Windex, or a cheap and easy distiller white vinegar and water mixture. (Just use equal parts of distilled white vinegar & water!) To make sure your windows are streak free, use a microfiber cloth.
  • Vacuum the carpets and furniture, especially if you have pets. Some people might be allergic to animal hair, so it’s best to try and pick majority of it up. No one wants a load of pet hair all over their clothing either.
  • Dust and polish the dining room table, console tables, or coffee tables.  Most likely people will be in the living room, kitchen, or dining room and they will probably be setting their beverage or plates down on a table. Make sure the tables are not cluttered, and they are spotless!
  • If your home doesn’t smell too nice, buy some plug-in fragrance oils and place them in areas where people will be gathering. Try and figure out where the smell is coming from. If it’s from the trash, empty all of the trash bins around the house.

Everyone knows the holidays are stressful, but there is no need to get flustered! If you keep this list in mind, you are sure to have a welcoming and ship-shape household. Your family and friends are sure to have a spectacular time, and will surely want to come back for many more joyous occasions.