The holiday season is synonymous with excellent food and quality time spent with family. Some of us, unfortunately, think of the holidays as a time when we have to do a lot of dishes, have busy schedules, and host parties. The holidays are a wonderful time to celebrate! Don’t let the obligations of entertaining and cleaning keep you from having a good time.

Use this list to keep track of your chores. If possible, have everyone in the family participate.

Don’t put it off. You do not need to set aside four or six hours to accomplish the task. Clean your house in small chunks throughout the next few days to spread out the workload.

Get everyone in the family involved, even older children.

Begin by making room for guest coats in the entryways, foyer, and central closet space.

The next day, set aside some time to clean the toilets, passageways, and seating areas.

Next, clean your guests’ bedrooms and any other areas they may visit.
Purchase a microfiber cloth and a mophead.

Cleaning up After the Holidays

It’s the holiday season, so there’s plenty of time to spend with family and friends. However, once the visitors have gone, there is a lot of cleaning to do. With these simple Christmas cleaning tips, you can give your home a fresh start in preparation for the new year – or perhaps just your next party!

Remove any unwanted items. It’s the thought that counts, but don’t let good intentions contribute to your post-holiday clutter. If guests insist on bringing a gift, make it something tasty that everyone can appreciate. Otherwise, return any undesirable gifts. If appropriate, consider donating such items to a charity of your choice. Without those extra items, Christmas cleaning will be lot easier.

Examine the holiday cards you received in the mail and make a note of who sent them to you. Use this as a thank-you list or the start of your Christmas card list for the next year. Then, cut the photographs from the lovely cards, tie them together, and use them as free gift tags. Throw the ones you don’t want in the recycle bin, and you’ll be well on your way to cleaning up after the party.

Clean up the guest room. To keep the bedsheets fresh, wash them in warm or hot water with a capful of white vinegar. While the sheets dry, use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum to clean the mattress thoroughly, paying special attention to the seams. Replace the sheets and fluff the cushions to put your next guests at ease.

When it comes time to take down the Christmas lights, one simple way will save you time the next year: Wrap light strings around a piece of cardboard or a paper towel tube to keep them organized and easy to unravel the following season. This also keeps you from becoming the neighbor who still has string lights put up outside on Valentine’s Day.

When does your waste collection service pick up Christmas trees? Find out so you can set your tree curbside according to the collection schedule. Cleaning up after your party will be much easier if you don’t have to worry about pine needles getting all over the place.

How to Prepare Your Home for Holiday Guests

Guests and the holiday season go hand in hand. Occasionally, guests appear unexpectedly. It’s all part of the joy and excitement of the season. Molly Maid is ready to help you quickly get your home ready for family, friends, or neighbors who show up out of the blue.

Everyone must pitch in! Gather the entire family in the kitchen and assign cleaning/decluttering jobs. Priority should be given to high-traffic, conspicuous locations.

Keep snacks on hand for the holidays. What a treat it would be to have cookie dough on hand to bake! Fresh-baked cookies, and the pleasant aroma that goes with them, are incredibly appealing.

Make sure that the family is presentable. Who is in need of a new shirt? Who has a stain on their pants? Who is still in their pajamas? Nobody expects you to dress up for a drop-in, but a cap or a ponytail holder can do wonders for unclean hair!

Play some Christmas music in the background.

Almost done. Finally, go through the house swiftly. Are there clean hand towels and toilet paper in the restrooms? Are there any messes or tripping hazards, such as children’s toys, in the hallways? Is your coffee table neat? Carry a laundry basket with you so you can quickly pick up lost items and put the basket away in a closet for later use. Finally, double-check those cookies before the doorbell rings!