6 Christmas Cleaning Hacks to Keep Your Home in Check

The holiday season is now in full swing. It's a beautiful time of the year, filled with family time, presents, and great food. But it's also stressful. Suddenly clutter is everywhere, the kitchen is in a constant state of disarray, and you're constantly entertaining guests.

With Christmas right around the corner, Gem City Cleaning Solutions thought a few holiday cleaning hacks may help minimize some stress.

1. Make a Plan

Christmas barrels down the month of December like a freight train. Without a cleaning plan in place, the days leading up to the holiday can quickly spiral into an all-out cleaning frenzy instead of a month full of festivities.

Block off time on your calendar to tackle each task as if it were an event or a work commitment. Doing so will minimize the chances of spending your entire Christmas cleaning.

To start making your list, walk through the front door as if you were one of your guests. Is there room for jackets in the foyer closet? If not, plan to clean out the closet. Are there piles of shoes everywhere? If yes, invest in a shoe rack and shift seasonal options elsewhere.

Go through your entire house, asking yourself questions about what guests need and want. Make a list of your to-dos and then schedule them out, giving yourself ample time to accomplish them before Christmas.

2. Kick it off with Kitchen Clean

If you have to focus all your energy on one room, the kitchen is an excellent choice. It’s the nucleus of your home, the control center for all festivities, and the heartbeat of a party.

When it comes to the holiday season, there shouldn’t be a day that you don’t clean the kitchen (or at least part of it). To make the process easier, try:

• Cleaning while you wait: Whether you’re waiting for the oven to preheat or a pot of water to boil, use this time wisely. Scrub pans, load the dishwasher, and wipe down countertops.
• Delegate duties: Before tasks pile up and resentment builds, ask your significant other, a family member, a child, or a friend to help you in the kitchen. Ask them to dry while you wash, wipe down while you cook, and load the dishwasher while you mop. Whatever it is, get good at getting other people involved.
• Invest in some “cheat” products: It's good to be mindful of how much trash we make during the holidays. But, once in a while, you need to invest in some disposable products that streamline the cleaning process. A few of these helpful products include disposable stove burner lines, oven liners, and paper plates.

One last note on the kitchen: You'll have to store a lot of ingredients and, eventually, leftovers over the holidays. To make room for everything, clean your refrigerator at least five days before Christmas Eve.

3. Focus on the Front Door

Firstly, first impressions are important. Whether you’re a shoes-on or shoes-off household, a clean entryway sets the mood and, more practically, reduces the amount of dirt, mud, and other debris that gets dragged through the house.

Moreover, with an army of snow-covered boots thawing in the entryway, you can wind up with huge puddles everywhere. To avoid wet socks and a messy house, swap your entry door mat for something rugged and absorbent. While it may not be as pretty as a decorative doormat, taking a utilitarian approach to your home's entryway can be critical around Christmas.

When it's time to entertain, clearing out some closet space for guests and adding extra hangers is helpful. This small task will minimize the number of coats, hats, and scarves slung about the home.

4. Polish up the Guest Bathrooms & Bedrooms

After the kitchen and entryway, your guest bathroom needs to be a top priority. We recommend starting "high" and working your way down. For instance:

1. Remove dust from bathroom exhaust fans
2. Treat mold spots on bathroom ceiling
3. Clean mirrors
4. Scrub your counters and sink
5. Scrub the toilet
6. Mop the floor

From here, you'll want to tackle the guest bedrooms. These rooms typically receive little attention throughout the year, so be sure to dust them before allowing guests to stay over. To minimize musty smells, rewash the bedding to ensure everything is fresh.

5. Dig into the Details

With the main areas out of the way, you'll want to spend some time on washing windows, cleaning heating registers, and spot-cleaning area rugs. If you're out of Windex®, you can always make your own window cleaner by mixing:

• ¼ cup white vinegar
• 1 cup warm water
• 3 drops dishwashing liquid

If you have time, go the extra mile and squeegee the outside of your windows as well.

It's also a good time to check out your heat registers. If they're gunked up with dust, remove the screws, remove them from the wall, and scrub them in the sink.

Lastly, you may have some area rugs with stains from food, drinks, or pets. If you need advice on removing them, check out "7 Common Stains and How to Remove Them."

6. Do A Last Minute Dash & Relax

With the advice above, we hope the majority of your home cleaning will be accomplished by the time Christmas rolls around. However, here is a quick list of last-minute items you should check:

• Take all trash and recycling to outdoor bins
• Sweep entryway
• Clean trash can lids
• Fluff couch cushions
• Hang fresh towels in guest bathroom
• Store cleaning supplies

Lastly, pour yourself a glass of wine, make some tea or coffee, or stir a cocktail. As people enter the house, you should be ready to fully enjoy the moment.

Get Help to Make the Holidays Special

We all need a little help sometimes. Make sure you make the most of this holiday season by reaching out to Gem City Cleaning Solutions to help speed up your cleaning. We also offer gift cards which make an incredible Christmas gift for the post-holiday clean up. Reach out today to learn more.