Pre-Arrival Preparation
The holiday season has a way of sneaking up on all of us, so this year, we are trying to get ahead of our chores by cleaning the entire house early. Before you know it, your in-laws will be knocking on your door, ready for their free vacation. We all know the fear that tears through us when we realize our homes have to be in perfect condition when family or friends walk through that door.
Preparing your home before guests arrive can help you find a little bit of calm before the storm. Whether you're gearing up for an overnight stay, a festive party, or a casual dinner gathering, planning ahead is crucial to avoid the last-minute rush and overwhelming stress. Here's how to ensure a smooth and enjoyable visit:
Planning and Checklist Creation: First things first, begin with a solid plan. Create a checklist of cleaning tasks for each area of your home. Prioritizing tasks helps streamline your efforts, making the cleaning process more efficient and less stressful.
Entertaining Essentials: Before your guests arrive, focus on the essentials of entertaining. Inspect your servingware, glassware, and utensils to ensure everything is clean and ready for use.
Stocking Up: It's also essential to stock up on consumables to avoid running out during the event. Make sure you have enough toilet paper, paper towels, and other disposable items. These are easy to stock up on well in advance so that you can be present with your guests when they arrive.
Bathroom Preparedness: The bathroom will see a lot of traffic. Double-check your supplies of soap and hand towels. It's a good idea to have extras hidden away under the sink or in a nearby closet. This way, you can quickly replenish these items if they run low, keeping everything fresh.
Cleaning the House
Living Areas and Guest Rooms
When preparing your home for guests, focus on the areas they will use most. Here's a breakdown of cleaning tasks for living areas and the guest room, organized by timeline to ensure every corner of your home is welcoming and comfortable for both you and your friends or family:
One Week Before Guests Arrive
Deep Clean High-Traffic Areas: Start with a thorough cleaning of the living room, dining room, and kitchen. Vacuum carpets, mop floors, dust surfaces, and clean windows to let in natural light.
Tidy Entryway: Clean the front door, porch, and entryway. This area sets the first impression, so make sure it is free of cobwebs, dust, and dirt. Consider adding a new doormat or a pot of flowers for a welcoming touch.
Professional Cleanings: If you have guests coming over who are sensitive to dust and debris, it's a good idea to schedule a professional carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning before everyone arrives. Not only will it freshen up your home, but it will make your surfaces appear brighter.
Three to Five Days Before
Guest Rooms and Bathrooms: Deep clean any guest rooms and bathrooms that will be used. This includes washing linens, scrubbing the shower and toilet, and ensuring there is no mold or mildew. Stock the bathroom with fresh towels, toiletries, and ensure there is plenty of toilet paper.
Remove Clutter: Go through the living areas, guest rooms, and especially bathrooms to remove any unnecessary items. Declutter surfaces like countertops and coffee tables to make the space look neat and orderly.
Two Days Before
Set Up Guest Areas: In the guest rooms, make room in closets or drawers for guests to unpack if they are staying for a while. Place extra blankets and pillows in the rooms, and add small touches like bedside water bottles or a welcome note if you want to go all out!
Refresh Areas: Give the living room, dining room, and kitchen a quick refresh. Wipe down surfaces and sweep floors to eliminate any dust or debris that has accumulated since the deep clean.
Day Before or Morning of Arrival
Final Touch-Ups: Do a final sweep through the high-traffic areas and the guest's specific areas. Fluff pillows, straighten decorations, and check that everything is in its place.
Clutter and Relaxation: Remove any last-minute clutter that may have accumulated over the last couple of days. Throw on some music, light a scented candle, and set the tone for a relaxing visit!
Kitchen Cleaning
The next most important area to clean is your kitchen. Kitchen counters and floors have a way of getting dirty overnight, so keeping up with them will be important. Here's how you can break down the cleaning tasks by timeline to make your kitchen shine:
One Week Before Guests Arrive
Deep Clean Surfaces: Clean all countertops, stove tops, and surfaces. Remove any items on the counters to scrub underneath and behind them just to get your home feeling extra clean.
Clean Appliances: Focus on appliances like the microwave, oven, toaster, and coffee maker. Make sure these are clean inside and out. Running a splash of white vinegar mixed in with water can help clean out your coffee maker in no time; just be sure to throw that pot down the drain and run one more cycle of water through it before brewing any coffee!
Three to Five Days Before
Servingware and Glassware: Before your guests arrive, you want to think about hosting. Do you have enough plates and utensils for everyone? You can decide if you want to use regular dishes or opt for disposable plates and utensils to keep cleaning easy while you have people over.
Organize the Refrigerator: Clean your refrigerator to make room for any party foods or ingredients that need to be refrigerated. Wipe down door handles and organize the shelves for easy access to things you may need for hosting dinners.
Two Days Before
Final Dish Clean-Up: Ensure that no dirty dishes are left in the sink or dishwasher. Put everything away neatly in its designated place to keep the kitchen tidy and functional.
Wipe Down High-Touch Surfaces: Go over high-touch surfaces again, such as cabinet handles, refrigerator doors, light switches, and faucets. Use a disinfectant to ensure these areas are hygienic.
Day Before or Morning of Arrival
Odor Removal: Address any lingering odors by cleaning out the garbage can thoroughly and sprinkling baking soda in the bottom. Baking soda can help absorb any odors that your trash can emit.
Final Touches: Give the floor a good sweep or mop, and check over the kitchen to ensure everything is in order. Set out your favorite festive decorations to create a fun and inviting space that you and your guests can enjoy!
Bathroom Essentials
Cleaning the bathroom isn't anyone's favorite chore, but it is an important one to remember. A few days before your guests arrive, it's time to give your bathrooms a good deep cleaning.
Start by cleaning the showers and baths so your guests have a comfortable and clean space, and then check out your sinks. Sinks often collect stray hairs and dust, so be sure to give them a quick wipe-down.
Empty the bathroom trash cans, use a glass cleaner and a microfiber towel to clean the mirrors, and give yourself a smile for all the hard work you've done!
Finally, brave the chore everyone dreads the most: toilet cleaning. It's time to glove up! Use a hard-bristle brush to scrub the surfaces, wipe down both sides of the seat, behind the toilet, on top of the toilet, and rinse with water to remove any dirt or debris left behind.
Once you've tackled that, the worst of your chores will be over, and you will have cleaned your whole house! Now, you are ready to host your guests for the holidays!