As we head towards the end of the year and the post-Thanksgiving pre-Christmas period is underway, it’s likely there’ll be a lot of things to juggle. Form finding and wrapping presents, making sure you get involved in the festivities, and simply ensuring life goes on amidst the chaos. This time of year can get busy fast.

And on top of all of the extra things you have to do, there’s that dreaded “Christmas clean” you know the one, where you tackle every inch of your home like your guests are going to be inspecting it with a magnifying glass, looking for the tiniest speck of dirt. Yes, that clean!

So, where do you start? What do you really need to focus on? And what exactly will people be looking for when they come to visit?

Let’s break it down.

Declutter

Hosting is hard enough without a lack of space. A great place to start is to tackle those areas of clutter you’ve been putting off (and the kids’ toy boxes, if applicable too). Focus on countertop clutter over that random cupboard in your bedroom first. The places you’ll need to use to serve from, ie, the sideboards collecting mail, and random school items. Find a place to give everything a home and then store it out of sight so that everywhere is clear that you’ll need to use.

Sanitizing The Kitchen and Bathrooms

Two rooms you don’t want to neglect for the holidays are the kitchen and bathroom. Check out this post for tips on using non-toxic cleaners.

Soft Furnishings

Cleaning your soft furnishings will always be a good idea. Whether you steam clean your curtains, wash throws or cushion covers, or get the baking soda on rugs and sofas to remove those stubborn odors, you need to pay attention to the materials that can harbor germs and smells and get them cleaned. You can use covers or protective equipment in the period between cleaning and your guests’ arrival if you wish, but it’s a job you’ll be glad you took care of when people arrive.

Deep Clean Floors

Floors are going to get dirty fast, and if you don’t have a clean base to work from, things will build and look grubby all too easily. Treat your home to a good, deep clean for things like hard flooring, tile, and carpets. Companies like Oxifresh can come in and get your chosen areas looking and smelling clean in no time, taking one more job off your hands.

Beds

If your guests will be staying over, pay attention to the beds they will be sleeping on, even if they’re pulled to options. Get them out, give the mattress a good clean and freshen up, and add fresh bedding just before they arrive. The cleaner things look and smell, the more comfortable everyone will be, and the less they’ll complain about, hopefully.

After your house has been cleaned you will feel a since of stress relief that is much needed during the holiday season. Enjoy the holidays!