Get Your Home Holiday Ready in 5 Days!
Cleaning before the holidays is often a harrowing experience- but it doesn’t have to be! You just gotta take things one day at a time, folks. With this easy step-by-step, day-by-day system, you’ll have your entire place spic-and-span in 5 just days! No sweat! (Well, maybe a little.) 😅 To make it even easier, we recommend the tried-and-true technique of bribery. There’s no need to suffer alone when you can assign tasks to family members and offer pizza or cookie rewards later. 🍪 Let’s go!
DAY 1
Today you’ll get the ball rolling with tidying up the areas your guests will see first. This includes the porch, foyer, entryway, and entry closets.
Step 1: Cut the crap – we mean clutter! Clear away and organize any clutter. Evaluate the entry points of your home for ease of guest entry and access to any storage they might need.
Step 2: Dust and wipe down the doors, windows, light fixtures, and doorknobs to sanitize and remove any scuffs. You can use a soft cloth, Swiffer Duster, and/or Magic Eraser.
Step 3: Vacuum, sweep, and mop. We’re a huge proponent of Swiffer Sweepers – Wet and Dry.
DAY 2
Today is all about guest bedrooms! Rotate the mattresses (if needed). Remove and launder your mattress covers. Rely on the vacuum hose and attachments to clean the top and sides of the mattresses. This is also the perfect time for removing any dust between the mattress and frame, as well as reaching behind and underneath the bed.
Step 1: Dust-bust. Before you run the vacuum, grab your dusting cloth and clean up all those nasty particles. Dust the ceiling fans from top to bottom, light fixtures, grody vents (come on, you know they are), and baseboards. Pay attention to anything that’s easily overlooked, like that offbeat collection of porcelain cat figurines. Better yet, put the cat figurines in a box and label it “donate.”
Step 2: Time to wipe out and dust-bust some more. Take a cloth and wipe down doorways including the trim, furniture, and the lil knickety-knacks that are still left. Make ’em really shine!
Step 3: Vroom vroom! Vacuum that floor, especially under the bed and around the baseboards and wipe them down.
Step 4: Add softness. Launder all bedding, including guest rooms (if applicable.) Breathe in that Gain Scent; just don’t let them catch you sniffing. 😳 If you’re having overnight guests, then this is a MUST Read in the The Library: Prep the Perfect Guest Room.
DAY 3
There’s no way to sugar-coat this, kiddos. It’s bathroom day. Gross, but it’s a requirement. Plan a treat for yourself afterward, like a cocktail, mocktail, or better yet- a bubble bath with a cocktail. 🛀🍸
The first tip I’ll offer is a hands-off way to clean the toilet. Just plop-plop, fizz-fizz by adding two denture-cleaning tablets to the toilet. They do the stain-removing for you with their fabulously fizzy power.
Step 1: Easy-peasy. Grab all the towels and get a load of laundry going in the washer.
Step 2: De-dustify. Dust the light fixtures, surfaces, and vents. Don’t forget the ceiling vent!
Step 3: Disinfect and forget. Clorox the toilet, tub, shower, tile, handles, and other hard surfaces. When you have hard water stains on your tub or in your sink, make a home remedy to scrub away that stubborn-as-unwanted-hair buildup. Here’s how you do it: fill equal parts white vinegar and hot water in a spray bottle. Spray it on and let it set. (If you have extra-stubborn spots, soak a paper towel in the solution and then place it on the buildup). Make sure you keep the area well-ventilated. Continue on to steps 4-8 and come back and rinse.
Step 4: Wipe out! Wipe down the cabinets and doors (including the trim.)
Step 5: See the good. Clean the mirror. Bye-bye spots, hello gorgeous! For an alternative to Windex, you can use a homemade solution- simply mix 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon dishwashing liquid, and 2 cups of water. Spray it on and wipe down the mirror. Also, wipe down the inside of your trash can (if you don’t use liner bags.)
Step 6: Suck it up. Use a handheld vacuum hose to quickly suck up hair or debris in the corners or near baseboards. Use a wet mop or Swiffer Wet Jet for added sparkle.
Step 7: Line up. Replace the shower liner with a clean or brand new liner. No soap scum here!
Step 8: Replace and refresh. Return freshly laundered towels to their original positions.
DAY 4
Today is all about the gathering areas – the living and dining room. It’s a no-go until guests arrive, so either make these areas off-limits or at least food and shoe-free zones, so nothing gets messed up.
Step 1: Clutter-be-gone! Free up the space so that guests have room to move around. This is an excellent opportunity to really edit and donate!
Step 2: Dust-bust. You know the drill by now. Dust the tops and bottoms of ceiling fans, light fixtures, and vents.
Step 3: Wipe out. Wipe down the doorways, mantle, furniture, and any cabinet exteriors.
Step 4: Vacuum the floor, baseboards, and furniture. Don’t forget underneath!
Pro tip: Go over any fabric surfaces with a dryer sheet. This prevents static cling and keeps dust from collecting.
DAY 5
Kitchen-Zone. You’re in the final stretch! You made it! I saved it for last because it’s the most used and most challenging to keep clean.
Step 1: Dust dust, baby! The same old same old – ceiling fan, light fixtures, and vents.
Step 2: Clean all the obvious appliances like the coffee maker, toaster, pressure cooker, and anything else you have that we’ve forgotten. Don’t neglect the stove, oven door, burners, microwave, and fridge (including the top and inside!) Stainless steel wipes are excellent for wiping off smudges and fingerprints.
Step 3: Ah, the garbage disposal. The main source of stinky kitchen syndrome, the disposal collects food and unfortunately marinates smells. Quick fix: cut up a couple lemons into small pieces and run the pieces through the disposal with water. Don’t forget to wipe down the rubber piece attached to your sink.
Step 4: Wipe down the countertop, sink, and cabinets.
Step 5: Have you ever wondered how to clean your garbage can? It’s less intimidating than you might think. Simply take it outside, add a dash of dishwashing soap, and let your hose spray it clean with a power wash. Dry with a towel, and it’s bye-bye stinky! Don’t have an outdoor hose? Then it’s bath time for the bin! Your shower will work here as well.
Step 6: Vacuum and mop the floor. Maybe use them as your dance partner like in those old kitchen commercials. The floor is yours!
PRO TIPS FOR KITCHEN CLEANING:
Fridge: Line the shelves of your newly scrubbed refrigerator with cling wrap. It makes for easy after-party clean-up because you can just remove the cling wrap instead of spending time scrubbing spills.
Oven: Line the bottom of your oven with aluminum foil to prevent spills.
Microwave: A glass bowl filled with diluted white vinegar can be placed in the microwave on high heat for 2-3 minutes. The steam loosens stuck-on food particles you can simply wipe away with a damp, warm cloth.
Silverware: If you’ve got tarnished silverware, you can easily clean it hands-free. We know – hands-FREE! Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil, mix together 1 tbsp baking soda and 2 cups of water. Add the mixture to the cookie sheet until it nears the top. Add a layer of silverware to the pan. Place in the oven preheated to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Check the silverware every five minutes until the tarnish is gone. Do NOT touch the silverware upon removal from the oven. Use tongs instead because they’re going to be as hot as chicken nuggets.
Glass/Barware: Don’t forget to clean any open display shelves, glass front cabinets, bar cart, and all glassware. This is not something you’re going to want to do while you’re guests are there, so do it ahead of time.
PHEW! You did it! Do you even remember the last time your home was this clean?! Feels great, huh? 🥰 Now that you’re all done with the chores, it’s time to break out those dancing shoes and host to your heart’s delight. Remember to have fun, relax and enjoy the company of friends, family, and even that one weird neighbor you’ve accidentally invited into your home. Mi casa es su casa!
Since you’re a host/hostess with the mostess, you should definitely take this quiz: Which Tabletop is Totally You?
You put in so much hard work; we think you deserve a little treat, don’t you? Why not pop into the DezignClub Store and see what delights you?
