Although ‘tis the season to be jolly, it’s also the season to be messy! Here, we share our Toronto cleaning services’ 14 dos and don’ts for holiday cleaning, both to prepare for your guests and to clean up their mess.
1. Do create a pre-party cleaning checklist
Your checklist should address every room where guests are likely to wander, which realistically could be anywhere.
A good pre-party cleaning checklist will make sure you don’t miss anything, and that your home is party-ready, including:
- Dusting
- Vacuuming and sweeping
- Mopping hard-surface floors
- Wiping down walls
- Decluttering
- Sweeping up those tree needles
- Keeping holiday light wires safe and out of the way to avoid trips
- Full bathroom disinfecting and cleaning
- Complete kitchen disinfecting and cleaning
- Cleaning your oven, stove, microwave, and fridge
- Steam-cleaning dirty carpets
2. Don’t forget to check your tableware
Tableware tends to be a last-minute thing whether you’re putting it out for your buffet or setting the table. That’s when you discover (too late) that you have several chipped dishes, your silver is tarnished, and you forgot Uncle Phillip broke three champagne glasses at your last family gathering.
Give yourself a good week’s head start to check your tableware, and make sure you have enough dishes, flatware, and glassware to serve all your guests.
3. Do wash your table linens
Along with your tableware, pull out your table linens and toss them in the laundry or send them to the dry cleaners. If you have to use the dry cleaners for delicate fabrics, do this at least two weeks out.
Also, be sure to take everything out of the dryer right away and fold it carefully to avoid wrinkles. Remember that some fabrics can wrinkle badly and need to be ironed. It will be worth it to get that crisp look for your table setting.
4. Don’t try to do everything at once
It can be overwhelming getting everything ready for the big day. Give yourself a break and work in manageable bites so you don’t get too stressed or run out of time.
Clean room by room, and you’ll find cleaning less daunting. This also applies to clean-up after the party as well.
If you’re finding that doing a full pre-party deep clean is too much of a tall task, enlisting the help of Toronto cleaning services might be worthwhile. Leave the heavy lifting to the experts so you can focus on the more fun aspects of holiday party planning.
5. Do declutter as a starting point
If you declutter the main areas where you’ll be entertaining, you can set a clean foundation that makes it easier to keep your home clean before the big day. It also keeps your home clean throughout this hectic season!
Use the “everything has its place rule” and put them back where they belong as you use things. Do a daily clean-up. Then, on the day of the gathering, you’ll just have to tackle cleaning tasks like the floors, light dusting, and setting up your dining area.
6. Don’t scrimp on the bathroom and kitchen deep cleaning
We’re not only in the season to be jolly, but also the season to get sick. Make sure you’re cleaning with a good-quality disinfectant cleaner, and tackle every surface for a sparkling, germ-free clean, including:
- Countertops
- Appliance exteriors and handles
- Floors
- Toilets
- Sinks
- Faucets
- Mirrors
Bonus tip: You should also wipe down all your frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, lightswitches, and appliance handles after the party just in case someone was in the early stages of a cold or flu.
7. Do put out your best hand and tea towels
The day of the gathering, put out clean, fresh, unstained hand and tea towels to create a good impression.
Have fun and invest in some festive-themed towels for guests to add to the holiday cheer. Dollar stores tend to have these in spades, so shop for them early to beat the last-minute rush.
8. Don’t forget the coasters!
Protect your furniture by putting out coasters throughout your living and dining rooms so that people have somewhere to place their drinks. This will avoid unsightly rings on your great-grandmother’s coffee table, or that side table you just bought at Urban Barn.
9. Do set up an emergency cleaning station
You know accidents are going to happen, so be ready to leap into action when that first glass of cranberry punch sloshes onto your white couch. Your emergency cleaning station should include the following:
- A clean sponge
- A few clean microfiber cloths
- Butler’s broom and dustpan (mini-set)
- Handheld vacuum
- Countertop wipes
- Soda water for dabbing at carpet spills
- Laundry stain stick for table linens
- Masking or duct tape to safely pick up tiny pieces of shattered glass
- Vinegar and baking soda to remove stains quickly and safely
10. Don’t contribute to entryway clutter
Your entryway is the first thing guests see when they come into your home. It’s also going to be cluttered with boots and coats as guests arrive. Put your family’s boots and coats in a hall or bedroom closet so they don’t contribute to entryway clutter.
As well, invest in a few boot trays to place by the door. You can also consider adding a few more coat hooks on the wall to help keep the area neat and avoid lost hats and mitts.
11. Do lay down an indoor-outdoor area rug
Another trick to reduce the mess trailed into your home is to lay down an indoor-outdoor area rug at your entry. Whether it’s a little circular mat or a full-sized area rug, this will collect things like slush, salt, and sand to protect your floors.
12. Don’t dust and vacuum until the day-of
If you follow point No. 5 and declutter, your day of dusting and vacuuming/sweeping will be a breeze. Leave this until the last hour or two before people arrive, so everything is spotless.
13. Do perform a sniff test
Take a deep breath in your bathroom, kitchen, and entertainment areas to make sure everything passes the sniff test. Luckily, there are all kinds of holiday scents on the market at this time of year to keep your home smelling fresh.
Change the garbage, spray the bathroom, and also give your kitchen sink a sniff, as these are the most common areas that contribute to odours.
14. Don’t forget post-party clean-up tips
Be prepared with some post-party clean-up tips including:
- Put food away as soon as dinner is finished.
- Load the dishwasher as you go and turn it on once it’s full.
- Set up a guest garbage station where you can toss things away quickly.
- Check for sticky stains and wipe them up with an all-purpose cleaner.
- Check for wax drips and rub them with an ice cube to harden them so you can remove them easily.
- Spot-clean any carpet or upholstery stains you find using soda water and a clean microfiber cloth.
Call the Cleaning Professionals
These do’s and don’ts will help prepare and keep your home clean throughout the holiday season.
If you don’t have the time, let our Toronto cleaning services at Maid4Condos take on your cleaning for you. Call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online for more information.
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