7 Simplified Steps to Organizing Your Home For the Holidays By Doing Only the Essentials
Thanksgiving dinner is over and Black Friday shopping has brought home gifts, wrapping supplies and the realization that the biggest holiday of the year is only a few short weeks away. One quick glance at your home lets you know that not only are you not ready to face the decorating and gift planning but there is no way you are prepared to host any celebrations in your home. With a few simple steps you can organize your home in time to not only host a spectacular seasonal gathering but you yourself will feel better and more relaxed.
1. Start a donation container. As you begin preparing your home make some elimination decisions. Place these items in the box. When it is full immediately put it in the car and drop it off at a charitable thrift store before you change your mind.
2. Mentally the challenge of readying your entire home can be overwhelming and thus, seemingly impossible. Breaking it down into digestible pieces makes the tasks manageable. Divide your home in to the number of days you can actually devote to organizing. 10 rooms in 20 days is 2 days per room. Remember – you can do this.
3. Begin at the doorway. Start with the porch and the entryway so that the first thing you see when you come in is a conquered area. Then chip away from the doorway in. This also allows you to feel more comfortable with guests who stop in over the yuletide season. They will not see you bedroom, so leave it for last. Conquer what is necessary then what is needed.
4. After the doorway move to the common living area. Box up everything you don’t need over the holidays to give the room an open feel. After Christmas you can begin to sort out these boxes to determine what can be permanently eliminated. This is one room you should do a deep cleaning in since it will see heavy traffic. Polish your solid wood furniture with a lightly dampened cloth and then a soft buffing cloth. Vacuum your hardwood framed upholstered couches or sofas. Clean your leather recliners and ottomans with a fine leather cleaner. Vacuum and move on.
5. The third room to deep clean and throw out any products you have not used this year is the common bathroom. This room should be spotless and welcoming with soaps and clean towels.
6. The next room to clean is the kitchen. While it would be great to organize it all, this is not the time. Instead box everything from your counters you will not need before New Years and scrub the counters, the cabinet fronts, the stove top, the sink and the floor. The only deep cleaning should be the fridge and freezer. Put out fresh kitchen towels.
7. If you are hosting a meal or event the last essential room to focus on is the dining room. Just as you did your solid wood living room furniture, damp wipe your dining room set and the buff to a gleam. Protect your dining room table tops and buffets from damage due to traffic with elite custom table pads. Clean your chandelier and bulbs and be sure the floor is either vacuumed, swept or mopped clean. Don’t forget to check your chairs for any fabric stains or stray food stuck on.
Tags: Cleaning for holidays, Hardwood Furniture, Organizing for Christmas, Solid wood furniture, yuletide season organizing
