The holidays are the best time of the year, since all of us get an opportunity to spend more time with family and friends.
However, a wonderful Christmas spirit can fade very quickly when you realize that there is so much to do both before and after it is all over. Getting your home into shape can be a very challenging task, but don’t get discouraged.
Here are some tips to prepare yourself for the cleaning up during holidays.
Get organized ahead of time
Cleaning up certainly requires good organization, simply because there are so many things that have to be done. A thorough clean will make you sure that everything is spotless and tidy before your guests arrive, but that doesn’t happen overnight.
Maintaining your housekeeping routine is a pretty long process, which is why it has to be divided into different steps, starting with those that require a lot of time and effort, such as dusting, vacuuming and cleaning windows.
The ones that are related to setting up details should come last.
Keep your cleaning cupboard well supplied
Your cleaning mission needs to be aided with different cleaning products, which is why you have to keep your cupboard well-supplied.
There is a wide range of such products that are great for spills and dirt, which can deal with even the grease that accumulated over time. Just don’t forget to read the label whenever using any of them.
Also, testing a product on a small area first is a good way to go because you can never know whether that particular one is aggressive to your floors or furniture, or not.
Create mini-goals
The entire process of cleaning up may look very frustrating when you look at it as a whole. Don’t get easily frightened – come up with some smaller objectives and goals instead. Accomplishing them one by one will help you gradually get it all done.
Besides that, it may help if you have mini-rewards as well. For example, you can get yourself a large cup of coffee when you finish with dusting, whereas a slice of cheesecake is reserved when the vacuuming is done.
Get your priorities right and you’ll see that your mission of cleaning up will be carried out much more efficiently.
Involve your kids
Involving your kids into the holiday cleanup can be a double-edged sword, since they can easily make a mess before you even notice that.
However, you can do that in the best possible way if you manage to make those activities entertaining. Smaller children can help you with tidying up their own toys, whereas older ones can be included into “adult activities” such as dusting and vacuuming.
You can even get cordless vacuum cleaners from Peter’s of Kensington, which will make it much easier for them. They’re very conventional and light, and require less bending, too. It therefore makes them appropriate even for children.
Keeping your Christmas spirit through cleaning-up can often be very challenging, especially because there is so much to be done for a short period of time. However, try not to be a nitpicker – New Year’s Eve is here shortly after Christmas, so you will have to do it all over again anyway.
Just relax and enjoy the holidays with your family – January is the best time for thorough cleaning up.
Emma Lawson
Latest posts by Emma Lawson (see all)
- How to Organize Outdoor Activities for Your Kids That They Will Love - May 20, 2016
- Save Your Christmas Spirit Throughout Cleaning Up Days - December 28, 2015
- 3 Tips for Enhancing Your Career Prospects - October 2, 2015