Queen of Clean®

It seems like there is always too much to do, too much to fit into one day.  During the holidays the stress just keeps building with so many more things to do, extra functions to attend, company, cleaning and cooking.  Here are some quick ways to keep your house clean and neat.

•    Tell your children that Santa only comes to a clean house.  Don’t laugh – it worked on me for years!

•    Take the time to clean your house before you bring in the tree and all the decorations.  Sure, you’ll probably need a quick vacuum once you have the tree in place, but it’s easier to clean a house when you don’t have to maneuver all those holiday adornments around.  Trust me on this one.

•    If you are having holiday guests, make lists and stick to them.  Once you write down what cleaning and tidying needs to take place you’ll be amazed at how much time and effort you’ll save.  There’s nothing better than checking off a job as done.

•    Make sure your holiday clothes are cleaned and ready in advance.  That way you won’t have any spot and stain surprises.  Hang the clothes together with their accessories so that you can be out the door quickly.

•    Enlist the whole family in a quick cleanup.  Small children can dust, older ones can vacuum, your spouse can do the dishes, and you can tidy up and put things away.  It’s amazing what you can accomplish in thirty short minutes.

•    If you are using a live tree put a plastic tablecloth under the base of your tree to protect the carpet from water or sap spills.

•    Check out your table linens well in advance.  Launder them appropriately and then hang them over a padded hangar with the corresponding napkins.  You will avoid the last minute ironing to remove wrinkles.  Got wrinkles?  Toss the linen in the dryer with a damp towel.  After 10 minutes or so the creases will relax and your won’t have to iron,

•    Clean your wood dining room table the natural way with tea.  Brew a strong pot of tea, let it come to room temperature, have a cup while you wait, and then wring out a soft cloth in the tea and wipe the table down.  Buff with a soft cloth. in the direction of the wood grain.

LAST MINUTE QUICK LIST:

•    You can count on the fact that guests will use the bathroom and there is no room in the house they will have more private time to look around.  Give it a quick clean up by using quick and easy wipes to clean down counters and fixtures.  Make sure you give the toilet a quick swish too.  Remember orange flavored breakfast drink makes a great toilet bowl cleaner.  Put in a teaspoon, let if sit a few minutes and then swish and flush.

•    Keep a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser handy, you can clean virtually any hard surface quickly and easily, even your stovetop.   I can’t be without mine!

•    If you have time, run the vacuum or dust mop the main room you will sit in.  Run a quick dust cloth or lambs wool duster over hard surfaces.

•    Let there be light!  Everything looks cleaner, brighter and better if it’s not shrouded in darkness.  At night, turn on the lights, light some candles. During the day, let the sunshine in.

•    Guests on their way?  Put some water in a saucepan and add some cinnamon sticks or ground cinnamon.  Bring to a boil and then let gently simmer for a wonderful just baked aroma.  It freshens the air the natural way.

•    Best emergency clean up strategy, grab a laundry basket and go room to room picking up all the things that don’t belong in that room and putting them in the basket.  Hide it in a closet but don’t forget to pull it out and go room to room again putting things back where they belong.

•    Last but not least, don’t sweat it!  Freshen yourself up and enjoy your holiday and your guests.  As long as you’re smiling when you open the door and you’re enjoying yourself, your guests will too.