Add some happy to your holidays by working with the home cleaning style that fits your hosting style.
Your cleaning habits can be influenced by your hosting style, and this can present unique challenges when preparing for holiday entertaining. Regardless of whether you’re a perfectionist, relaxed, or balanced cleaner, there are tips available that align with your natural tendencies and help you stay productive. By doing so, you can streamline your holiday cleaning, reduce stress, and fully enjoy the festivities.
Which Style Is Most You?
Style 1: ‘Everything has to be sparkling clean and in place.’
Cleaning personality: Strives for perfections, a need to dress the home to impress.
If there were an award for the most diligent and detail-oriented home cleaner and preparer for a holiday gathering, this individual would undoubtedly win. They meticulously attend to every aspect: from thorough house-cleaning to extensive and tasteful decor, to catering to the preferences of every guest. It’s almost like running a five-star boutique hotel without any housekeeping staff.
Watch out for: Letting the thought of being ‘perfect’ get to the point of frustration and dissatisfaction.
Tips for a less-stressed holiday:
- Block and chunk up tasks.
Try setting a timer for 20 minutes and focusing on one room at a time. When the timer goes off, accept that you did your best and move on to the next room. This simple strategy creates boundaries and helps you avoid getting lost in small details that can consume your time. By using a timer, you’ll stay productive and less likely to become obsessive. Remember, it’s okay to give yourself permission to move forward and be satisfied with a job well done.
- Clean as you go.
Balancing cleanliness and enjoyment. Are you a perfectionist who can’t help but clean when guests arrive? Instead, prepare as much ahead of time as possible and adopt a “clean as you go” mindset. For instance, if you’ve made a large pot of spaghetti, wash it, dry it, and put it away before sitting down for dinner. Avoid cleaning while entertaining, as it’s time to be social and engage with your guests.
- Limit yourself to a few extra touches.
Perfectionists can find happiness by easing the desire to impress. While it’s good to add a few unique touches, it’s important not to go overboard. One easy way to show consideration for overnight guests is to provide a tray or basket of toiletries, such as hand soaps, shampoos, and toothbrushes. This small gesture will be greatly appreciated without requiring too much effort on your part.
Style 2: ‘Focus on the key areas in the house, but let’s not go overboard.’
Cleaning personality: Aims for balance, seeks shortcuts.
Maintaining balance can be challenging. It’s tempting to swing too far in one direction, such as cleaning too much or too little, or being distracted by unimportant things. Unfortunately, a misstep or oversight can lead to unpleasant surprises, such as a fridge with an unpleasant odor. While the hosts may have overlooked it, their guests looking for milk for their morning coffee will not.
Watch out for: Lack of attention to detail and sticking to only surface cleaning.
Tips for a less-stressed holiday:
- Try a one-a-day approach to deep cleaning.
As the holidays approach, it’s wise to tackle one dirtier-than-usual task each day. This will help you get everything in order by the time your guests arrive. For instance, one day you could focus on wiping down all the kitchen cabinet fronts, while the next day you could concentrate on cleaning the baseboards. This approach not only helps you tidy up but also ensures that you squeeze in deeper cleaning tasks.
- Prioritize.
Determine what and where to prioritize your cleaning routine. When it comes to cleaning your home, it’s important to focus on the areas that need the most attention. Typically, this will only be a few rooms. We suggest to concentrate on areas that guests are most likely to hangout. These include entryways, living spaces, bathrooms, and guest bedrooms. Avoid getting sidetracked by cleaning spaces such as the laundry room, which guests are unlikely to see.
- Get creative in simplifying tasks.
Maximizing efficiency, people in this area tend to have busy schedules. Try multitasking while waiting for everyday tasks, like brewing your morning coffee. Use those five minutes to unload the dishwasher from the night before or tidy up the living room blankets and pillows left out from movie night.
- Find help and a shortcut or two.
Enlist other family members to pitch in and assign everyone a cleaning task. Be specific — like “vacuum the living room” — to maximize participation. Look for other shortcuts, like adding a cleaning disc inside the toilet tank to help it self-clean day to day. Or, call in the pros to prepare your dinner table. Companies are popping up that allow you to rent picture-perfect table settings for a dinner party, from the linens to the dishware and glasses. Bonus: you don’t have to store them later.
Style 3: ‘A relaxed vibe is just right to make everyone feel at home.’
Cleaning personality: Seeks to do the bare minimum, embraces causal hosting.
Making your guests feel at ease is important. It’s great to have a relaxed and casual approach to hosting, but being too hands-off can lead to trouble. Overly laid-back hosts may fail to complete necessary tasks, such as decluttering, which can lead to a stressful environment. This is a guest no one wants invited.
Watch out for: Work smarter, not harder. Sometimes figuring out the ‘smart’ way takes longer than just doing.
Tips for a less-stressed holiday:
- Preclean.
Grab an empty laundry basket and gather all loose items scattered throughout your home. This isn’t a cleaning process, it’s pre-cleaning – a quick pick up and tidy. Place everything, from dirty towels and shoes to children’s toys and clothes on the floor, into the basket. Next, sort items from the basket and return each one to its proper place. For households with multiple people, provide each person with their own basket to put away their belongings. You’ll be amazed by how much better the space looks in just 10 minutes. All you did was pick up and tidy!
- Address the eyesores.
When you have guests on the way, it’s important to focus on specific areas of your home that require a deep clean. The bathroom and kitchen areas are typically the most important. Ensure that all surfaces and appliances are wiped down thoroughly and take the time to vacuum or mop the floors to eliminate any dirt and crumbs. Don’t hesitate to ask family members for assistance in preparing your home for your guests’ arrival.
- Ask for pro help.
Hiring professional cleaners for a spick-and-span home this holiday season. Cleaning may not be your forte, and that’s okay. Calling in the experts can allow you to focus on entertaining your guests. A housekeeping service can deep-clean your home, with prices starting at $200-$300 for a thorough job. The best part? You don’t have to commit to weekly service. However, it’s wise to book in advance as holiday appointments tend to fill up quickly.
Make your holiday cleaning style work for you. Once you know your problem areas and plan some workarounds, you’ll accomplish more with your home cleaning time and be happier with the results — and the holidays.