The holidays are the busiest time of year for hosting, and the busiest time of year for cleaners too. A bit of planning means your home looks and smells its best when everyone arrives.
Four to six weeks out
- Book deep cleaning early. Calendars fill up fast in November and December.
- Walk through each room as if you were a guest. Look at the couch, traffic lanes, the guest room and the entry.
- Deal with pet odors now. Guests notice smells you've gotten used to.
What to clean first
- The couch. It's where everyone sits, and it's usually the dirtiest fabric in the house.
- Entry and hallway carpet, the first thing people see.
- The guest room, including the area rug.
- Dining chairs, which collect food spills over the year.
- Kitchen tile and grout, if you'll be cooking for a crowd.
Timing your cleaning
Schedule carpet and upholstery cleaning about one to two weeks before guests arrive. That's close enough that it still looks fresh, with enough time to dry completely and settle.
Don't forget after
Holiday gatherings mean spills, muddy shoes and lots of foot traffic. Keep a stain kit handy (clean white cloths, mild dish soap and water) and blot spills right away. A post-holiday cleaning in January clears everything out for the new year.