Every season we host Christmas at our house. It’s loud. It’s crazy. But, it’s MY kind of holiday because I’m with family.
It’s something I LOVE to do because Christmas is my most FAVORITE holiday! There’s something about the magic of the holiday season that just really gets me!
Entertaining guests is one of the most special things to do during the holiday season… yes, even with a house-full myself, I still love to do it! We usually have about 18 people every year for Christmas.
So you know what that means?
Cleaning.
Yes, it’s a MUST. And believe me… I get ALL hands on deck for this one!
My BIG question usually is: Where do I start?
It can be daunting and overwhelming for me. I’m someone who definitely likes to keep a neat and organized house throughout the year, but I have 5 kids and our lives are chaotic and busy, so truly – it’s not always easy.
Fortunately, the experts at Merry Maids, the nation’s largest home cleaning company, have simplified the cleaning responsibilities by providing the easiest ways to clean the messiest spaces in your home this holiday season.
What to clean and how to clean them?
Are you ready for the best inside-cleaning-holiday-scoop there is?
Ready… Set… Go!
1) Inside Your Oven
Between roasting turkey and baking pies, your oven has seen a lot of action, but it still has a long road ahead. Take some time to show your oven a little TLC, but in one of the easiest ways possible: let your oven racks clean themselves overnight. Remove the oven racks and place them into large plastic trash bags and spray them generously with a degreaser solution. Put the bags in a safe location away from pets and children and leave them there overnight. The following morning, remove the oven racks from the plastic bags, rinse them in the sink with warm, soapy water and wipe them dry. Wipe down the inside of your oven with a microfiber cloth, and then slide in your newly cleaned oven racks.
2) Carpets & Rugs
From the many footprints to spilled wine drops, your rugs take on a beating during all of the holiday festivities. With any stain, make sure to tackle it right away and blot the stain with a paper towel or white cloth to remove excess liquid. Even if the stain has been lingering, mix one tablespoon of liquid dish soap with 2 cups of cool water and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar. Using a clean white cloth, dip it in the cleaning solution and blot stain. Your carpet will be stain-free before the next course is served.
3) Toilet
Hosting families and friends means that your bathroom works overtime (not to mention I have 4 sons!). Surprisingly, vinegar is perfect for cleaning the hard-water deposits in your toilet bowl. Pour a cup of white vinegar and a few fizzy denture tablets into the toilet bowl and let it sit overnight. The following morning, scrubbing will require less time and less elbow grease.
4) Windows
Kitchen windows are an unexpected place for grease and grime buildup, but heavy cooking and baking can do a number on your kitchen windows. Rather than reach for a cleaning product, make your own. Mix one cup of rubbing alcohol with one cup of water and add a tablespoon of white wine vinegar. You’ll be looking outside at the snow through a grease- and fingerprint-free window!
5) Refrigerator
Refrigerators house a variety of meals throughout the holidays, so now is the perfect opportunity to refresh them. A quick and easy trick: place an orange peel filled with salt in the refrigerator to deodorize it and help keep the fridge smelling clean and fresh. Just cut an orange in half, scoop out the pulp, fill the rind with salt and place it in a bowl at the back of the refrigerator.
I LOVE these tips from Merry Maids! So helpful and so beneficial!
Make sure you bookmark this post or print these tips out! They will come in handy!
Happy holidays everyone!
