With Christmas fast approaching it is about time to get the house guest ready. If you are holding the Christmas or Boxing Day events at your home this year, then the list of task will be growing to arms length already.
Even if you don’t plan on having a Christmas celebration at your home, you just never know who might turn up. So it is best to be prepared for just in case.
That is why I am going to share how to prepare your home for guest this Christmas. I have even made a free download holiday checklist to give you a hand. To get the Free download simple fill out your details in the form below and it will be sent straight to your email.
Kitchen
Clear and Clean The Benches
It is important that if you are making food in the kitchen to clear the benches of any unneeded appliances and clutter. This will allow you to have more space to prepare and serve food. Make sure that you vive the benches a good wipe down to make sure they are clean to prep food on for the day.
Organize Tupperware
If your Tupperware storage is anything like mine right now. Then you will need to just pull everything out and organize it. When Christmas dinner is over there will be left overs and your guest may wish to take some home with them. This is why organizing the Tupperware is so important. you will save time on the day and you will also be able to make sure you have you have a supply of disposable containers available for those guest less likely to return you Tupperware.
Clean Out The Fridge
The next task is to clean the fridge out to make space to store the food for Christmas celebrations. I personally feel like some people judge me by the cleanliness of my fridge. A clean odor free or lightly scented fridge is a whole lot nicer to open then an over cluttered smelly one. That the time to organise and clean your fridge out before christmas day.
Clean The Oven
Giving the oven a good deep clean before cooking anything for the Christmas s always a food idea. The oven can be forgotten about easily during the year. Don’t be afraid to roll up your sleeves and use some elbow grease on those stubborn areas.
Clean The Cups & Mugs
If you like to use special Christmas themed dinner ware, then now if the time to wash it. By washing it before Christmas day you will be able to save some time. If you don’t have special dinner ware to use, check your normal dinner ware is cleaned properly. There is nothing worse than having a guess asking for a new plate that doesn’t have dried food residue stuck on it. I have been their done that. A quick wash will fix that problem from happening and give your glass ware a crystal clear sparkle.
Clean The Utensil Draw
I don’t know how or why but if you use an organiser in your utensil draw like me. You will know it just collects crumbs and dirty for some reason. That is why you need to give the utensil draw a clean so your guest don’t see a dirty draw with clean cutlery and utensil sitting in it.
Mop The Floors
You can do this on Christmas eve if it is easy. Just give those floors a quick mop to make sure there are no sticky spots.
Organize A Hot Drink Stations
For those guest who like a hot drink no matter the weather. Take the time to organise and set up a drink station. Make sure the tea, coffee and sugar containers are full. That way you won’t be searching your to refill them on the day and your guests can easily make their own.
The Lounge Room
Dust The Lounge Room
Dusting and organizing the Lounge room is the best way to work from the top down. Make sure you get all those dust cobwebs down if you have them and dust the wall and doorways. Remember to get the light fixtures and any wall hangings as well before moving on the furniture and ornarments. Now when your guest look up the will see nothing but clean.
Clean The Furniture
A simple spray and wipe with a multipurpose cleaner is the easiest method when it comes to cleaning the furniture, It is quick and effective and wont take much time at all. Alternatively if you would like you can polish the wooden furniture and leather, or get the upholstery professionally clean. It really depend on time and budget.
Wash the Throw Pillows
The throw pillows and blankets seem to overlooked more often than they should be. That is why I have included them on this list. Now you can remember and give them a good clean before Christmas day. They will smell fresh and give a laundry clean scent to the lounge room.
Make A Game Basket
Entertaining can be made easy by providing a games basket that is easy to access. Try to maybe avoid Monopoly but include some cards games and other family board games. They can be an easy way to entertain guest and have a little of old fashion fun.
Create A Kids Zone
My children have a range of toys ready available for them to play with everyday. At Christmas time I pack away a lot of the lounge room toys and bedroom toys. This is because toys can be spread very easily when you have guest in your home. If you limit the amount of toys available to be played with you will also limit the amount that you will have to pack away at the end of the day.
Remove Clutter
If you are entertaining then removing the clutter is important. By removing the clutter from the lounge room it will not only look more organised and open. It will also make more room for your guest that you are having over for Christmas Celebrations.
Vacuum Floors
Finally it is time to vacuum the floors. Since you have been working from the top down all the dirt and dust from the ceiling and furniture should have found its way onto the floor. Having a clean floor will just finish the room and be the final thing to tick of your checklist.
The Bathroom
Put Out Fresh Towels
Fresh towels can instantly make your bathroom look fresher and more inviting. Your guest will appreciate having somewhere clean to wipe their freshly washed hands. It will also help scent the bathroom as old towels can leave the room smelling damp.
Clean The Bathtub
Even though nobody will be using the bathtub, a dirty one can make the whole bathroom feel unkempt. The bathtub can take up a large percentage of the bathroom and guest will have to walk past or stand next to it if they use the bathroom. That is why you need to take a couple of moment to wipe down the bathtub and make sure all the dirt and soap scum is washed away.
Refill Soaps
Make sure the soap dispensers are full and ready for your guest to use. It can get a little awkward if a guest has to ask where the soap is if other have already used the bathroom. Make sure it is also easy to find next to the tap.
Clean Handles and Taps
A clean bathroom is not complete without having clean taps and handles. So take a moment to ensure they are cleaned properly. Get the dirty and soap scum off from the sink taps and the base of the taps. Also give the door handles a clean while you are cleaning the taps.
Clean The Toilet and Base
A clean bathroom can start with a clean toilet. Give the toilet a good scrub so it is sparkling and clean for your Christmas guest. Remember to give the base and behind the toilet a good clean as well.
Clean Mirrors and Glass
Polish the mirrors and any glass or Windows a clean so they are clear. If you have a glass shower screen pay particular attention to the soap scrum. Once your done, the bathroom will look clean and clear.
Organize Under the Sink
It might seem silly but it is in people’s nature to be snoopy. Take the time to reorganize and clean under the sink or any draws and cabinets in your bathroom. That way if you do have a snoopy guest they will see nothing but cleanliness and organisations.
Leave Air Freshener
Your guest will appreciate that you have left some air freshener in the bathroom for those stinky situations. Make sure that it is in a noticeable, easy to find place.
Other
Clean Entrance
Take some time to get that entrance way in order to greet your guest. Clean the entrance matt, remove the cobwebs and wipe the dust of the door. Make some room for jackets and shoes (if your home is a shoe free home) and give the floor a clean.
Catch Up On Laundry
Before the day of entertaining give the laundry basket some attention. Instead of hiding it away on the day, it is much easier to catch up on the laundry. Even of you have to dedicate a day to just doing washing, drying, folding and pitting away. It is well worth it.
Clean Outdoor Furniture
If you are entertaining outside this Christmas give that outdoor furniture a clean. Look underneath the chairs and get rid of the cobwebs and dirt.
Tidy Entertaining Area
Now it is time to get things looking good. Sweep the deck or paved area and just make the area look neat and tidy, ready to celebrate.
Clean The BBQ
If you are cooking on the BBQ then save yourself some time and clean it before the day. That way the BBQ will be able to start cooking whenever they want. Instead of everyone having to wait because it isn’t fit to cook on.
Create A Bar Area
Celebrations usually mean some form of alcoholic drink. So if your party will be involving alcohol make a bar area for those who will be drinking. That way guest can help themselves or have somewhere to keep the BYO alcohol cool and safe.
FINAL THOUGHTS……
While I am sure that everyone’s task will every from person to person. Those are the task that I like to do to prepare for Christmas celebrations.
If you would like these task on a checklist the please complete the form below and your Free Download will be sent directly to your email. Where you can print as many copies as you like.
If you like this post why not read some of my other:
I’m Not A Grinch, I’m Just A Parent To Toddlers
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