HOLIDAY CLEANING For A STRESS-FREE SEASON
We love cooking and entertaining our family and friends who visit the Northeast Georgia mountains during the holidays. Memories of twinkling Christmas tree lights and enticing aromas coming from the kitchen excite me to begin preparations early every holiday season. We love our house and enjoy being home during this magical time of year. It’s such a blessing to have time with loved ones, relaxing on the couch with a mug of coffee. Then there’s my Holiday to-do list… sometimes it seems endless. I love all the shopping, cooking, and wrapping presents, but cleaning my house is not my favorite thing.
With busy schedules, work, and entertainment, it can be overwhelming to find the time and energy to clean. However, when taken in small steps – it doesn’t have to be so stressful. Start with simple tasks. A tidy home looks cleaner than a cluttered home. In short – without any cleaning at all, you can make a big difference if you take some time to grab a laundry basket and pick up all that stuff that belongs elsewhere. Holiday Cleaning Tip: Move from left to right around the room when picking up and cleaning. This helps you to remember everything behind you is now considered a clean, clutter-free zone and everything ahead of you requires attention
When it’s time to start cleaning, space it out over a few days and start in the most important, or difficult, room in your home. Prioritizing your room ensures you get the most meaningful rooms done first — so if you run out of time, you’ll still be ok.
The kitchen is the heart of my home, so I usually start with the kitchen and spend the most time cleaning that room. Holiday Cleaning Tip:
- Clean range or stovetop, surfaces, and grates.
- Clean out the refrigerator, making room for party foods
- clean and shine the kitchen sink
- Wipe down all large and small appliances.
- Wipe down kitchen cabinets.
- Create space in the kitchen for holiday entertaining by filling a box with kitchen items you won’t be using and moving it elsewhere. Now you have room for the holiday serving dishes, and other items you’ll be using during the holidays.
Preparing the Guest Bathroom
Making sure that the entire guest bathroom is squeaky clean is paramount when preparing for visitors. For overnight visitors, it’s really nice to place a basket in the bathroom with little amenities your guests may have forgotten to pack, such as cotton swabs, toothpaste, a toothbrush, ibuprofen, and more. Even the most organized travelers will forget something. Stock shower with shampoo, conditioner, soap, and a razor. Brighten up the bath with scented soaps and holiday decor. I also like to splurge on a few thick, 100 percent cotton towels, so we always have the “good” towels ready for guests. side bin with an assortment of sponges, bath salts, and scented soaps.
Freshen Up Naturally
At Amy’s, we use herbs like lavender and lemon to freshen your home when we clean. We want to share one of our secrets with you… Fill a spray bottle with 20 drops of lavender essential oil, 1 teaspoon of witch hazel, and water to create a linen spray. Lavender is known to reduce stress, promote calm, and aid in relaxation. Mist bed linens, lamp shades, shower curtains, and drapes. Grind up lavender and chamomile with baking soda in a food processor to sprinkle on rugs and carpets to remove odor. Just leave it overnight and vacuum it the next day. Holiday Cleaning Tip: choose essential oils in holiday scents, like peppermint or pine, to spray sofas and drapes in other living spaces.
Enlist Help
Remember, you want to enjoy the holidays as well. The holidays will run much smoother if ask your uncle to carve the turkey and ask the teenagers to bring out chairs and take guests’ jackets as they arrive. After the meal – allow guests to help with the cleanup.
If the thought of all these preparations sends your stress level over the edge – contact Amy’s Green Cleaning to get some help! We are proud to be the best cleaning service in Northeast Georgia, serving White, Habersham, Clayton, North Hall, Gainesville, and Lumpkin counties!
Amy’s Green Cleaning is currently running holiday specials and gift coupons for your friends! Make sure to call Laura to get a spot on our schedule for a deep clean, a weekly, or a biweekly normal clean. We also provide an affordable price for our “Flex Clients” who are willing to work with us on a flexible schedule.
The holidays only come around once a year, so cherish those around you, and give thanks for having loved ones.
Remember, be flexible in your plans, life happens, and unforeseen holiday challenges may arise. With a little planning though, your guests will enjoy your company, holiday home, and meal. When I follow these tips, my home looks festive and inviting, my guests feel comfortable and all of that makes me feel good and relaxed. When I’m less stressed, I’m much more enjoyable to be around – funny how that all works isn’t it?
