Everyone wants a stress-free holiday season, and the best way to live a life free of stress is to be clutter-free! Fall is the new spring for deep cleaning and organizing before the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Let’s explore some tips for a fresh, cozy, inviting winter home for you and your holiday guests.
Fall is ideal for a major clean-up. Many will have holiday guests coming to stay soon, so a deep clean ensures the house is ready for guests. Allergies tend to be high in the fall season, so keeping your home tidy and dust-free will help keep the allergens at bay. This is especially true once you turn on the heaters, as it reduces respiratory irritations. Cleaning dust from vents, baseboards, and radiators can improve heating efficiency, saving winter energy costs. And don’t forget the ceiling fans! Fan blades need good dusting after a hot summer and fans running 24/7. A clean and organized home creates a sense of warmth and coziness as people spend more time indoors.
Key areas to clean include the living room, kitchen, bedrooms, entryway and bathrooms. Dust all the surfaces, vacuum upholstery, wash throws and pillow covers. Clean windows for maximum sunlight. Deep clean the oven and refrigerator to prepare for holiday feats and reorganize the pantry. Organize and add storage for coats, hats and boots. Clear out those Halloween cobwebs and dust in high spaces. Stock up on winter essentials in the bathrooms with winter-scented soaps, scrubs, and plenty of lotions for dry skin. Create a “winter survival kit” for the home and include candles, cozy throws and backup supplies in case of power outages. If the leaves are piling up on the walkways and driveway, clear them out. You don’t want anyone slipping, falling, or getting their car stuck in the leaves and brush. However, remember that ResidentShield renter’s insurance is there to protect from any accidents.
Declutter for a minimalist holiday season. Use the “one in, one out” rule as the holidays approach and apply it to limit new items and gifts by decluttering existing possessions. Declutter high-traffic areas such as countertops, entryways and tidy living spaces to prevent holiday clutter from piling up. Focus on storage and optimize storage spaces, especially with holiday décor, seasonal clothing and gifts. If holiday decorating is overwhelming, encourage a more intentional approach to decorating that doesn’t overwhelm spaces. Start slow and transition by removing the Halloween reapers, spiders and ghouls and replacing them with ribbons/bows and wreaths. Then, after Thanksgiving, go into more detail with the tree and outside lights and remove the pumpkins. This way, you are not doing all the decorating at once, leaving you feeling less stressed and overwhelmed. Don’t forget to involve your family members in the cleaning and organizing process. It’s a great way to spend quality time together and instill a sense of shared responsibility in maintaining a clean and cozy home.
Prepare for holiday guests. Not everyone is as welcoming as the Griswold’s for the holidays. But remember, guests and family are there because they love you and want to spend the holidays with you. So please take a deep breath and prepare for them as best as possible. Clean and freshen up the room they will be staying in. Add decorative bedding and blankets, check for guest amenities like toiletries and consider extra storage space for guest items. Small touches like added extra towels, a charging station in the rooms for their smart devices, and some scented candles like cinnamon or pine go a long way and provide a sense of comfort for your guests.
Happy cleaning!
