4 Cleaning Tips To Make Your Home Holiday Hostess-ready in Record Time
So you can spend more time with family.
There’s nothing quite like the holidays: They’re filled with family, friends, food, and festivities. But as fun as these celebrations are, they can also make the holidays feel like a mad dash with little time left for cleaning the house before everyone comes over. Whether you’re hosting loved ones or need to be guest-ready for spontaneous Christmas cookie deliveries, you want to have tidy, cozy home. The below cleaning tips make it easy to speed through to-do’s and get your home holiday-ready in a matter of minutes — and the best part is, you have all the supplies you need in your cupboard already.
Swipe away bathroom grime.
Use rubbing alcohol to get your powder room clean (and guest-perfect) quickly. Soak a cloth in rubbing alcohol and wipe the sink and tiles, says Leanne Stapf, CEO of The Cleaning Authority. “Rubbing alcohol cuts though soap scum and mildew — just let it sit for 15 minutes, rinse, and you’re done.”
Revive dusty curtains.
A duct-tape roller can make your curtains look brand-new and instantly lighten and brightern your home. The quickest way to banish dust on drapes: Grab a clean paint roller, wrap a piece of duct tape around the barrel with the sticky side facing out, and roll it over the curtains — the painting tool works like a lint roller to pick up dirt in seconds.
Lift odors easily.
White vinegar can make your home smell fresh. No need to buy chemical-laden air fresheners or scented candles to banish funky smells like cat litter and garbage odors, assures Beatrice Flores, cleaning expert at LivingPristine.com. “Just place a bowl of white vinegar in each room of your home and leave it for at least an hour,” she suggests. “The vinegar will absorb odors, leaving behind only clean indoor air.”
Clean carpets quickly.
Use a dash of baking soda to make your carpets look (and feel) amazing. Since they represent the largest surface area in your home, carpets make a big first impression. To clean them fast, sprinkle them with a bit of baking soda and wait 15 to 20 minutes, then give them a quick vacuum. The baking soda not only deodorizes carpets; it also helps lift dirt and hair from their fibers.
