One Week to Stress-Free Entertaining

Christmas is just one week away. If you, like me, are hosting family this year on Christmas day, are you ready for action? Creating a plan will help keep the Christmas-day party madness to a minimum, so you can actually enjoy some time with your loved ones. I can’t tell you how to clean your house, or even what needs cleaning. So here is a guide I use (and anyone can benefit from) for getting those extra special entertaining-related cleaning jobs done starting a week ahead of time:

7 Days Out

Finalize the Menu and Shopping List

Shop (or send the hubby)

6 Days Out

Polish Silver

Wash slipcovers on sofas and chairs if needed

5 Days Out

Toss out old items from the fridge, and wipe down the shelves while you are in there

Wipe kitchen cabinet and appliance fronts

4 Days Out

Rake Leaves, Sweep driveway, tidy front entryway

Iron Linens

3 Days Out

Clean, Clean, Clean! Bathrooms, kitchen stove, only you know what needs to be cleaned in your home!

2 Days Out

Vacuum carpets, shake rugs outside

Mop hardwood, tile and linoleum till it shines!

*note that you are doing the floors after the cleaning on day 3

Christmas Eve

Replace old candles with new ones where needed

Put out last minute touches such as air fresheners

Swap towels for fresh ones in the bathrooms

Bring out special dishes for entertaining

Set up the table, cloths and table decorations

Tidy bedrooms

How far in advance do you start cleaning before hosting?

Posted December 18, 2012, filed in Organized Entertaining

One Week to Stress-Free Entertaining

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