Are you having holiday guests coming to stay?  Are you planning to have a holiday party?  Are you ready?  As in, is your house ready for the onslaught of guests and action?  It’s time to dust off your furniture and shine up those windows folks!  No one wants to invite guests into a dirty house!

Make a List

First and foremost start with a list.  If you are anything like me, you have quite a few things to do around the house, so starting with a list is imperative.  To write out the list is only part of the job though, you actually need to follow the list while cleaning. Following the list will make it much easier to prevent getting sidetracked.

Also, be sure to write out the list of things that you need to do in order of importance.  For example, you know you are going to need clean bathrooms, so put that on one of the first lines.  You may want to wipe down your pantry shelves, but that’s not really on the important list, so that one can be put toward the end of the list.

Recruit

Now that you have a list of things to do, recruit your family to jump in and help.  You didn’t make the mess yourself, you don’t need to clean it all yourself.  This may seem like a grumpy rule, but it works for bringing your stress levels down.

The Trash is Your Friend

Seriously, if you are preparing for a holiday party or house guests, holding onto stuff is not the right move.  If you have been clinging onto those old newspapers or magazines or maybe that ripped up towel that you can bring yourself to toss, now is the time.  This step alone will bring you a lot of peace.

Grab Some Cleaning Wipes

Cleaning wipes are your friend when it comes to quick housekeeping.  I highly suggest buying a large canister of cleaning wipes to keep on hand.  Once you get your house cleaned, make sure to quickly clean up any spills or messes.  Make sure that the rest of your family knows that this is the new rule.