If you’ve been tasked with hosting this holiday season, you’re probably already a little bit stressed about the prospect of cleaning your home and getting things organized. Tidying up is hard enough without the added pressure of a time crunch, not to mention all of the inspecting eyes that are eager to point out the first speck of dust they see. With a plan and these tips, you can avoid a last-minute scramble and have your home looking perfectly pristine for your guests, with plenty of time to spare.

• Clean out the closets. The holiday season is a chilly time of year in many parts of the country, and your guests will likely come bundled. This means you’ll need plenty of room in those coat closets. Be sure to leave a mat by the front door for wet boots if snow is in the forecast.

• Today, I need to… One of the best ways to get organized quickly is to make a to-do list and stick to it. Break up your home into sections, and tackle those sections little by little. Handling the cleaning all at once can make it a little overwhelming, so this strategy makes the tasks more manageable.

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  Decorating dos and don’ts. A little holiday decorating can go a long way toward making your home feel more put together, regardless of whether or not you washed the windows or scrubbed the floors recently. This isn’t to say you can cover up a messy house with tinsel and holly, but incorporating small pieces in the most frequented areas of your home can work wonders.

• Make way for the turkey. Take a good look at your refrigerator. Do you have room for a week’s worth of turkey and pie? Or are there some items that will need to be tossed? Be sure to throw away anything that is expired or that you can do without to make room for all of the leftovers you are guaranteed to have.



Need help with your holiday prep? Print out our cleaning and food preparation checklists to help you stay organized this holiday season.

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