Are you looking forward to the Holiday Season this year? I am, too, I can’t wait! The gleaming lights, the carb-laden buffets and fizzy cocktails, the anticipation of seeing loved ones. And ALL that cleaning and scrubbing and organizing before they arrive. Wait, WHAT? Yes. Some thoughtful planning and the right perspective will make it (almost) as rewarding as a Black Friday doorbuster event.
First, you’ll need a plan to get the house in shape. Read through my tips and steps below and consider your own situation. Next, determine your budget. Create and stick to a basic timeline and reasonable plan within the budget. Give yourself enough time and flexibility to execute the plan. And don’t let perfection get in the way of a workable solution.
Few guests will ever complain that your home doesn’t remind them of that Four Seasons resort in Bora Bora. With this in mind, you should plan to enjoy the Holidays as much as everyone you’re busily preparing for. Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
The Front Porch or Entryway
Begin at the beginning, with your chance to make a jaw-dropping first impression. Get in your car, we’re doing a curb check. Drive around the block and approach your house from a direction other than the usual one. Now slow down, (ignore that text message) and take a look. You might be, well, unpleasantly surprised.
Do the front steps need pressure washing? Are there cobwebs or peeling paint on the front door? Light bulbs missing? Welcome mat no longer welcoming? Boxwoods gone crispy? It happens. Just keep the car in gear and head over to the home store, pronto. A few tweaks here can make a stunning impact.
If no one has time for pressure washing or painting, consider hiring a local handyman. I’ve had better luck with personal referrals but you can also find help online or, better still, on the bulletin board of a neighborhood hardware store–we’re lucky enough to still have a couple of them.
The Guest Bathroom
In a pinch, I “extreme clean” only two rooms: the guest bedroom and guest bathroom. There’s no getting around this one. Pick a date and time and get started. It might seem radical but begin by removing EVERYTHING. Towels, rugs, baskets, bins, shower curtain and plastic liner. I even remove the pictures on the walls. Empty the medicine cabinet–it’s a good opportunity to toss and replace expired prescriptions and OTCs.
I use old-school scouring powder and let it sit for 15 minutes on a dampened tub, sink and toilet before I start scrubbing with a soft brush. I’ve tried lots of different products but whatever you use, make sure the result is nothing short of super clean. No rust rings or mildew stains allowed. Think (and scrub) beyond the usual level of clean.
Mop the floors and wipe them down with a disinfectant. Clean the hair dryer and mirrors, dust the light fixtures and bulbs, the tops of the door moldings, and the towel bars and hooks. Vacuum corners where the walls meet the ceiling. Install a new shower curtain liner and laundered rugs, and stock the shelves with clean, fluffy towels.
My guest bath is tiny, so I bought one of those metal flower baskets–the kind often used as a window box–and mounted it to the back of the bathroom door. I fill it with individually wrapped rolls of toilet tissue (Scott brand, about $1 per 1000-sheet roll) so guests never have to ask.
I also fill a wicker basket with brand new toothbrushes, disposable razors, hand lotion, etc.–items easy to forget when traveling. I stock the medicine cabinet with headache OTCs and antacids, allergy meds, alcohol, bandages, and antibiotic creme.
Now bring in a little Holiday greenery and something festive for the walls. Step back and survey the results. Impressive, yes? You’re off and running, and you should be feeling much better about this whole houseguest thing.
SIDE NOTE: if the toilet or drains are doing occasional weird things lately, now is NOT the time to rely on your continued good luck. Schedule a reputable, licensed plumber to address the issue before you have an embarrassing disaster on your hands. And plumbing work billed at Holiday rates. I know whereof I speak.
The Guest Bedroom
If you don’t have a dedicated guest bedroom, you can still make your guests feel comfortable and welcome. You could curtain or screen part of an office, as long as there’s privacy in the evenings and mornings.
Or you could create space by moving the kids into an attached garage with an air mattress, a portable radiator, an old TV, and a well stocked mini-fridge. If you tent the ceiling and string some bistro lights, they may never want to leave. (I’m referring here to the portable, electric, oil-filled radiators–no coils or blowers, but you be the judge.)
Once you’ve identified where your guests will stay, get in there and get to work.
Dust the blinds. I actually remove my faux wood blinds from the brackets, hang them on the fence and rinse them with a hose, taking care not to wet the pulley and mechanism inside the headrail. I make sure they’re COMPLETELY dry before bringing them back inside.
Next, strip and wash all bed linens, vacuum and mop the floors, wipe the windows, and clean out the closet, bagging donations as you go.
Provide your guests with lots of clothes hangers and a laundry bag. If you have a folding luggage rack, it’s a nice touch. They’re available online and at the big box stores for under $20. Make sure there’s a wastebasket, a reading lamp and nightlights, and freshly laundered extra blankets.
I tend not to use fresh flowers in a guest bedroom–I don’t want to intrude when it’s time to change the water or remove wilted blooms. I do love using a fresh or faux wreath attached with a wide ribbon, or a potted Stone Pine or rosemary tree in a pretty cache pot
I also fill a tray with bottled water, chocolates, almonds, apples, napkins and a little welcome note. I create a WiFi Guest Account and leave the password with the note. After giving the room a final inspection, I hang a Do Not Disturb sign on the inside doorknob in case guests want a quick nap or simply an hour of retreat.
Now you’re done with the toughest part. And it wasn’t so bad, was it? Oh.
Well, try this for motivation. Create a mental image of your guests unpacking their bags, reveling in their squeaky clean and comfy Holiday digs…relaxed and happy. Which brings me to an unpleasant point. I don’t think you’re in any way obligated to host a friend or family member who has been rude, condescending, demanding, obnoxious, felonious, or ungrateful as a houseguest in years past. You may–or may not–have to invite them to dinner but if you suspect they haven’t mended their ways, politely and firmly direct them to the Airbnb website/app or offer the names of a few good hotels in town. Stand your ground.
The Kitchen
Scour the sink, rinse, and follow with a limescale remover. I use a foam spray that really does need to sit for 20 – 30 minutes before wiping. So read the directions on your package first to avoid the frustration of having to do things over. I also toss a few of those scented capsules into the drains, where they dissolve and remove odors that can waft from the underbelly of the plumbing–always at the worst of times.
Vacuum and mop the floors and wipe down all shiny surfaces, including the stove and cabinets. Basically, it’s your weekly kitchen cleaning routine. Not a huge deal, with one exception: you need to clean the fridge. Take everything out, transfer it to coolers with ice, then wipe down the shelves and doors with a disinfectant. Rinse. Note expiration dates before putting anything back in. I always dread this chore but it doesn’t take all day, and it needs to be done from time to time both for aesthetics and food safety.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: I’m dreaming, not of a White Christmas, but of installing a beverage fridge in the kitchen next year. If you entertain a lot, a beverage fridge will help keep your main fridge clean and organized while guests rummage for sodas or beer. It’s an idea worthy of consideration if you have the space and the budget. Some models can even be installed outside under a covered area.
Provide “self service” lunch or breakfast. Fill a bar cart or designated space on the counter with coffee, tea, mugs, breakfast pastries, chips, fresh fruit, and protein bars. A cheese dome with a marble base actually stays cool for a long time. I’ve also ordered trays of finger sandwiches for this purpose. And a slow cooker filled with vegetable soup or chili will keep guests satisfied while you stay (sane and) focused on a big evening meal.
Make sure to inquire about your guests’ dietary restrictions before planning meals. I have some absolute favorite Thanksgiving and Christmas menus but I also love trying something new. It’s a good opportunity to find gluten free, diabetic friendly, vegetarian or kosher recipes. But commit to a plan early and shop ahead. Resist the urge to keep reading foodie sites and cookbooks. Make a decision and go with it.
There are menu planning apps and printables that can help keep you on track. And don’t torment yourself over this aspect of the Holidays. I have bombed recipes many times and find that people tend not to notice. Make a nice presentation of it and apologize only once, if at all. It’s a celebration, remember, not a contest.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: I’m lucky enough to have a beloved aunt’s vintage table linens and silver, and my family enjoys using (expects) them every year. This actually became a little burdensome, so I began hiring a housekeeping service to do the ironing and polishing. What a relief. It took them only a day last year and their fees were very reasonable. So research your local services online before you get yourself in a jam. Determine if they perform employee background checks, carry liability insurance and workers’ compensation. Whether or not you hire the service, you’ll have some peace of mind knowing they’re there and available.
Take an inventory of your chairs. If you come up short and borrowing isn’t an option, you can probably rent ballroom or Chiavari chairs from a local event rental company. Do it early. They usually offer delivery and pickup. They also rent punch bowls, stemware, table linens, round tables you can set up for the kids, and outdoor canopies.
The Patio
If you have a patio or terrace and the weather is still warm enough, don’t overlook the opportunity to invite guests outdoors for a glass of wine before a concert or other event. Autumn’s beauty can be reinvigorating amid all the Holiday bustle. We have an outdoor fireplace that I’ve decided is best cleaned annually by a professional for proper drafting and safety. This also frees up time. Otherwise, I prepare the area by raking leaves and refreshing the plants, washing the furniture cushions, stringing some bistro lights, and having a couple of camping blankets handy. Give it a try if you can.
Essential Tips for Enjoying the Season
- Don’t overlook the planning process. “Winging it” is not likely to produce the results you want. Use whatever works best for you: a notebook, an app, a wall calendar, a Kanban board, etc. My grandmother flawlessly managed Thanksgiving dinners back in the day with the spiral notepad and Bic pen that were always next to the old beige telephone. She basically had two columns: one for supplies and shopping, and another for what we’d call “action steps” today. She was also steadfast once she cooked up her plan.
- A quick daily vacuuming can help maintain the cleaning you’ve done ahead of time, especially if you have pets.
- Relax. There’s a lot to do, yes, but you don’t have to make everything perfect in order for guests to have an absolutely wonderful time.
- Consider giving your guests short term privileges at your gym or fitness center. Maybe you can schedule a local tour they would enjoy or, if they’re adventurous, let them strike out on their own one afternoon. Send them off with a brown bag of leftovers and a spare house key. And you can take a nap.
- If someone chips a teacup or dings an armchair, it’s not the end of the world. In years to come, you may find that an old wine stain brings back fond memories of someone who is now gone. I have.
- Guests often enjoy helping out with a big dinner rather than standing around wondering if they’re wearing the right thing. Ask them to finish setting the table, light the candles, decant the wine, get some ice, or cut flowers from the yard. It’s very gratifying for guests to participate in this way, so give them an opportunity.
- Remember that you and your guests will have more appliances, including hair dryers and irons, going at the same time. If a couple of your circuit breakers tend to trip in this situation, hire a reputable, licensed electrician to inspect the wiring well before the Holidays. You’ll be glad you did.
- Use a lower lighting scheme–or dimmer switches if you have them–in the living room and dining room. Everyone looks better and it encourages a festive mood. It also helps hide that area you forgot to dust.
- When your guests finally arrive, CELEBRATE! Ignore those last minute loose ends, but do have drinks ready and good music going in the background. Make sure the tree or decorations are lit. Proudly give your guests a quick tour of their bedroom and bathroom. (I’m excited for you!)
- Now relax and ENJOY! Savor the moment, and be grateful that you’re all together once again. And finally, give yourself credit for your accomplishments in making it happen. You did it. And that’s cause for celebration, too!