Are you organizing a Christmas party? Get your home presentable fast

You’ve decked out the halls of your house with decorations, there’s a telltale winter chill in the air, Christmas music is lifting your mood, and you’re thinking about throwing a Christmas party. The best part of throwing a holiday party is taking a break from your busy holiday schedule to enjoy time with friends and family. The worst part of throwing a Christmas party is having a clean house for the guests. Just thinking about having a presentable house party is enough to make you want to ditch the idea. Not so fast! We’ve got some helpful tips with the help of Better Homes and Gardens to help make your pre-party cleanup routine manageable.

deep cleaning vs. quick clean

Ideally, before the day of the party arrives, you should do a thorough cleaning of your entire house. Realistically, this time of year can be busier than usual, and before you know it, you only have a short time to devote to cleaning. When you’re short on time, focus on cleaning and organizing the areas your guests will use and see. The following areas should receive the most attention:

Entry: Start from the outside and work your way in. Clear your front steps or porch of any unnecessary clutter, such as toys, shovels, or tools. Make sure the walkway and steps are clear of snow and ice. Once inside, check the corners of the hallway walls for cobwebs. Don’t forget to clean the chandelier or ceiling lights as well. If you have a glass front door, be sure to remove all fingerprints or smudge marks. Eliminate all the unnecessary items that tend to accumulate at the entrance, such as shoes, umbrellas and bags.

Bathroom: Spend more time preparing your bathroom for guests. In addition to cleaning the toilet, tub, sink, and vanity top, extra touches pack more punch. Wipe down toiletries counters and empty trash. Make sure your glossy surfaces shine: wipe down the faucet, fixtures, and mirror. Lay out clean hand towels and fill the soap dispenser. Check the light switch to make sure it’s not dirty—it’s the last thing guests will look at before leaving the bathroom.

Kitchen – As with the other areas, clear the counters of as much clutter as possible. Move items like your mail and kids’ homework projects to another room. If you have stainless steel appliances, wipe down the surfaces to remove unsightly watermarks, smudges, and fingerprints. If time permits, clean the inside of your oven and the inside of your refrigerator; guests helping you with food preparation may be looking into these areas.

The living room, or the area where you’ll be doing most of your entertaining: In addition to a quick vacuum and dusting, spend a little time making your main entertainment area inviting. Make seating areas inviting and comfortable. Fluff up sofa cushions and accent pillows. If you have a stubborn stain on your couch, try covering it up with a throw or decorative throw. Get rid of pet hair on coats and chairs with the help of a sticky lint roller brush or pieces of postal tape.

Consolidate your stack of magazines and books on your coffee tables into smaller piles, or consider removing them, especially if guests will need space to place their drinks and plates.

Final tip: To help you decide which areas of your home you should focus on cleaning, think about when you go to other people’s houses; what areas do you notice? Where has your eye caught a cobweb? Think about these places when preparing your home for vacation guests.