Enjoy your holiday festivities with less stress

Each year, the festival season brings a flurry of entertaining. From hosting a houseful of out-of-town relatives to formal sit-down dinners to impromptu get-togethers, chances are your schedule - and your home - is brimming with activity. With all the extra foot traffic and activity can also come stress. Stress from shopping and decorating is expected, but what about the stress related to cleaning? Fortunately, with a little prep work and proactive thinking, you can make your holidays and your home shine all season long. Here are a few tips to keep your home ready for festival joy.

Divide and conquer
Optimise your time by compartmentalizing each room in your house. Clean a small, focused portion of the room before moving on to the next, so you can see your progress. Try cleaning each room in a clockwise, top-to-bottom motion so you don’t miss a spot.
Prep entryways and clear space in at least one closet for guests. If you’re using a bedroom, make sure it is clean, since this area will be seen by your visitors.
The kitchen and bathrooms are crucial areas to clean before guests arrive. Besides wiping down counters and sinks, and sweeping and mopping floors, spend time clearing out the fridge to make room for holiday goodies and leftovers. Minimise after-party cleanup by starting with a clean sink and an empty dishwasher.

Clean and protect floors
Clean welcome mats and place them inside and outside entryways to help prevent guests from tracking in dirt, mud or snow, further protecting your freshly cleaned floors.
Set up a bench and shoe rack so guests can remove footwear upon entering your home.
Be prepared for anything
House guests appreciate clean accommodations, but don’t always leave them in the same condition when they depart. There are colourful stories of how house guests who left a lasting impression - and not in a good way. One guest left the water in the bathtub running overnight, causing damage to the bathroom floor, while another dropped a frying pan full of hot grease all over the kitchen floor.
Collect a shortlist of local handyman and cleanup services for minor calamities. Post this list on the fridge so you and your guests know exactly who to call if emergency help is needed before or after guests visit.

It’s OK to set ground rules
Be proactive and communicate with guests to prevent unnecessary mishaps and hassles over the holidays. Posting a list of “golden” rules for each room of your home is an easy way to ensure your house is kept neat and tidy for all your holiday guests.
As you’re posting rules, ensure that guests can find everything they need easily, such as towels and paper products, without having to rummage through drawers and cabinets for supplies and other necessities.

A quick clean-up is better than nothing
Over half of adults claim that if given a choice, they might forgo hosting holiday guests to avoid extra home cleaning. However, even a quick tidying-up can help. Just 15 minutes can spruce up a messy entryway or clean kitchen surfaces. Especially for impromptu gatherings of friends or family, it’s important to
allow yourself to relax and enjoy everyone’s company without stressing that your home isn’t clean enough.