You probably know that adequate preparation is key to planning without stress while a well-organized and welcoming home is sure to impress all your guests. As such, cleaning the house should be at the top of your to-do list, particularly as it will ensure you manage the related tasks with ease. With some planning, cleaning your home for a gathering can be simple. To reduce the stress that often accompanies preparation, split the work into tasks that you can easily and quickly complete the week before your gathering. Assign each day a task, and finish it inside an hour. But if you have the funds to do so, hiring an established cleaning company might be the best thing to do. Below is a seven-day plan to guide you through the process of housecleaning in preparation for your meeting.
1. Strategize
Start by evaluating to find out what needs to get done, and then come up with a strategy to accomplish the related chores in an efficient manner. You will save time and be able to see progress if you plan first. Walk around pretending to be a guest, identifying imperfections and areas that need special attention. Take note of everything that needs cleaning or clearing such as inconveniencing obstacles, cobwebs, dirt, clutter, and dead plant leaves. Record the elements you would want to refresh, straighten, or put away for safe keeping. Organize the list into easy to achieve tasks once you finish the walk-through.
Combining related tasks ensures you only have to pull the necessary equipment once or twice while cleaning. Think of ways to maximize efficiency. For instance, you can wash your rugs early so that they are ready by the time you are done with the floors. You will finish the chores faster than expected by splitting the tasks among family members and by day. Also, children will be more willing to take part and assist if you turn the cleaning exercise into a game.
2. Brighten the entry and windows
The second day of your housecleaning effort is time for the dirty work. Stick to your list you and avoid distractions since additional tasks can drag out time and undermine your cleaning efforts. Give your entire house a brighter outlook. Vacuum the window screens and wash the windows. Clean your front door, front porch, and walkway. Clear away any obstacles to give your entryway a fresh and welcoming appearance. Brush away cobwebs and damp-mop your baseboards, adding some shine to your floors. Remember to press all your curtains after you clean them. The crisp, pressed look will highlight your newly cleaned windows, and the fresh smell will permeate your house.
3. Clean the bathrooms
Cleaning the bathrooms involves messy work, and taking care of this job early means you only have to perform a quick refresh on the actual day of your gathering.
Make sure you scrub the toilets and clear all the clutter from your bathroom counters. Neatly arrange the essentials, clean your medicine cabinets, and organize their contents. Because people are likely to peek, remember to tuck away everything you would like to keep private.
4. Clear guest areas
You need to ensure your guests have enough room to mingle during the gathering. Start by putting every fragile or irreplaceable item in a safe place, and then make sure your living areas are free of clutter. Ensure your living space is free of unnecessary items since they can be in the way during a gathering.
5. Attack the kitchen
Since your kitchen needs to be in tip-top shape, clean it now to ensure everything is ready when the time to prepare and serve food comes. Deep-cleaning is a lot easier if you kept your kitchen relatively clean. Remember to pay special attention to the areas you usually save for spring cleaning. Attack these tasks with vigor because your daily obligations are likely to cause the accumulation of some kitchen cleaning tasks.
Clean out your refrigerator and discard any leftover that is no longer edible and as well as expired foods to make room for food intended for the gathering. Create space in your freezer for ice. Wipe down every kitchen surface including your cooktop, appliances, cabinets, and countertops, and then clean the floor.
6. Polish your spaces
As the day of the gathering approaches, turn your attention to polishing the areas where your guests will spend the most time. Ensure the areas reflect the atmosphere you would like to present. Remember, every space has unique cleaning requirements.
7. Touch up for the gathering
Although some things will require finishing just before your guests arrive, they are usually intended to refresh the hard work already completed. Having already done the hard work, you shouldn’t linger on these tasks. The spaces only need a final polish. Ask your family to assist so that the touch-ups go faster.
Give your bathroom surfaces and mirrors a quick shine, and quickly brush the toilets. Hang fresh hand towels and put out fresh soap. Polish your kitchen counters, sinks, and faucets after you mop the floor. Empty the trash from every container in the house. After fluffing your cushions and pillows, use a dust mop on the hard-surface floors, and then vacuum the carpets. Arrange or fold your throws, straighten book stacks, and ensure your tabletops are dust-free and clear of clutter. These simple details can make your house feel fresher.
You can now set up your party area by arranging fresh flowers, lighting candles, organizing the entertainment, setting up food and beverage stations, and finishing the preparation.