Christmas guests on the way? Whether you’re hosting family for the day or have relatives staying for several nights, getting your home ready can feel like another job on an already long festive to-do list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The secret is not to clean absolutely everything and get yourself in a tizz before your guests arrive. Concentrate on the rooms your guests will actually use, tackle the bigger jobs in advance and leave the quick finishing touches until closer to their arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From freshening up the spare room to preparing for inevitable Christmas dinner spills, here’s how to get your home guest-ready without spending Christmas Eve cleaning, sweating and worrying about whether Aunt Gladys will notice your towels aren’t monogrammed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you begin, think about your home from a guest’s point of view. The hallway, living room, kitchen and bathroom will probably see the most traffic. If people are staying overnight, add the guest bedroom to the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prioritising these rooms stops you getting distracted by jobs that nobody will notice. The inside of the kitchen cupboards can probably wait until January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Start by decluttering each space. Put away everyday items, clear surfaces and find temporary homes for anything that doesn’t need to be out over Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you’ve cleared the clutter, cleaning becomes much easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your carpets need more than their usual vacuum, don’t leave a deep clean until guests are about to arrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vacuum thoroughly first, moving lightweight furniture where practical so you can reach underneath and around it. Pay particular attention to hallways and living rooms, where people will be walking throughout Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your carpets need a deeper refresh, use a carpet cleaner several days before your guests arrive. This gives you plenty of time to clean properly and allow carpets to dry before furniture, presents and people fill the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A hardworking carpet cleaner can be useful in your pre-Christmas deep clean arsenal, particularly if you’re tackling busy family rooms as well as carpeted stairs and suitable upholstery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If someone is staying over Christmas, getting the spare room ready a few days in advance is one less thing to think about later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Strip and remake the bed with fresh bedding, clear bedside surfaces and make some wardrobe or drawer space available if your guests are staying for more than a night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then tackle the areas that can get overlooked when the room isn’t regularly used. Dust bedside tables, lamps and windowsills, and vacuum underneath the bed where accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finish by emptying the bin and leaving somewhere obvious for guests to put their bags, clothes and belongings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A spare charging socket that’s actually accessible is a small touch your guests may appreciate more than a perfectly organised wardrobe; you could also add a universal charging cable, a hairdryer, a make-up mirror and a few small sealed bottles of mineral water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You don’t need a hotel bathroom, but there are a few things worth checking before people arrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clean the sink, taps, toilet, bath or shower and floor, then make sure there’s enough toilet roll somewhere guests can easily find it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Put out clean hand towels and clear away some of your everyday toiletries if they’re taking over every available surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If guests are staying overnight, provide fresh towels and make sure there’s somewhere to hang them. It’s also a nice idea to provide shower gels, facial wash, sponges, and sanitary products (along with disposal bags). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don’t forget the small details either: empty the bathroom bin, check the soap dispenser and give the mirror a clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The entrance to your home has a particularly difficult job at Christmas. More people means more shoes, coats, bags and potentially wet or muddy footprints, so make some room before everyone arrives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clear unnecessary shoes and coats from the hallway and decide where guests can put theirs. If it’s wet outside, a good doormat can help catch some of the moisture and dirt before it’s carried through the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vacuum the hallway shortly before guests arrive, paying attention to edges, corners and the area immediately around the front door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A cordless vacuum is particularly handy for quick jobs like this. Our cordless vacuum cleaners <\/a>can also help you move quickly between the hallway, living room and stairs without having to find another socket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If Christmas at your house involves everyone gathering around the television after dinner in a post-lunch slump, your sofa is going to get plenty of use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remove the cushions where possible and vacuum underneath them to pick up crumbs, dust and pet hair. Use an appropriate attachment on suitable upholstery and pay attention to seams and edges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your sofa needs wet cleaning, check its care label before using any cleaning appliance or solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s worth doing this job before arranging cushions and throws \u2013 otherwise you’ll only have to move everything again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kitchens and dining areas can become particularly busy over Christmas, so give hard floors a thorough clean before the main event. This should be one of the last things you do before your guests arrive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vacuum or sweep first to remove crumbs and loose debris, then wash the floor using a method suitable for the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFreshen up the sofa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Get hard floors ready for Christmas dinner<\/h2>\n\n\n\n