There’s enough time before #Christmas to complete the 12-day holiday cleaning countdown Real Simple suggests to get the whole house in order with just a little daily effort. On the first day, simply stock up on #cleaning supplies. Next, clean out the pantry; you may be doing some cooking, and expired items will get in the way. Ten days out, take stock of your tableware; then clean the oven, refrigerator and kitchen floors. Move on to the bathrooms and guest rooms. With targeted but ongoing efforts, all you’ll need to do is empty the trashcans and sweep the floors by the final day before your guests arrive.
Tag: decluttering
Start Your Holiday Cleaning ASAP
Start your #holiday #cleaning early, Forbes advises. #Declutter things that have a tendency to collect in places they don’t belong, such as laundry, mail and other objects. Tackle a room at a time, starting with the ones that will get the most use: the dining room, living room and kitchen. The entryway is important to maintaining cleanliness, so designate a space for guests’ shoes and coats, including a boot tray or doormat for mucked-up footwear. Once you’ve completed the #cleaning to your satisfaction, set the mood by mulling a hot beverage or lighting a scented candle. Turn on the holiday tunes and enjoy the season!
Deep-Clean or Quick-Clean for the Holidays
Hosting for the #holidays? You’ll probably need to #tidy up before friends and family arrive. Better Homes & Gardens offers tips for a seven-day, comprehensive, preholiday deep-clean; targeted, one-hour spruce-ups; and emergency triage for holiday stains. If you only have an hour or two before your guests arrive, focus on the bathrooms they will use, as well as the entryway, living room and kitchen. “Carry a laundry basket throughout the house, picking up #clutter as you go. Once filled, put everything in its place or hide the basket.” Revisit the basket after the holidays to see what you might #donate to ClothingDonations.org.
Shopping Black Friday and Beyond
Black Friday is finally here! But don’t think this the only time you can save on #holiday #gifts — the day is only the start of Cyber Week and other retailer promotions. Good Housekeeping is tracking some of the week’s best deals, and CNET offers a shopping widget you can use with your internet browser to make sure you get the best price on millions of items. Don’t forget to shop local on Small Business Saturday and throughout the holiday season, either — shopping local businesses is typically more sustainable and ecofriendly than shipping a gift thousands of miles to your door. #BlackFriday2023
Shop the Thrifts on Black Friday
Happy Thanksgiving! If you plan to go out shopping on Black Friday, don’t forget to check out the local #thrift stores, many of which are supplied by generous donations to ClothingDonations.org. If you have qualms about #giving #secondhand goods, remember that most thrift stores are stocked with lots of clean, lightly used and one-of-a-kind clothing items and housewares, as well as hard-to-find books, games, furniture and other goods. Taking a cue from the big retailers, many thrift stores have their own Black Friday promotions, so you can get even better discounts on used goods and pay up to 90% less on #gifts. #BlackFriday2023