Holiday Cleaning Tips for the Home

The holidays are a time for special decorations, gifts and visitors, all of which require extra preparation and cleaning! So how can you tackle the messes around your house in time for your guests’ arrival? Follow these helpful holiday cleaning tips for the home.

Space Out Holiday Cleaning and Do It Early

To avoid feeling totally overwhelmed, try cleaning a little bit every day. You can divide up your cleaning task by the task itself, or clean an entire room a day.

Individual tasks:

  • decluttering
  • storage organization (closets, cabinets, refrigerator)
  • dusting
  • washing windows
  • wiping or cleaning surfaces (tables, countertops, appliances)
  • vacuuming and/or mopping

Cleaning by Room

  • Guest bedroom (if guests are staying overnight)
  • Living room/family room
  • Dining room
  • Hallway or mudroom
  • Kitchen
  • Bathroom

Using this method allows you time to do a thorough job without being rushed or left exhausted. Plus, you will have enough energy afterwards to enjoy time with your holiday guests. Before guests arrive, perform quick touch-ups such as wiping down counters and putting away items.

Holiday Cleaning Tips Don't forget the baseboards

Don’t Overlook These Spots When Cleaning for the Holidays

It’s easy to overlook light switches, doors and baseboards as we don’t tend to notice these items on a daily basis. Use a wet Eraser Sponge to remove scuff marks from walls and doors, fingerprints and smudges from light switches, and  dirt and grime from doors. Try our Eraser Sponge Extension Handle Kit to clean your baseboards without bending. It comes with four eraser sponges that attach to the handle via Velcro.

To use,:

  • Wet one of the kit’s eraser sponges and squeeze out the excess water
  • Stick it to the end of the handle
  • Use the buttons on the handle to extend it to desired length
  • Press it firmly against a baseboard, wall, or other surface and gently move it back and forth to clean away dust, dirt, stains and dark scuff marks.

Holiday Cleaning the Entryway

Your entryway is the first thing guests will encounter when they arrive at your home, so making sure it’s spick and span will guarantee a good first impression. Wipe down your front door with our Eraser Sponge, shake out the doormat and add some festive decorations like a holiday wreath and garland. Also be sure to organize coat closets and shoe storage so everything is neat and tidy. A clean and cozy entryway is just what you need to make your guests feel welcome!

Holiday Cleaning Tips: Scrub and wipe down counters

Holiday Cleaning Tips for the Kitchen

All of your delicious food will taste better in a clean oven! Mix white vinegar and baking soda together to create a foamy mixture. Let it sit on greasy spots and then use our scrubby sponge to scrub it clean. Next, declutter your countertops and wipe them down with a Swedish Dishcloth.  The Swedish Dishcloth is non-scratch and safe to use on marble and granite countertops and on wood cabinets.

Preparing a Guest Bedroom

If your guests are visiting from out of town, chances are they are staying at your home for all of the holiday fun. You’ll want your guests to feel like they are in a home-away-from-home, so make sure the guest bedroom is ready with fresh sheets, towels and extra toiletry items. If you don’t remember the last time you had guests stay over, chances are there is a lot of dust in the room, so you’ll want to remove it with microfiber cloths or a microfiber duster.

Not only will your guests need a place to sleep, but they will also need somewhere to put their clothing, coats and luggage. Tackle one closet at a time and empty everything out of it. After the closet is empty, create four piles: keep, give away, throw away and store. Don’t forget the golden rule: if you can’t remember the last time you wore or used something, get rid of it!

Tips for Cleaning the Bathroom

Go through the closet and medicine cabinets and get rid of any unnecessary items. Add  new towels and replenish toilet paper and hand soap so you don’t have to worry about running out when the Christmas craziness begins.

Wipe down the bathroom sink, clean the toilet and mirror. Eraser sponges are great for removing dirt and grime from shower stall floors and soap scum from glass doors and tiles. You can also use an eraser sponge to clean the sink, floor and toilet bowl.

Now your home is ready for lots of company and entertaining! For home-cleaning supplies, shop now!

Cleaning Your Home During Winter Months

Winter Cleaning

If you live in a section of the United States where winter weather is nasty and the days are often dark, you understand that committing to household chores in winter can be difficult.

We are all guilty of crawling under the covers in the winter months when we should be cleaning our home.

It is important to clean our home throughout the winter months.

Below are some suggestions on what areas of your home deserve special attention as the season settles in.

Clean the Kitchen

We make more homemade meals as temperatures decline which means our kitchen is typically dirtier in winter months.

If you haven’t looked up at your kitchen ceiling lately, you are in for a surprise when you do.

magic erasers used in office kitchens

Our kitchen ceiling and our kitchen walls are soiled daily by moisture, fumes, and smoke.

Using your favorite Spongeoutlet’s eraser sponge along with some warm water mixed with dish soap, you should scrub the ceiling gently using very little water so it does not drip.

If you notice any streak marks as you clean, stop immediately.

Dust Regularly

Dusting can be a tedious chore but it can make a big difference when it comes to the overall appearance of our home and can help improve our home’s air quality.

Homes get especially dusty in the winter months because the air inside is much warmer and drier than usual from heaters and fireplaces. Dusting your home on a regular basis will make ensure that dust levels never get out of hand. Make sure you also dust hard to reach places including ceiling fans, moldings, and light fixtures.

You can use a Spongeoutlet’s microfiber cloth to clean off dust from any surface.

  • The cloths will not scratch surfaces and they will hold onto the dust as you go.

Vacuum Furniture

We tend to disregard our furniture when we are cleaning our homes and often clean around it. However, many of us do snack when sitting on our sofa.

We need to be periodically cleaning our furniture. You should make sure to vacuum under the cushions and get out any crumbs or other surprises.

  • You should also be flipping the furniture upside down, easily done with two people, in order to get under the furniture where a lot of crumbs reside.

Winterize Entrances

For many states, the winter means that snow, water, and mud are being constantly tracked into your home.

Designate a “winter doorway” where you can put down a thick mat outside where people can wipe their feet before entering. You should also have a chair or bench available for sitting allowing guests to take their boots off right away.

  • Place a rubber mat alongside it where boots can sit to dry.

By practicing some of these cleaning habits, your house will be better maintained throughout the winter months, making less work for you when spring finally arrives.

Visit Spongeoutlet for reliable sponges and microfiber cloths to get your home in shape for winter.