During the holiday rush, who has time to clean? You can fake a clean house with these simple tips.
• Clear away clutter from areas your guests will see first, especially the entryway. Put away shoes and coats. Gather up items in a laundry basket, and stow it out of sight. Stack stray books or magazines in a neat pile on the floor or in a basket beside the sofa.
• To remove lingering food odors, boil nutmeg, cloves, or cinnamon with orange peels in a saucepan on the stove, or put something sweet in the oven. Keep frozen cookie dough in the freezer for this reason (plus, you’ll have a treat to serve your guests).
• Wipe down bathroom surfaces with disinfecting wipes (don’t forget the mirror). Empty the trash. Hide cosmetics and other clutter in a container under the sink. Put out a fresh hand towel, and make sure there’s enough hand soap and toilet paper. Use a sticky lint roller to pick up hair from the bathroom floor or bathmat.
• Hide dirty dishes in the dishwasher, or rinse and stack them neatly in the sink. Wipe kitchen surfaces with disinfecting wipes. Put out clean dish towels, or fold or roll dirty towels to hide stains.
• Flip sofa cushions. Try keeping one side strictly for guests. When you are expecting company, flip cushions to the good side. After guests leave, flip them back.
• Light candles. Everything looks cleaner by candlelight.
–Hints provided by Harry Hink of HB Services
HB Services, LLC is locally owned and operated by Harry Hink. Check us out on the web at www.hbservices.biz or call (703) 764-0498 for further information.
