It’s that time of year again! The time when Christmas decorations start popping up in every store, and people get excited for the winter holidays.
It’s never too early to start planning and cleaning your home so you can avoid feeling overwhelmed once December rolls around.
If you’re like most people, you probably want to make your home look festive for Christmas. But sometimes, it can be hard to know where to start.
That’s why we’ve put together this list of simple tips to help you prepare your home for Christmas!
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Best tips to prep your home for the Christmas season
I’ve compiled a few tips that have helped me in the past to make my home ready for Christmas. I hope they help you as well!
Declutter the high-traffic areas of your home
One of the best things you can do to get your home ready for Christmas is to declutter the high-traffic areas. This includes areas like the entryway, living room, and kitchen.
Not only will this make your home look more presentable, but it will also make it easier to clean. Trust us, you’ll be glad you did this when company comes over!
- Remove any unneeded objects from the counters, refrigerator, and pantry in the kitchen, and throw out any food that has gone bad.
- Be sure to organize snacks and treats by putting them on hooks, storage containers, or special snack organizers.
- Give every dish, cup, pot, and pan a distinct spot by organizing the cabinets; this will make cleanup following those late-night holiday gatherings a snap.
- Donate old shoes and coats to the coat closet, and leave plenty of empty hangers for visitors to use.
- Think about going through your children’s toys together. At this time of year, when they anticipate receiving more, they are frequently more inclined to part with goods.
Clean your windows and mirrors
Another great way to prepare your home for Christmas is to clean your windows and mirrors. This will let in more natural light, which will make your home feel brighter and more cheerful.
I like to use a long extendable squeegee because it makes it easier to clean the outside of my windows. You can also use a vinegar and water solution to clean your mirrors.
Clean carpets and upholstery
If you have carpets or upholstered furniture, now is a great time to clean them. This will help get rid of any dust or dirt that has built up over the year.
You can either hire a professional to clean your carpets and furniture, or you can use a vacuum cleaner and a steam cleaner and do it yourself. Either way, you’ll be glad you did this when your home is looking its best.
I recommend a cordless vacuum cleaner like the INSE Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, 6-in-1 Rechargeable Stick Vacuum, because you can get into all the nooks and crannies without carrying and pulling on the cord.
Then you can use a small portable steamer like the BISSELL Little Green Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner, which is great for spot-cleaning upholstery and carpets.
Wrap your pipes
If you live in an area where it gets cold in the winter, you’ll want to wrap your pipes. This will help prevent them from freezing and bursting.
You can buy pipe insulation on Amazon and at most hardware stores. Just be sure to measure your pipes before you buy, so you get the right size.
This step is important if you live in a house because you can avoid burst pipes during the Holidays.
Decorate the home
One of the best parts of getting your home ready for Christmas is decorating it. This is a great way to get into the holiday spirit and make your home look and feel more festive.
There are plenty of fun and unique Christmas decorations you can get for the home.
You can’t go wrong with a pre-lit artificial Christmas wreath for your doors.
Then you can add some Christmas lights to the outside of your home. You can either use traditional string lights, or you can get creative with icicle lights, net lights, or laser lights.
And don’t forget about the inside of your home! You can put up a Christmas tree, hang stockings on the fireplace, or add a few holiday-themed throw pillows to your couch.
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re decorating your home for Christmas. First, be sure to use non-flammable decorations. This is especially important if you have a real Christmas tree.
Second, be careful not to overload electrical outlets. This can cause a fire hazard.
Finally, if you have small children or pets, be sure to keep decorations out of their reach.
With these tips in mind, you’ll be ready to start decorating your home for Christmas.
Clean out the freezer and create freezer meals
This is the time to get rid of the old and add new freezer meals. This will help you have more space and less freezer burn.
Be sure to eat the leftover food from the freezer and then make some freezer meals ahead of time, so you’re not stressed about feeding your family once the Christmas season rolls around.
You can find some great recipes for freezer meals online or in cookbooks.
I recommend investing in some good freezer bags and containers. I like the Ziploc Double Zipper Freezer Bags, because they’re durable and have a double zipper seal.
For containers, I like the Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers, because they’re leak-proof and stackable. They come in all shapes and sizes and don’t crack after a few uses.
You can make some curries, casseroles, soups, and stews ahead of time and then just defrost them when you’re ready to eat.
Set up a gift-wrapping station
If you want to save money, buy your own wrapping paper, ribbon, and bows. This way, you can wrap gifts as you buy them throughout the year, and you won’t have to pay for gift-wrapping services.
Choose a table or counter in your home that you can dedicate to gift-wrapping. This will make it easy to find everything you need when it’s time to wrap gifts.
I like to keep my wrapping supplies in a storage bin so everything is together in one place. I also recommend getting a good pair of scissors and a tape dispenser.
As soon as you buy a present, you can wrap it right away and then store it in a safe place, so you don’t end up making a mess and cluttering your house or apartment.
Takeaway
With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to getting your home ready for Christmas. By taking care of the big tasks now, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy the holiday season later.
So get started early and don’t leave everything to the last minute, especially those painstaking cleaning chores. With a little bit of planning and some elbow grease, you’ll have your home sparkling clean and ready for Christmas in no time. Happy Holidays!