If you’re here, then you more than likely adore hosting parties for the holidays. Well, from a well-packed Thanksgiving dinner all the way to a rousing Hanukkah party, planning the ideal celebration for your friends and family is the perfect plan for a relaxing activity.
From menu planning to cheating the right theme, it can put you both in a state of bliss and terror. And since we talk about terror, if there is one thing that truly stresses me out, it’s cleaning the house (especially the kitchen) before our guests arrive.
I would much rather spend my free time focusing on how to arrange the platings or creating an over-the-top charcuterie board. That’s probably why I decided to ask a few pro cleaners I knew for advice on how to skimp on cleaning (or even skip it altogether).
As it turns out, we don’t really have to stress so much because there are many spots that can be ignored, and no one will ever be the wiser. So here we enlisted nine expert-approved areas, especially in the kitchen, that you can skip cleaning and give yourself more time to bring on the holiday cheer this year.
Places to Ignore: Behind the Refrigerator
Unless your fridge is in the middle of the kitchen and you are about to give a tour of the house, no one is going to notice what you have behind it. So you might as well save some time and refrain from pulling the fridge out and vacuuming the hidden area. The front is, after all, what matters the most here.
Light Fixtures
Unless a bulb is hanging out in such a way that can’t be ignored and there is dust everywhere, you can simply skip cleaning the light fixtures. The lights are on high, and people won’t pay attention to them. Moreover, a little dust won’t hurt anybody, and anyway, you won’t be spotlighting them during the gathering.
Trash Can Lid
You will most likely toss the trash out before the guests arrive anyway, so why bother scrubbing the lid? No one will be looking at the trash can, especially if it’s under a counter or even in a corner. A rapid wipe is more than enough to make it look super tidy. Well, unless it’s gross, and then yes you might want to consider a scrub. But trust me, your guests won’t inspect the trash can lid out of all the places in your house.
Underneath the Sink
The wide majority of guests won’t be actually poking around under the sink, let’s be honest. It doesn’t have to look perfect. Of course, a quick check here and there for odors or leaks is a wonderful idea, but in reality, deep cleaning under there isn’t all necessary. Besides, it’s also a place designated to keep your cleaning supplies, so as long as it’s not overflowing, it should be just fine.
Baseboards
This is yet another area that only the pickiest guests in the world would notice, and if you happen to have them, I am sure you have other problems bigger than this (with them). As far as we can tell, if someone is eyeing your baseboards during a holiday meal, they should get a second helping of pie to keep them busy. I don’t know, just saying.
Under the Couch
Guests don’t usually peer under there unless you are playing hide-and-seek with the little ones. In fact, don’t worry about deep cleaning behind heavy furniture. No one’s moving it to check.
Microwave Interior
If it’s not a mess, your microwave doesn’t actually have to get the full treatment. The wide majority of guests don’t really check unless they use it, and a simple outer wipe works just fine for that polished look.
Dishwasher Interior
This is yet another appliance where you can focus on just the exterior’s appearance. If, by any chance, I open the dishwasher for guests, it’s meant to hide all the last-minute dirty dishes. As long as it’s completely odor-free, a deep clean can definitely wait.
Window Above the Sink
I personally stopped stressing about this particular spot years ago. A rapid polish on mirrors or even glassware is generally enough to give that sparkling impression. Of course, this isn’t to say that you are totally off the hook when it comes to cleaning before you host. So here are four spots that all experts agree upon as the main cleaning focus before a big crowd comes to your home.
Things to Never Ignore: The Oven
Let’s be honest: you don’t want your holiday roast infused with the smell of last week’s pizza cheese or bacon splatters. In all fairness, a dirty oven or grimy appliances can really make cooking much slower, throw off temperatures, and mess with the flavors of the food you are preparing with so much love.
For the oven, it has its own self-cleaning option, so you might as well start a couple of days before. It’s quite effective, to be honest, but the process can still get hot and could take a couple of hours. If you clean it manually, we definitely suggest using an Easy-Off spray, waiting for a few minutes, and then wiping.
The Fridge
We would recommend you to empty anything that’s past its prime, and wipe using a microfiber cloth and Lysol all-purpose cleaner. Then, do your best to organize things and make more space for leftovers.
The Kitchen Sink
Try to envision the sink as the centerpiece of all preparation. You need to make sure it looks and smells very well. Besides, if you really think about it, it’s really easy to clean it. Just wet the sink and put a bit of the Pink Stuff paste on a Scrub Daddy sponge. Then, make sure you get into the nook. While you’re at it, scrub the faucet, rinse, and then follow it up with a paper towel to dry and avoid hard water spots.
Anything that Meets the Eye at Counter Level
Kitchen counters should be squeaky clean and clutter-free before guests come over. That’s exactly where people gravitate, so you really want to make it shine. If you’re wondering what are the most efficient ways to deal with kitchen countertops, don’t worry, we got you! If you have a marble countertop, then we want to start off by saying that it’s much easier to clean it on a daily basis.
What you need is a spray bottle, some warm water, and non-abrasive dish soap with some towels. If you have granite, there’s all kinds of advice concerning this material. Whatever you do, please never use Windex! After a thorough research, we discovered a middle ground between experts on how to care for granite.
In reality, you don’t need any special cleaners to get those countertops shiny and streak-free. If, however, you have laminate, you will be happy to know that technology in the world of laminate goes a long way. Some options look like granite or wood these days. Naturally, some options, generally found in old rental kitchens, are less sleek.
If you found this article useful, we also recommend checking: Declutter Your Home: Follow Our 14-Day Challenge for a Clean Space
