The holidays bring guests, gatherings, and a home that needs to look its best, often on a tight timeline. Abigail, owner of Clean by Abbey LLC, shares her top strategies for keeping a house clean and tidy through the busiest season of the year.
Start with a Plan, Not a Panic
“The biggest mistake people make is waiting until guests are on their way to start cleaning,” Abigail says. “A little planning goes a long way.” She recommends breaking the home into zones: kitchen, living areas, guest bathroom, entryway, and tackling one zone a day in the week leading up to a gathering, rather than attempting a whole-house deep clean in a single afternoon.
Focus on First Impressions
Entryways and living rooms get the most attention from guests, so Abigail suggests prioritizing these spaces. Clear clutter from tables and countertops, fluff and rotate throw pillows, and make sure floors are vacuumed or swept last, right before guests arrive. A quick wipe-down of light switches, doorknobs, and handrails also makes a noticeable difference without much time investment.
Tackle the Kitchen Strategically
Since the kitchen is the heart of holiday hosting, Abigail recommends cleaning it in reverse order of use: deep-clean the oven and refrigerator days in advance, wipe down cabinets and backsplashes the day before, and save countertops and sinks for the morning of the event so they stay spotless through prep and cooking.
Don’t Forget the “Hidden” Areas
Guests often end up in more places than expected: coat closets, guest bathrooms, even hallway floors. Abigail advises doing a quick sweep of these overlooked spaces: empty the coat closet of summer clutter to make room for jackets, restock guest bathroom essentials like hand towels and soap, and check that mirrors and glass surfaces are streak-free.
Maintain as You Go
One of Abigail’s favorite tips for the holiday season is the “reset” method: spend 15 minutes each evening returning the home to a baseline level of tidiness, dishes done, surfaces cleared, items put back in place. “It keeps small messes from becoming big ones,” she explains, “and it means you’re never starting from scratch.”
Know When to Call in Help
For those juggling holiday shopping, cooking, and hosting on top of daily life, Abigail notes that professional cleaning services can handle the deep-cleaning tasks, like baseboards, windows, and carpets, that often get pushed aside. “Bringing in help isn’t a luxury during the holidays,” she says. “It’s a way to actually enjoy the season instead of spending it exhausted.”
With a little strategy and consistency, Abigail says, a clean and welcoming home for the holidays is well within reach, no last-minute scrambling required.
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