Many of us look forward to the holiday season with its culmination of relaxation, celebration and togetherness. But sometimes that togetherness is a little less “together” when it comes to cleaning the house.
“Not everyone is fortunate enough to have help over the holidays when it comes to cleaning the house, and the burden often lands on you – suddenly the rest of the family is nowhere to be seen,” laughs Bronwyn Ragavan, brand manager for Chemico. “It’s time to stop this cycle of doing it all on your own and get the WHOLE family involved. After all it is your holiday as well.”
It may not be everyone’s favourite holiday activity, but many hands make light work and when a schedule is set and stuck to with everyone pitching in, there will be less tears and less shouting. Ragavan suggests implementing the following steps into your festive season cleaning:
- Always start with a cleaning schedule. The key to a successful holiday cleaning is organisation. Start by creating a cleaning schedule or checklist to outline the tasks that need attention. Break down the cleaning process into manageable chunks, focusing on high-priority areas such as the living room, kitchen, and bathrooms.
- Be realistic when allocating tasks to your family. Your three-year-old is not going to be able to empty the rubbish bins, but you can start by teaching them to clean up after themselves when they are finished playing. However, your teenager, no matter how much they moan or hibernate in their room, is capable to help with the bigger chores. Plus give the older children AND your partner daily tasks to perform such as washing dishes or if you are lucky to have one, emptying and packing the dishwasher. A schedule can be put up on the fridge, so no one conveniently “forgets”.
- Make sure you have cleaning products that get the job done the first time. Don’t waste time recleaning a surface you have already cleaned. Chemico’s Liqui Cleen is an effective all-purpose cleaner boasting a 3X extreme clean formula. It can be used on a variety of surfaces helping you to keep your home clean effortlessly. When finished cleaning the surface, use Milton’s sterilising spray giving it an extra protection from germs.
- This is also your holiday, so this isn’t the time to deep clean the sofa. Make sure to keep the high-traffic areas clean, keep the broom and mop close by and wipe down the counters after use. The bigger jobs can be kept for another time – relax and enjoy this time with your family.
- Personal chores also need to be allocated to your family (and any friends that stay over). This includes making the bed when they wake up, packing away their own washing, cleaning up after themselves and knowing that whatever they take out the cupboard needs to go back in its allocated spot. This is half the work done.
Whether you are hosting celebrations this holiday season or simply relaxing at home, keeping your home tidy on a regular basis does help with your own piece of mind, and make it easier when guests, expected and unexpected, come by. So, grab your cleaning supplies, put on some cheerful music, and let the festivities begin.
