Thanksgiving Cleaning

Tomorrow is the big day and Nate and I are excited about hosting Thanksgiving with both of our families.  We're going to be doing a good portion of the cooking today but perhaps even more important is getting our house "company ready".  I grew up in a household with a "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" philosophy and therefore there is always added pressure to pass the white glove test when my Mom comes to visit.  But perhaps even more important, we don't want all the details we've been working on over the past couple weeks to be overshadowed by a messy home.  Here are some tips when preparing your house for company:

•  First Impression:  I start by eyeballing the rooms where guests will be.  Don't worry about bedrooms our areas that your guests will not see.  There is enough to worry about without adding extra work.  It's amazing how just picking things up and making everything look in order can transform the room.  Most importantly, focus on what your guests will see first in order to set that "clean" expectation.
• Bathrooms:  There is nothing more crucial than a clean bathroom for guests.  So if you don't have time for any other cleaning, make sure the bathroom is clean.  Replace the hand towels with new ones, make sure there is plenty of toilet paper and tissues, and that everything is at least wiped down with disinfectant wipes.  If there is a shower in the bathroom guests will be using, take out the bath mat and make sure the shower curtain is closed.
• Guest Bedroom: In the "First Impression" suggestion, I mentioned that you do not need to worry about bedrooms.  There are two exceptions to this rule.  The first exception being the guest room and the second one is if you have guests who will be coming to your home for the first time and will want a tour.  As far as the guest room is concerned, even if you don't plan on having guests overnight, you want to make sure the sheets are new and the guest room is cleaned...you just never know. 
• Checklist:  If you haven't picked up on it by now, I have a love for diagrams and checklists.  Therefore, when cleaning, I always use the list below as a way to double check that I didn't forget something.  By having a cleaning check list, you'll also be far more efficient with your cleaning.  Gotta love getting it over with fast!

• Don't Put Too Much Pressure on Yourself:  Above all the details, rules, and checklists, don't stress too much because before you know it, you'll be on your hands and knees scrubbing the floor with a toothbrush hours before your family arrives.  No one will notice that type of effort and it will keep you from actually cooking.  There is a healthy medium when it comes to cleaning.  So don't put too much pressure on yourself that everything is perfect and just make sure it if comfortable for your guests.

I'd love to hear your cleaning tips...

Wishing all of you a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow!