(BPT) – Hosting guests, baking treats, kids on school break and managing a packed social calendar — the holidays can be a stressful, busy time. And with so much to do, household chores can fall by the wayside, leaving your home messy and disorganized.
These eight tips will help you enjoy a cleaner home so you can focus on spending time with loved ones and start the new year off with a sparkling, welcoming home.
1) In the kitchen, clean as you go
Before you start baking or cooking, make sure the dishwasher is empty and ready for your dirty dishes. As you mix ingredients and use dishes, rinse and place them in the dishwasher along the way so you prevent pile-up in the sink. And as you finish using each ingredient, put it back in its rightful place.
2) Boost your laundry loads
If you host friends and family, chances are you’ll have plenty of bed linens to wash when your guests leave. Save time with a washing machine that can quickly handle your family-sized loads without compromising performance. The LG TurboWash 360 will clean a large laundry load in less than 30 minutes, helping you save money and energy as well.
3) Give everyone a task
Cleaning up is easy when you get the whole family involved. Divide and conquer the cleaning tasks to get the job done in no time.
4) Stock up on supplies
Equip your bathrooms and kitchen with all the necessary cleaning supplies. It only takes a few minutes to wipe up a spill or quick mess — especially when your supplies are within easy reach — making your cleaning tasks more manageable.
5) Refresh kitchen appliances
After you’ve cooked, baked and stored feasts, your kitchen will be ready for a deep clean. Use a disinfecting cleaner to scrub all the surfaces of your refrigerator, freezer, blender, oven, dishwasher, sink, cabinets and drawers. Dispose of food items that have expired or that you no longer need and make your kitchen feel new again.
6) Prevent winter boot mess
In areas with ice, snow, or even rain, boots can make a huge mess. Avoid stepping in puddles inside your home by asking everyone to take their boots off before they come through the door and place them into plastic bags. The bag collects the ice and snow as it melts and keeps your floors nice and dry.
7) Revive area rugs
High foot traffic areas accumulate stains, dirt and odors — so don’t skimp on cleaning your rugs. Take each rug outside and gently shake away dirt and dust. Leave the rug hanging out to remove more dust and air out any odors. You can also use a rug brush to help remove hair or caked-on dirt.
8) Prep for the rest of winter
Even when the holidays are over, winter sticks around for a few more months.
While preparing for the rest of winter, upgrading your HVAC system will help you and your guests stay warm and cozy. With continuous heating capabilities down to -13° Farenheit, LGRED° technology provides superior heating performance that will keep you warm all winter long. This increased performance not only delivers heat when traditional HVAC systems are unable, but operates with top-notch efficiency, cutting energy costs and increasing savings. Pair this technology with sleek indoor units, like the LG Art Cool(TM) lineup, for comfort without sacrificing style. An added plus is that LG HVAC systems can be installed easily by a contractor to make one or many rooms perfectly toasty without tearing up walls or altering the home’s appearance.
