Christmas will be here before you know it. This means you need to start getting your home ready. Unless you plan on being out of town for the duration of the holiday season, check out these ten tips for getting your home ready for the holidays!
Stock that Pantry
You don't need to buy all of your holiday groceries right away. However, you should certainly start stocking up on the staples. For many people, this means filling your pantry with flour, sugar, salt, shortening, holiday spices, plastic wrap, and more. These items have a long shelf life, and you know you will eventually need them. This will keep you prepared, and it will soften the grocery bill the week you need to purchase the remaining items.
Guest Bedrooms
Get those guest rooms cleaned and ready for guests. Run any sheets through the washer. Get those fresh linens set out a few days ahead of time. Also, take the time to make the rooms nice by using holiday decorations.
Electrical
Make sure all of the electrical issues in your home are taken care of. If needed, stock up on a few fuses. Makes sure you have those extension cords handy. You don't want to be able to miss out on all of those great holiday lights in and around your home.
Pest Control
Nearly everybody in American knows about the holidays. Unfortunately, outdoor pests never think once about it. This means you should check your home for pests. You can then take care of them before the big family gathering. Contact an outdoor pest control company as soon as you can. Remember, pests can be a huge holiday embarrassment. Don't let them spoil your holidays.
Decorating
Don't let your holiday decorating spiral out of control. Pace your decorating, and consider replacing everyday items on display in your home with holiday decorations. This simple swapping will reduce clutter, and it will provide you with a predictable holiday decorating pattern each year.
Spare Appliances
Food is a huge part of the holidays. This means you will need to be sure you have enough space to store and prepare all of this food. If needed, consider investing in an additional oven or refrigerator that can be kept in the garage during the holidays. You can then store and prepare twice the amount of food!
Safety First
Don't forget that the extremely young and the extremely old might visit your home during the holidays. This means you simply must consider making your home as safe as possible. Check all the handrails in and around your home to help folks walk safely. Also, make sure you install safety latches on lower cupboards and safety plugs in all of the outlets. You don't want any accidents in your home over the holidays.
Snow Shovels and Salt
If you live in a colder climate, you will want to make sure you have snow shovels and salt on hand. You can then clear the driveway and sidewalks for your holiday guests. You can also prevent your guests from slipping on any ice that forms during a cold night.
Cooking Equipment
Make sure all of your cooking equipment is in working order. This means checking the temperatures in your oven and refrigerators. It also means making sure you have enough pots and pans. You should also sharpen any knives you will need for cooking. Remember, a sharp knife is a safe knife!
Clean
Take the time to do some deep cleaning around you home. Yes, it's often not very fun to scrub out the oven or wipe away old spills in the microwave. However, your home will look better for you guests. It will also be enjoyable to start the new year with an extremely clean house.
Don't let you or your home be unprepared this holiday season. Take the time to run through this checklist before the holidays arrive!
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