Final Clean Week

By Cynthia Ewer
Editor, Organized Christmas
Author, Houseworks: How to Live Clean, Green and Organized at Home

Two weeks before Christmas? It's time for a final finish cleaning at the Houseworks holiday plan.

We've decluttered and deep-cleaned; this week's goal is to bring the whole house into a ready state for the remainder of the season.

In holiday prep, we'll complete gift wrapping, plan Christmas dinner, mail Christmas cards and bring home the ultimate seasonal symbol: the Christmas tree.

This Week's Houseworks Focus: Final Clean

Reading Assignments from Houseworks:

Housekeeping Skill Set: Plan - pages 74-81
Put it all together--schedules, to-do lists and routines--to keep a clean and organized home.

Inspiration from the Web:

Keeping It Simple This Season

This Week's Houseworks Checklist

Do a final pre-holiday whole-house clean. Sure, we've tackled household areas week-by-week and the deep-cleaning is done--but this week, it's time to polish up the house with a last whole-house clean.

Play cleaning service this week, and give every room a top-clean session of dusting, vacuuming and final touch-up. You'll bring the entire house to a holiday-ready state. Time to celebrate!

This Week's Holiday Prep Checklist

Wrap party! Hold an informal "wrap party" brunch or evening for friends. Work on wrapping packages together. At the end of the party, swap leftover supplies for a fresh look next year.
Use freezer meals on busy nights.
Plan Christmas menus. Make a simple menu plan for Christmas week. Delegation is easier if you have an idea of what's for breakfast ... or lunch, or dinner.
Update address book. As holiday letters and Christmas cards arrive, update the address book with any changes.
Mail Christmas cards or holiday letters.
Complete gift wrapping.
Buy Christmas trees and/or fresh greens.