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Create a menu
Calculate how many people will be at your party and create a menu based on the number of guests.
It is better to find out in advance whether any of the invitees are allergic to any foods. Perhaps one of the guests adheres to a certain type of diet, so try to diversify the choice of dishes so as not to leave this person hungry.
By choosing a menu that will appeal to all guests, you will express your sincere care for them and your hospitality.
If guests come with children, then also please them with something. Good decision will cover a separate small table. This will make it more comfortable for adults and more fun for children.
Don't overdo it. It is better to amaze guests with the taste of the prepared dishes, and not with their unprecedented quantity. Think about the design of the treats. After all, aesthetic presentation is already half the success.
It is better to prepare a hot dish according to a recipe you have already tried, but you can experiment with salads. Don't forget about fruits and vegetable slices. They not only diversify the menu, but also serve as decoration. festive table, if you approach their presentation creatively.
Once you have decided on the menu, make a shopping list. Add not only the main ingredients, but also other products that need to be purchased: bread, water, juices.
It is better to stock up on products gradually so that large sum will not cause a sharp blow to your wallet and your mood, especially if you are planning to have a real feast. In this case, it is better to think in advance how much money you can allocate from your budget and start saving for the holiday table.
Think about the situation
Prepare the furniture
Once you've decided on your guest list and created your menu, think about how you'll accommodate everyone. Is your table big? Are there enough chairs to seat all guests? Is there room for outerwear?
You may need to make a little rearrangement so that guests don't have to huddle together. It is better to think through such details in advance so that they do not take you by surprise at the very last moment.
If you have very little space in your apartment, but expect a lot of guests, place a buffet table, ottomans, chairs or armchairs. Firstly, it is unusual, and secondly, you will have a place to dance. In addition, no one will suffer from overeating.
Select cookware
Make sure you have enough plates, glasses and cutlery for all guests. Select salad bowls and hot dishes in advance, and also think about serving. Here are some ideas for inspiration.
If you are planning an extensive menu, but everything doesn’t fit on the table, that is easy way solutions to this problem. Do not serve hot foods such as mashed potatoes or chicken legs, on a common platter, and serve it to each person separately. As a last resort, you can do the same with salads.
You may want to bring some treats from the holiday table to one of your guests. To do this, prepare a lot of empty food containers, cling film or foil. In addition, you will definitely need them when you clear leftover food from the table. Do not put crystal vases in the refrigerator.
Create entertainment for guests
If you have folding table, then completely wipe it from dust in advance and check whether it needs to be repaired.
Wipe down any favors, lamps and candles, and decorations you want to place on the table.
What to do if guests are already on the doorstep
Focus first on the room where the guests will be. Remove all unnecessary things from sight. You can simply move them to a closet or to another room. Carefully arrange souvenirs, magazines, books and everything else that remains on the shelves. Wipe off dust from everything visible surfaces: coffee tables, low shelves, electronics. If you have rugs or carpets, be sure to vacuum them. All this will not take much time at all.
Then move on to the bathroom. If time is running out, just put some cosmetic order there. Remove excess towels and dirty clothes. Vacuum toilet mats, clean mirrors and taps. Put in new soap. Straighten the bathroom curtain so that the bathtub and shelves are not visible.
Guests may not enter the kitchen, but still wipe down the table and surfaces kitchen set. Remove leftover food. And if there are dirty dishes left, try to hide them somewhere. If you don't have a dishwasher, use the oven for this. You can wash the dishes after the guests have left.
Ventilate the apartment so that all rooms have Fresh air. And don't forget to look neat!
Calm down
Don't worry if things don't go according to plan. Any holiday is an occasion to meet with loved ones and dear to my heart people, not an assessment of your business skills. Be friendly and open, then the atmosphere in the house will become much more comfortable.
There are probably people in the world who enjoy cleaning their apartments. But most people prefer not to spend precious hours of free time on cleaning. But you don’t want to live in chaos and disorder, so we’ll tell you how to quickly clean your apartment. This skill will come in handy if guests unexpectedly decide to stop by, or simply if you want to devote your weekend not to a rag and a mop, but to more interesting things.
Books on home economics highlight the following types of cleaning:
- Daily. It includes making beds, washing dishes and other small tasks.
- Weekly. This is a larger-scale event, including cleaning plumbing fixtures, washing the refrigerator, window sills, etc.
- General. This cleaning, during which things are sorted out in closets, chandeliers, windows, etc. are washed.
Modern people, as a rule, try to minimize time costs and not spend the whole day off cleaning. To do this, you need to properly organize your life.
Here are some useful tips:
- Get “helpers”. A good powerful vacuum cleaner, dishwasher and other household appliances will free up a lot of time.
- Convenient equipment. You should not spare money on buying a good mop and comfortable cloths. Dust is much easier to remove if you wipe it with a microfiber cloth rather than an old T-shirt.
- Without household chemicals not enough. Now it’s fashionable to give up household chemicals and use “grandmother’s” products. But you have to pay for it free time. Modern cleaning products make work much easier.
- Minimalist furnishings. People have different ideas about comfort. If you like a style with a bunch of pillows, blankets, and various figurines, then you will have to spend long hours cleaning. Those who prefer not to start “dust collectors” clean up the mess much faster.
- We act gradually. There is such a “fly lady” system. Of course, it is not suitable for everyone, but there is a rational grain in it. If you spend 20-30 minutes cleaning every day, you won’t have to waste your entire weekend clearing out the week’s rubble.
- Use modern systems storage If all things are in their places, then the room looks tidy.
How to clean in an hour
To clean in an hour, you need to learn how to combine several things at the same time.
- You should start with the bathroom and kitchen. Treat the plumbing fixtures and stove with special cleaning products so that while you are doing other things, the cleaning agents will do their job and you won’t have to spend a lot of time scrubbing off stains.
- If there is no dishwasher in the house, then close the kitchen sink with a stopper and pour warm water, add detergent and immerse dirty dishes in this “bath”. Let him lie down, but it’s better to wash himself off later.
- In the meantime, go through the rooms, collect things that are out of place. Wipe off the dust special means clean the mirrors. It's time to take out the vacuum cleaner, clean the upholstered furniture, and then, changing the nozzle, remove the dust from the floor.
- Now you can rinse off the detergent from the plumbing fixtures and stove and wash the dishes. And the final touch is washing the floors. If you have a good mop, this job will not take much time and effort.
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Before guests arrive
If you urgently need to clean before guests arrive, then try to look at the apartment through the eyes of a stranger. It is unlikely that guests will start looking behind the sofa in search of dust or start inspecting the order in the kitchen cabinets. Therefore, we pay attention only to those places that immediately catch the eye.
- Hallway. This is the first room in the house that a guest enters. Therefore, we quickly collect lying around shoes, bags, umbrellas and other small items.
- Bathroom. Please pay attention to the condition of the bathroom sink, whether there are clean towels and toilet paper.
- Next, guests go to their rooms. When cleaning in an emergency, there is no time to put things in their places. Therefore, we take a large box or basin and put everything that is out of place. We'll unpack things later, when we have time. We pay attention to whether there is dust on horizontal surfaces.
- Guests rarely come into the kitchen, unless they want to help set the table. To clean up your kitchen, you need to clear the surfaces as much as possible and wipe them down. Don't have time to wash the dishes? Just stack it in neat piles in the sink. The main thing is that cups and spoons do not lie on the table.
- And of course, you need to pay attention to the condition of the floor. It should be free of crumbs and other debris. If you have a robot vacuum cleaner, you need to start it in advance. If this equipment is not available, you will have to use a regular vacuum cleaner. But there is no need to remove dust from the corners and thoroughly clean under the furniture; in emergency mode, it is important to clean the center of the premises.
If there are children in the house
If there are children in the house, maintaining order is especially difficult. As soon as I cleaned up, the toys were scattered again, and juice was spilled on the cleaned sofa. To keep your apartment in order, try to early years teach your child to eat only at the table and not run around the apartment with cookies or a sandwich.
It is very important to properly organize the storage of toys. This issue must be resolved taking into account the age of the child. Up to a year, as a rule, there are no problems, since the play space is limited to a playpen or rug, and toys are provided by an adult.
Read also: 7 ways to get rid of cockroaches
By the age of 2, the baby has accumulated a lot of toys. But at the age of 2-5 years, children are not able to play for a long time. Therefore, it is worth dividing all the toys into 2-3 parts. And give the baby only one part. When mom notices that interest in toys has waned, they should be removed and replaced with another part.
Advice: don’t waste time carefully arranging dolls and cars on shelves. It is better to purchase a box or a special storage basket.
At 6-7 years old, the child should already be accustomed to taking care of his toys on his own; you insist that everything be put back in its place after play.
What is important to remove
When cleaning quickly, you need to optimize the work. Therefore, you need to decide what is important to remove first, and what can wait.
In the kitchen
You need to maintain order in the kitchen every day, otherwise you will have to spend a lot of time dismantling debris and scrubbing off grease films. It is better to have closed cabinets rather than shelves. Moreover, the front part of cabinets and cabinets should be smooth. Then it will be quite easy to wipe the furniture without wasting time on washing away dirt from the grooves and curls.
Cover the top of the cabinets with film or paper (newspaper will also work). Then, when cleaning, you can simply remove and replace this coating without wasting time on washing.
Try not to keep extraneous things in the kitchen. If the surfaces are free, then cleaning will be much easier. Clean daily kitchen sink. If you do this every day, it will take a couple of minutes to wash. If you ignore this rule, then you will have to spend a long time cleaning the sink until it shines. You also need to wipe down the backsplash and countertops every day.
In the bedroom
Cleaning the bedroom will not take much time if the room is not cluttered with various things. Try to keep all the little things in bedside tables or dresser drawers.
Let's start cleaning the bed. If the bed is in disarray, it immediately creates a feeling of sloppiness. Then we collect clothes, immediately putting things that need washing into the dirty laundry basket. Now we remove extraneous things that should not be in the bedroom. If there are a lot of such things, then it is better to put them in a box or bag and then take them to their places, rather than walking around with each item separately.
In the living room
The whole family usually gathers in the living room in the evenings. Therefore, various things often accumulate here. Collect them in a separate bag or box, then take them all to their places at once.
Then you need to dust and polish the furniture. Use modern polishes, they will help you quickly get your surfaces in order. Next, you need to wash the glass surfaces - cabinet doors, door inserts, and then clean the floor. Finishing touch– straighten the pillows on the sofa; when they lie haphazardly, it seems that the room is a mess.
Probably everyone has encountered situations when they had to rush to make the house beautiful before the arrival of guests. Most often this happens when the news about the imminent arrival of visitors pops up unexpectedly. But it also happens that the owner of the home, having prepared himself for the upcoming meeting in advance, for certain reasons postpones important preparatory measures until the last moment.
In such cases, the presence or absence of the habit of keeping the room clean on a daily basis does not play a significant role: no matter how neat a person is, everyday activities are always associated with a violation of order - to a greater or lesser extent. Therefore, you can take anyone by surprise!
In such “emergency” circumstances, cleaning is usually done in a hectic manner, and therefore often leads to real chaos, which is much more difficult to cope with. Of course, when minutes count, it is impossible to create a complete idyll. However, if you correctly outline an action plan and strictly follow the strategy, you can restore absolute order in your house in the shortest possible time... More precisely, create the appearance of it. Even the most demanding guest will have nothing to complain about!
Let's consider several main points, the implementation of which will help to quickly give your home a presentable look and create a comfortable environment for receiving guests.
Unloading open surfaces: collecting and distributing small items
On initial stage it is necessary to free up all visible horizontal areas to the maximum. Small items that will still be useful (for example, kitchen appliances, elements of interior decor, etc.), you just need to put it aside for a while, while everything unnecessary should be completely removed from sight. To simplify this task and not rush from one room to another, it is best to take a spacious box or basin. Collect all the little things in one container and then, after wet cleaning, move around the house and “deliver” things to the appropriate “addresses”.
If you have very little time, you can simply leave all the most “unnecessary” items in the container and put them in the closet, and start sorting after the end of the guest visit. This saves tens of minutes!
Cleaning shelves, countertops and window sills with a damp cloth
For daily care behind the cabinet and lined with washable materials upholstered furniture Instead of a rag or gauze, it is better to use a microfiber cloth (such products do not leave lint, do not pill, do not shed, and are easy to clean by rinsing with water). Quickly “brush off” dust from the top shelves, and then wipe the countertops and window sills, removing small debris and dirt. After that, put everything in its place necessary items, which you collected at the previous stage of cleaning.
Home care: cleaning the floors
If beauty and comfort reign in the house, but the floors are dirty, then good impression will be spoiled. Fragments of garbage felt by the feet when walking, dirt sticking to the socks... It is unlikely that any of the guests will be able to feel comfortable after noticing such an error!
Even if the floors in the house are cleaned regularly, they should be treated additionally before visitors arrive. The first thing to do is vacuum or sweep. In this case, it is advisable to pay attention not only to carpets and rugs, but also to floor surfaces free from fleecy coverings. This will make the next stage - wiping - much easier. It's good if you have a robotic vacuum cleaner in your home. Although it will not provide perfect cleanliness, it is a great help when you need to get a lot done in a short time. Pet hair can be easily removed from carpets using a laminate mop, the “working” part of which is made of microfiber, divided into many thick “pasta”.
As for wet treatment of floors, they can be washed either by hand or with a mop. This is a matter of habit and convenience. But it is worth noting that in rush conditions, the second option is the most preferable. The most important thing is not to make circular or smearing movements. First, you should “walk” along the baseboards and the corners of the furniture adjacent to the floor. Next, you should rinse the rag and wipe the main areas in the direction “towards you”.
Radiant Beauty: Bringing Shine Back to Reflective Surfaces
If you haven't for a long time washed windows can be hidden behind curtains, this trick won’t work with mirrors! They are always in sight and attract attention. That is why home care must certainly include cleaning them. Shining mirrors, free from drips, streaks and greasy stains, ennoble and visually expand the space, emphasize the beauty of the interior, and enhance the feeling of comfort.
To give your mirrors crystal clarity, you can use not only specialized products. If you run out of glass cleaner, simply apply a small amount of soap or dishwashing liquid onto a sponge, then dampen it with water, lather, and wipe the mirrors. Next, use a clean, damp microfiber cloth to remove the mirror surfaces soap composition and, without waiting for drying, wipe them dry toilet paper or paper napkins (this will help avoid streaks). By the way, for effective cleaning For mirrors and glass, it is incredibly convenient to use special reusable napkins made of artificial suede. They clean well smooth surfaces, completely eliminating stains. If you are not yet familiar with such products, be sure to purchase a package and try it!
Concerning glass sashes cabinet furniture, then they are not important elements in the perception of a living space, since all attention usually goes to the objects stored behind them. But if time allows, it wouldn’t hurt to clean them too.
Eliminating minor flaws
If there are dirty dishes left in the kitchen, be sure to wash them or at least simply dump them in the sink, away from prying eyes. Is there a dishwasher in the house? Great! Then there will be no problems with washing dishes at all!
Concerning kitchen stove, then her appearance plays great importance for the perception of the room. If the stove is dirty, but there is absolutely no time for proper cleaning, place a couple of pots or a kettle on its most visible edge, or cover its surface with foil (many housewives sometimes line foil around the burners for hygiene purposes, so guests won’t even think about it). that in this way stains of grease and scale were hidden from them). To quickly improve the facade of a dirty stove, hang a clean waffle towel on the oven door.
Chromed parts and made of of stainless steel elements can be brought to a shine by treating them with a rag soaked in olive or cosmetic baby oil, and then wiping with a dry paper napkin. Radiant beauty is guaranteed!
Carry out a control walk around the area and, if necessary, eliminate the remaining shortcomings: make the beds, put furniture pillows on the sofa, straighten the rugs, remove the garbage, etc. If desired, you can additionally ventilate the room or use a pleasant refreshing fragrance.
Good Habits for Quick Cleaning
If you want to optimize your home maintenance, take a walk through your home and remember which parts of cleaning tend to be the most challenging. Then think about how you can make those tasks easier in the future.
As a rule, cleaning is greatly delayed due to chaotically scattered small things. Therefore, it is advisable to get rid of all unnecessary little things in a timely manner. Various souvenirs, empty beautiful lighters, faulty watches, broken glasses... These are not all the trinkets that people often keep in their homes out of habit, without trying to fix them or find a use for them. It is these items that you should get rid of, or at least put them in the pantry.
As for the necessary small items, many people store them in large quantities on shelves, dressing tables, dressers... And when you need to wipe the dust, you first have to lift and rearrange all this little stuff several times, which takes a lot of time and effort. To solve this problem, it makes sense to sort all these things according to functional focus, and then place each group of accessories in the appropriate separate container. Perfumes and nail polishes can be placed in a cute plastic box, hairpins and combs in a neat little basket, lipsticks in a specially designated cosmetic bag, etc. To wipe off dust, it will be enough to lift one container. In addition, plastic containers containing waterproof items can be periodically rinsed under running water, thereby eliminating the need to dust each item individually.
If there is a baby in the house, then it is best to store his toys in several spacious drawers, where they can be swept away with one gesture. Of course, when toys are arranged on shelves in strict rows, the room looks neater. But such beauty does not last long, and maintaining it is very difficult. In general, the freer the open horizontal surfaces are, the easier it will be to restore order.
The mood now is squirrel
There are situations in every person’s life when friends or relatives call and say that they are on their way to visit you. And the first thing we
I need to do it, tidy up my apartment.
But how to do this in half an hour? 10 simple techniques will help you with this.
Tips on how to clean up your apartment in half an hour before guests arrive.
Make room in the hallway for guests' shoes and bags. For this your outerwear hide it temporarily in the closet. Also try to find a place for demi-season shoes on the lower shelves of the closet.
in another room. Don't forget about the mirror - it must be clean.
Before guests arrive, collect all trash and throw it away. Place a clean bag in the bucket. Hang fresh kitchen towel. Wipe down the sink, stove and counter with a sponge.
Nowadays there are various accessories for effective express cleaning. Make sure in advance that these detergents have always been in your house. Kitchenware put it in its place.
Of course, guests will definitely visit the bathroom when they arrive. Fill the toilet, sink and bathtub with cleaning agent for 10-15 minutes, and then rinse off the stains.
Wipe down the mirror and carefully hang fresh towels for guests. If there are many people in the family,
then it’s better to carefully put your bath towels on the shelf. Don't forget to put toilet paper.
Scattered things create clutter and chaos.
If there is soiled laundry, place it in washing machine. It is better to put clean things on shelves in the closet or hang them on hangers.
What to do with the kitchen? Wash dirty dishes, if any, or place them in dishwasher. Wipe tables with wet and dry wipes. Place clean dishes in their places.
The main rooms that guests visit are the hallway, living room, bathroom, and kitchen. It is not necessary to show all the rooms. For example, guests do not have to enter the children's room. And if you don’t have time to put things in order, then you can lock it.
On your desktop, place books on racks and shelves or stack them neatly in piles. Small parts from the surface can be removed into desk drawers. Next you need to vacuum the carpets and wash the floor. They catch your eye first. Adjust curtains and curtains.
Correct me sofa cushions, bedspreads, pillows. If there is houseplants, refresh them with water. Glass surfaces can be sprayed with window cleaning spray and wiped with a dry cloth. Pay attention to the panels household appliances where dust collects the most.
Take another look around the house and hide unnecessary things. Now get yourself in order: fix your hair, change clothes, if necessary. Don't forget about the treats, of course. That's all - your home is ready for an unexpected visit from guests.
