Your guests arrive in an hour, and the house is a mess. Don’t worry—you’ve got this. Here’s how to become the perfect party host with these quick and clever cleaning hacks.
Tackle the high-traffic areas.
Don’t waste time on rooms where you won’t have guests. Prioritize the places they will be. These include the surfaces that will be seen or used, which means you can skip the top of the bookcase but not the bathroom counter.
Overall
Sweep floors and vacuum rugs. Pro Tip: Sprinkle rugs with baking soda, wait 15 minutes and vacuum to eliminate odors.
Close doors for rooms where guests should not be.
Empty trash cans and take out the trash.
Make the beds in any room where guests will be, including if you are using a bedroom to keep coats for your guests.
Use damp microfiber cloths to wipe pet fur off furniture.
Bathroom
Clean the toilet and put out extra toilet paper. Pro Tip: Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the toilet bowl. It will make your bathroom smell amazing!
Clean the mirrors and fixtures.
Wipe down surfaces and hide personal items like toothbrushes and razors.
Close the shower door or curtain.
Kitchen
Empty and clean the sink. Guests often like to help or will wash their hands there.
Clear the counters of appliances. Put blenders, toasters, and other similar items out of sight.
Shine the faucets and wipe down counters.
Empty the dishwasher so it’s ready to go for a new load.
Line the kitchen trash can with multiple bags so when you remove one, there is a fresh bag ready to go.
Entryway
Remove items that don’t need to be there, from umbrellas to boots and shoes.
Make sure there is a place for guests’ coats even if it ends up that you will take them to a spare room.
Remove any cobwebs from the ceiling and dust any surfaces within easy sight of guests.
Clear the clutter.
Clutter happens during the holiday season but it’s not something you want at your party. Consolidate your clutter so that it’s out of the way. You can deal with it later.
Grab an empty laundry hamper (or two) and use it to collect anything laying around that is not in its place.
Load it up with mail, bags, and anything that doesn’t serve an immediate purpose.
Group similar items in baskets if you can. It’s easy to lose bills or important paperwork when shoving everything together.
Stick a note on the side of the basket so you know generally what’s in there for later.
Stow the basket(s) away in a spare room where guests will not be. The laundry room is often a popular place. Some folks stash items in the trunk of their car.
Set the lighting.
Go ahead and dim the lights. It automatically sets the mood, plus it’s harder to see any messes that may remain.
Candles instantly make the room feel put together. Use flameless candles if you are worried about fire hazards.
Choose scented candles that will complement the food. Choose foodie fragrances such as vanilla, baked goods, and seasonal fruit. Avoid floral scents like rose that can be too much.
Add a string of holiday lights for an even more festive feel. Just keep holiday extension cord safety in mind.
Get everyone involved.
Make cleaning a group activity. Call in friends or family who asked how they can help. Assign them tasks. Play holiday music. Working together is fun and cleaning is fast. You can even make it a holiday tradition.
In no time at all, you’ll be ready to entertain. Happy holidays!
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
Ask any teacher. They love getting gifts, but there’s a limit to the number of coffee mugs and candles that any one person can enjoy. We’ve asked teachers what they really want, and they’ve answered. Here’s the definitive guide on the best gifts for teachers this holiday season.
Fun Classroom Supplies
Most teachers spend their own money on classroom supplies, so these are sure to be a big hit. Consider putting together a gift basket with a few items. Package them in a plastic container like a shower caddy that also may be used for organizing supplies for a practical twist.
We love these pens for their inspirational sayings and vibrant colors. But any set of quality pens for grading and notes will work. Don’t forget the Expo markers, too.
Post-it notes come in so many fun shapes and sizes. Not only are they useful for teachers’ organization, but they are also ideal for students sharing ideas in large group activities.
Personalized notes, including those that depict the subject area that teachers teach, can be fun. You can find personalized stamps and stickers, too.
Self-Care Items
Here’s how you can provide thoughtful gifts that promote self-care in the classroom and beyond. These useful items can make a teacher’s life much easier. For higher ticket items, consider going in with a group of parents or the class.
Elevate the teacher’s chair with this ultra-comfortable cushion.
Food & Snacks
Chocolate, baked goods, and gift baskets of food and snacks are always appreciated. Just be aware of any food allergies or dietary restrictions.
Gift Cards
Choose gift cards for the places that teachers shop, such as Target, Amazon Prime, Michaels, or Teachers Pay Teachers. During a busy holiday season, teachers would also appreciate gift cards from Door Dash, Starbucks, Dunkin, grocery stores, gas stations, and local restaurants.
These fun lanyards add some pizzazz to an everyday badge. Find one with your teacher’s subject area or interest.
Personal Notes of Thanks
Handwritten notes by students cost nothing but mean so much. They are among a teacher’s favorite gifts.
What to Avoid
In searching for the perfect gift, you will want to stay away from the following.
Avoid alcohol unless you know the teacher enjoys wine, beer, or spirits.
Let the teacher choose his/her own beauty products from hand creams to perfume/cologne, jewelry, and makeup. These are highly personal choices.
Stay away from apple motif items and desk display items that are essentially “dust collectors.” Chances are your child’s teacher already has more than they need.
Teachers also get a fair number of mugs, candles, and ornaments. They probably don’t need any more.
Do you have other great ideas for teacher gifts? Share them in the comments. See our blog on teacher stocking stuffers and how to thank a teacher for some more great ideas.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
If you’ve ever accidentally set off the smoke alarm, you know how loud it can be. But that loud beeping is actually a good thing. Smoke detectors give us that important warning to get safely away in case of a fire. Some detectors do double duty and also alert to carbon monoxide.
However, don’t assume your smoke detectors are working if you’ve installed them once and then never touched them again. Batteries wear out, and detectors have a lifespan of only about 10 years. That’s why it’s important to test yours regularly and there is no better time than when you are spring cleaning.
Two types of detectors
You may have a battery-powered smoke detector or yours may be hard-wired. They look the same from the outside but they’re a little different.
A hard-wired detector is connected to your home’s electrical power with a cable that runs behind your wall or ceiling. They usually have a battery backup in case the power goes out. It is recommended that these detectors are installed by a professional electrician.
The battery-powered detector snaps into a plastic base that is screwed onto the ceiling or wall. In many newer models, batteries are non-removable and come with a 10-year warranty.
Follow these steps
Both types of smoke detectors have a test button that allows you to check if they are working. Test your smoke detectors at least twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall, and replace them as needed.
Step 1: Let family members know you’ll be testing.
A smoke alarm could cause family members to think there is a real emergency, so let them know that you are going to run a test. Since the sound could frighten small children and pets, you may want to test while they are not around. In addition, if your smoke detector is connected to an alarm company, notify them or you could have the fire department show up at your door.
Step 2: Position someone away from the detector.
Ask a family member or friend to stand on another level of the house, to make sure the alarm is heard. You want to make sure that the warning is heard downstairs in the basement and upstairs, in case someone might be there when it sounds.
Step 3: Press and hold the test button.
You may need to stand on a chair or a ladder to reach the button on your detector. You can use a broom handle if you are able to reach it that way. Note that it may take a few seconds to start. You will hear a loud siren. If there is no sound or a weak one, the batteries and/or the detector need replacement. Make sure to repeat this test with every smoke detector in the house or apartment.
Pro Tip: Some smoke detectors can go into programming mode if you hold the button too long. Wait for the detector to return to normal before testing it.
Step 4: Try this way to check your detector’s sensor.
The test button checks that your detector is powered. However, it doesn’t check the smoke sensor. You can do so with an aerosol spray that you can purchase for a few dollars at a hardware store. Follow the directions on the can to spray the “smoke.” This is a safer way to check the sensor than lighting matches. After the test, you can use a handheld vacuum to remove the material from the detector.
Pro Tip: Some detectors have a button to push to stop the alarm. Find out if yours has one before you run this test.
Other important tips
If you have a detector where you have to change the batteries, you should replace them twice a year. (When we change the clocks is a great time to do that.) If your smoke detector is older than 10 years, you should replace it even if it is working.
Dust and dirt build-up can affect your detector. Keep your detectors clean.
Don’t paint your detector to match your décor. That can interfere with their ability to detect smoke.
Make sure you have enough detectors in your home or apartment. You should have one in your kitchen, but 10 feet away from cooking to avoid false alarms. You also will want to place them inside every bedroom and outside each sleeping area, on every level of your home, and in places where you keep flammable substances like the garage.
You want to be fully prepared in case of a fire, and not just with smoke detectors. Talk with your insurer about your home and property to ensure that you are fully covered.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
