December House Cleaning Checklist

December house cleaning checklist: Some tasks only need to be done once or twice a year. The problem is that we forget to do them once or twice a year. Or else we tend to save it all for spring cleaning, which makes spring cleaning such a daunting chore that it doesn't occur, either.

I've found the best plan is to break down annual and seasonal tasks by month and tackle them daily or weekly. Nothing gets too backed up, and things eventually get done.

I've also found that concentrating on one room or area each month is more rewarding because you can see the results. Here's the December house cleaning checklist that works best for me.

Deck the halls: Put up the holiday greenery and the Christmas tree. (Soak greenery 24 hours before putting it up to help it last longer.)

Ornament yourself this holiday season with sparkling clean jewelry so you'll shine at parties, too.

Plan a Christmas cleaning of your front-and-center interior surfaces to ensure they sparkle - along with you - this holiday season. These include kitchen counters, appliances, and the all-important guest bathroom. And plan to check each surface, item, and room twice before guests arrive.

To simplify holiday gift wrapping, set up your present-prep center like the pros do - with everything you'll need in a single, well-organized area.

A gift wrap organizer can help you keep it all together - neatly. Stock brightly colored wrapping paper, ribbon for curling, bows, tape, scissors, tiny ornaments – anything that will add sparkle and personality to your family's holiday gifts this year.

Get creative here. You'll be delighted with the results, you'll spend less in the process. 

Give the kids a job they will enjoy: Let them create and organize the holiday tunes playlist. Give them the entertaining guidelines: classic holiday tunes for a family dinner; upbeat seasonally inspired dance tunes for the holiday cocktail party, a mix for Christmas Eve or Christmas day entertaining.