Holiday Speed Cleaning Routine

'Tis the season when housekeeping is even more of a challenge. More bodies are coming into our homes, and we're doing many messy things inside as part of our holiday preparations - such as wrapping gifts and baking galore.

The solution to this seasonal cleaning challenge? Preparation - gathering cleaning supplies and tools together in one place - so you're ready for quick clean-ups. This holiday speed cleaning routine can help you have a company-ready home - stat!

Holiday Speed Cleaning Routine Supplies

Be prepared for quick cleanups by keeping your supplies ready.

Shift into high gear by stocking up on supplies for the quick-and-dirty jobs that lie ahead.

Stash cleaning supplies in a portable cleaning caddy that you can quickly move from room to room. (Santa hat not required.)

Being prepared for those last-minute housekeeping sprints is the key to mastering holiday speed cleaning. When guests are at the door and your 4-year-old has just found the finger-paints, you'll be ready.

And since you probably didn't mess up the house yourself, why not get the little culprits to help clean it up?

When it is time to clean in a flash, give your kids a chore that seems more like child's play. Have them don a pair of clean, old socks on their hands and send them about dusting shelves.

Holiday Speed Cleaning Routine For Toilets

No time for a full, proper toilet cleaning? Pop two denture tablets into the toilet bowl and watch them work their magic. Let it sit for several minutes, and then flush it clean.

Getting Rid of Kids' Clutter

Remove as much of the kids' clutter as possible.

What's a host to do when the zillion pieces of her son's latest soon-to-be masterpiece are all over the living room floor?

Grab your broom and dustpan. Not to sweep up the pieces and throw them away (although there are days when I consider this, I confess), but to quickly scoop them up off the floor and into their rightful containers.

This technique works great for any small toy pieces that need to be lifted off the floor – fast.

Cover Cobwebs

Pull a clean pillowcase over the head of a broom and capture those lurking webs from the far corners of your ceilings in just a twist or two of the wrist. No ladder required.

Lint-Roller Crumb Patrol

A lint roller is your best friend when you need your couch cleaned at warp speed. Forget the cumbersome vacuum—simply run the lint roller over your upholstered furniture to collect any small bits of dirt, crumbs, or pet hair.

Holiday Speed Cleaning Routine For Furniture

Remove lint and fur from furniture and upholstery.

Small spots or blemishes on upholstery, a throw pillow, or a window covering can be blotted to oblivion by dabbing the offending blight with a baby wipe.

Erase Floor Scuff Marks

Got kids? Then you've likely got scuff marks on the floor. Whether from hockey sticks, rollerblades, or your own (gasp!) heels, use a soft white eraser for floor cleaning to remove the marks quickly.

Extend Yourself to Save Time

Keep an extension cord attached to your vacuum cleaner. That makes cleaning a room quicker, as you can go from room to room without unplugging the vacuum each time.

Give yourself a gift this season by being prepared for last-minute speed cleaning. Then, you'll enjoy the season that much more, knowing Santa's suit will only be tarnished with ashes and soot.