MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 22, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As time quickly ticks by and holiday festivities take over our days and weeks, preparing your home for expected and unexpected guests becomes a daunting task for many. Is your home ready for parties, baking and last minute stop-ins from family and friends? Experts from Merry Maids, a division of The ServiceMaster Company and the largest residential cleaning franchise network in the world, provide tips to help plan and execute timely holiday cleaning.
Time and energy are two essential items everyone needs during the holidays. Cleaning and maintaining your home during the holidays can take the joy out of preparing and hosting get-togethers. Starting early, having a plan and following these hassle-free steps can help make the most of your holidays.
Prioritize. In order to make the most of your time, make a list of priority cleaning items by rooms. Start at the front door and take the path your guests will take as they arrive at your home. Following this path will help you know which rooms need major cleaning. Some rooms to pay extra attention to include your foyer, living room, dining room, kitchen, family area and guest bathrooms.
Organize. Before you start to clean, have your cleaning products and equipment easily accessible. Some of the equipment useful in making the most of your time includes microfiber cloths, all-purpose cleaner, floor cleaning solution, vacuum and attachments, toilet brush, bucket, trash bag and a basket for any misplaced items around your home.
Schedule. To keep your time and stress to a minimum, schedule cleaning the day before the party. Not too far in advance so you don't clean over and over, or the day of because you will be hectic with food preparations and last minute details. Allow enough "you" time to look your best.
Make your party appear effortless. Make sure to have adequate seating and places to set drinks or plates; have a designated coat area; make sure your bathroom is stocked with toilet tissue that guests can easily replenish; be sure to clear counter space in the kitchen; have empty containers with labels for dishes and silverware; remove dirty dishes used to cook with; and have a spill kit prepared for emergencies.
Some of the most commonly missed items while cleaning can bring a damper on the appearance and feel to your party. These include cobwebs, dusty ceiling fans, blinds, lamp shades, baseboards, light switch plates and floor corners. For more tips for holiday cleaning visit Merry Maids.
About Merry Maids
Merry Maids, a division of The ServiceMaster Company, is the largest home cleaning franchise network in the world. Merry Maids provides services in 49 states and the District of Columbia through approximately 80 company-owned locations and 400 franchised outlets. The company also provides home cleaning services in Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom and had licensing arrangements whereby licensees provide these services in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia. Through its company-owned locations, Merry Maids employs more than 1,500 associates and serves approximately 22 thousand customers. Including its franchise network, the company employs more than 8,000 home cleaning professionals that service homes on three continents, including more than 325,000 homes in North America every month.
About ServiceMaster
With a network of more than 5,000 company-owned and franchise locations, Memphis-based ServiceMaster is one of the world's largest residential and commercial service networks. The company's high profile brands are TruGreen, Terminix, American Home Shield, ServiceMaster Clean, Merry Maids, Furniture Medic and AmeriSpec. Through approximately 24,000 corporate employees and a franchise network that independently employs over 31,000 additional people, the ServiceMaster family of brands serves more than 8.2 million customers every year. Our brands hold market-leading positions in residential and commercial lawn, tree and shrub care, termite and pest control, home warranties, furniture repair, home inspections, residential and commercial cleaning and disaster restoration. Go to www.servicemaster.com or twitter.com/ServiceMaster for more information about ServiceMaster.
Alison Boyle
901-597-8978
901-827-6956
alison.boyle@servicemaster.com
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