The holidays almost always come as a surprise to most of us. You are usually so occupied with many things that the impending visits from friends and family could be totally forgotten. Time slips away, and before you know it, you have just one hour to put your 'affairs' in order before they show up. You can't possibly clean everywhere, so now you have to figure out priority areas to tidy up.

This article will help streamline your efforts by showing you the priority areas to clean and how to do so in the shortest time possible, just before your holiday guests arrive. Learn the best places to spend that last one hour to set the perfect tone for your visitors' stay in your home.

Priority areas and how to clean them

1. High-Touch Surfaces

High touch surfaces are areas or surfaces visitors come in contact with more than others. You must ensure to wipe down and disinfect such surfaces, not just for aesthetic value, but also because you want your guests to stay healthy by limiting the spread of germs. Some of the priority areas you should quickly wipe clean include;

• Doorknobs and door handles
• Light switches
• Remotes
• Living room surfaces like sofas and stools.

2. Entryway

Your entryway quite literally introduces your guests to your home, offering a first impression. Here are some ways to quickly organize your entryway in anticipation;

• Decluttering – This involves putting away all those things you’d usually leave out to create room for the guests. Your coat hanger and shoe rack should be as empty as possible. You should also place a clean rug at the entrance that says something nice. 
• Lighting and Scenting – Dimmer lights and pleasant smells at the entrance will give your home a welcoming ambiance. This sets the right mood for your holiday guests as they come in.
• Light Vacuuming - Without a proper rug or mat to catch them, dirt and dust from outside could easily be tracked into your home, and most would be at your entryway. Do some light vacuuming of that area to gather up most of them.

3. Bathrooms

This is one area you must not ignore because guests would likely call on the bathroom at some point. Here is a bullet list of quick things to do for the bathroom;

• Ensure there is enough toilet paper.
• Ensure that there is bathing soap.
• Ensure that the plumbing fixtures, including the shower, bathtub, toilet, and sink, are well-cleaned and disinfected.
• Replace dirty towels with clean ones.

For a more comprehensive clean, you can read our post on tips for cleaning your bathroom.

4. Guest Rooms

This is mainly for overnight guests. Your guests will feel welcome to stay over if the guest room is in proper order. The simple ways to quickly prepare this include;

• Use clean and fresh bedding for the bed. It helps to keep sheets, pillowcases, and blankets handy for this eventuality.
• Remove all the excess personal items from the reach and view of your guests. This will give guests more room to work with.
• Ensure that the room is vacuumed and smells nice.

5. Kitchen

This area is so important in hosting guests no matter the duration of their stay. This is because the kitchen is always the center of festivities during the holidays. Holiday guests usually converse, try to help with the cooking, help themselves with beverages, or throw away trash. The simple ways to quickly clean your kitchen include;

• Keep all visible surfaces clean.
• Rinse and arrange the plates, glassware, platters, silverware, and serving utensils needed for hosting.
• Remove all sources of odors by washing dirty dishes and taking out the garbage.

With this guide, you’re well on your way to ensuring your guests don’t have to be uncomfortable in your home. You can follow these recommendations and simply call in the big guns after your guests have left. And by "big guns," we mean US!