Top 5 Things to Clean Before Your Holiday Party

1. Bathroom - Nobody wants to use a dirty bathroom. Be sure to clean your toilet, sink, and your floor. Use cleaners that are antibacterial and deodorizing. I would say, if you're not having overnight guests, you could probably skip cleaning the tub/shower. Just close the curtain and make sure the outside appears clean. Add potpourri, an automatic sprayer, or a scented oil plug-in for a pleasant, clean smell.

2. Refrigerator and Freezer - Whether people are helping you cook or just looking for a drink refill, they are going to look in your refrigerator. In my opinion, if you're going to some one's house for dinner, the last thing you want to see is a dirty fridge. Take the time to do an inventory of your fridge. Check the expiration dates on the food and throw out all foods that are out of date. Also, toss out any old left overs. Empty out your fridge entirely and wipe down the shelves and walls with a sponge or rag. If it's been a while since you've cleaned the shelves, you may want to take them out and wash them in the sink or dishwasher. This may take a while, but you'll be surprised how great it will after a good cleaning. Plus, cleaning out the fridge will help you figure out what you need to buy for your Thanksgiving feast, and it will help you to make room for your Thanksgiving groceries & leftovers.

3. Kitchen Counter - Before cooking (and after cooking) you should make sure that counters are cleaned and all spills have been wiped up, especially if you are preparing meat on the counter. If you're having a lot of company over this may be the perfect time to take everything off your counter top and wipe off any crumbs or dust that might have gotten behind or in between canisters, appliances, and the walls.

4. Kitchen/Dining Room Table - Before decorating or placing food on the table make sure the area is cleaned good with an antibacterial cleaner. Also, inspect the chairs, especially if you have kids, to make sure that there are no crumbs or anything sticky in the seats. You also may want to clear the table of items like fruit baskets, center pieces, or anything else that takes up space, if people will actually be sitting at the table to eat. If you want to have decorative items out, consider placing them on a buffet, a coffee table, or somewhere else in your home where they'll be seen.

5. Floor - Even if you don't do a massive clean up job before you have company, you should at least clean the floors in the rooms in which your company will be. This shouldn't be too big of a job, as this should be limited to the kitchen/dining room, living room, and bathroom. (unless you have overnight guests) First of all, for some reason having a clean floor makes an entire room look so much better. Secondly, if any of your guests have small kids, they will probably be crawling on the floor, playing with toys on the floor, and sometimes they tend to put things in their mouths after it's been on the floor.