With less than five weeks to Christmas, it's time to get the house in order. But where do you start, and how, on a damp November day, do you get yourself into the pre-festive spirit?

Start With Decluttering

As the days grew shorter, the weather got colder, and Christmas decorations were dusted off, perhaps our homes got a little more hectic and a little less sparkly. Decluttering can bring renewed energy into the house, and it just might be the best gift you and your family give each other.

We understand that decluttering during the holidays can be a daunting task. The PRS team suggests putting on some festive music to improve your household's spirit while carrying out domestic chores.

Start in the kitchen, clearing out the presses of extra clutter, chipped mugs and plates, and everything out of date. We also recommend organising and matching cutlery.

Clear your wardrobes for a good cause by donating unused garments that haven't been used for ages. You can also get your kids involved by letting them choose what old toys need to go to the charity shop to prepare their rooms for the influx of new gifts.

Prepare Your Oven Ready for Turkey

In preparation for the gastronomic delights that will be created in your kitchen this Christmas, our team suggests giving your oven and cooker a deep cleaning.

Start by removing the racks and soaking them in a large basin of hot water and dish soap the night before the cleaning. Give the oven a good wash with lots of warm soapy water, and then apply a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water to the walls, base and glass. Leave overnight.

The following morning, place a used towel or newspaper under your oven and spray vinegar solution over your, now dry paste, and watch the grime lift off the surface like magic. Wipe away the mess with a damp cloth and give a final wash with warm soapy water to remove any residue.

Don't forget about your cooker. Remove any knobs, burners and burn covers and give your entire cooker, including the cooker hood, a good wash with warm soapy water.

Deep Clean Your Fridge Before the Big Shop

Over the next weeks, your fridge will be one of the hardest working parts of your kitchen, so take some time to clear out the clutter and give it a proper clean.

Start with putting spoilage-prone foods in a sealed bag in a cool, dry place. As you have emptied the fridge, proceed by washing any removable parts like drawers and shelves, which you can do in the sink.

For the interior, our team suggests using a sustainable, food-safe cleaning solution, mixing distilled white vinegar with warm water in a fifty-fifty concentration.

To keep your fridge organised for longer, we recommend setting allocated spots for your rations. The door and top shelf are often not as cold as the rest of the refrigerator, so products you'll likely get through fast are well-served there. Conversely, meat and fish are best kept at the bottom of the fridge, it's comparatively cold, and there's less chance they might drip onto other food. Finally, middle shelves are perfect for longer-term items like unopened butter and cheese.

Give Your Windows a Strek-Free Finish

Our windows are often highlighted during Christmas, as strings of lights swing across roofs and candles illuminate windowpanes.

You can keep them streak-free with a green homemade solution of one-part distilled vinegar with ten parts warm water. Then, clean from the top down, rinse and dry with a kitchen roll.

Refresh Your Couches

Use a lint roller to remove dust and pet hair and a brush to lift dirt on most furnishings. Our team recommends using bicarbonate of soda, a safe-to-use solution for most fabrics.

Simply sprinkle it on, leave for thirty minutes, and hoover off. To get rid of harder stains, mix three-quarters cup warm water, one-quarter cup vinegar, and one tablespoon of dish soap and gently scrub with a soft cloth.

We always recommend checking the cleaning directions for your fabrics before giving them a deep clean.

Don't Forget Your Carpets

It can be all too easy to take your carpets for granted, but it's worth remembering that they deal with an awful amount of footfall right from the moment they're installed.

Don't leave hoovering go to the wayside as the cold weather kicks in. As shoes get muckier and winter boots come out, make sure you're keeping an eye on your carpets. Hoovering frequently helps prolong the life of the carpet and reduces the build-up of dirt and dust.

Outsource Your Christmas Deep Clean

Give yourself one less thing to worry about this Christmas with PRS Household Services, trusted by Dublin's tenants and lettings agents, for professional end of tenancy and deep cleaning services.

With over 50 years of experience, PRS built a solid reputation on the calibre of its insured, pet-friendly cleaning services that can include internal window cleaning, professional carpet cleaning, couch cleaning, and deep oven cleaning.

Do not hesitate to reach out to our team to find out more about why we are the deep cleaners Dublin trusts for prompt and professional cleaning services:

• One-off Deep Cleaning Service Dublin

• End-of-Tenancy Cleaning Service Dublin

• Housekeeping Cleaning Service Dublin

• Discover Our Cleaning Services in Dublin

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