{"id":84537,"date":"2020-11-17T18:56:50","date_gmt":"2020-11-17T18:56:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.enjo.com\/?p=84537"},"modified":"2020-11-17T21:14:48","modified_gmt":"2020-11-17T21:14:48","slug":"20-tips-for-a-clean-home-and-a-stress-free-festive-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.enjo.com\/ca\/20-tips-for-a-clean-home-and-a-stress-free-festive-season\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Tips for a Clean Home and a Stress-Free Festive Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The holidays are a time for fun and family, but it can be stressful, wasteful\u2026and messy.<\/h2>\n

With a little pre-planning, you can reduce the stress and mess with our top secrets for a clean home and stress-free festive season \u2013 leaving more room for joy.<\/p>\n

1. Put a plan in place<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The holidays are, as a rule, a busy time of year.\u00a0 <\/span>Finding time for household jobs and feeling on top of your game gets increasingly harder as the big days approach.<\/p>\n

Making a list of jobs that need to be completed on the countdown to Christmas can instantly make things more manageable.<\/p>\n

Make your list, and check it twice!\u00a0 <\/span>Keep it in a place where you can refer back to it, and make sure you check things off as you go\u2026and celebrate the little wins!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cut out small time blocks in the evenings (as small as 15 minutes) for the small jobs and reserve big jobs like\u00a0cleaning out your car or cleaning your windows, for weekends.<\/p>\n

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2. Start with a clean slate as you decorate<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Decorating your home for the holidays is the perfect time to clean all those\u00a0common parts of the home where we don\u2019t usually clean. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One big deep clean before you decorate gets the holiday season off to a clean start.<\/p>\n

When moving furniture to accommodate a tree, be sure to give the walls a dusting behind, and the floors a quick clean underneath and in behind.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dust or wipe down ornaments as you remove them from their storage bins \u2013 it will help to reduce the allergens in your indoor air, and will help to maximize the sparkle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Scale back on ornaments as you open your holiday bins.\u00a0 <\/span>Consider donating unused decorations to shelters or selling those that hold little meaning or value to you.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Scale back and remove furniture if needed to make room for your tree or other d\u00e9cor, to prevent a crowded feeling and generate a calm environment.\u00a0 <\/span>Make sure there is enough room for the family to gather and for kids to play in the weeks leading up to the big day. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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3. Create a budget<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s easy to allow spending to get out of control during the holiday season, which can add to stress during this season and into the New Year.<\/p>\n

Putting a budget in place (one that allows for unseen expenses) helps decrease stress levels and encourages the holiday season to run more smoothly.<\/p>\n

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4. Prepare your shopping list<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A shopping list will not only help you finish more quickly (leaving more time to tick tasks off your to-do list), but you’re less likely to forget items and have to make a repeat trip.<\/p>\n

Creating a list and sticking to ingredient quantities is also\u00a0a great way to help reduce food waste\u00a0(and your shopping bill). \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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5.\u00a0Shop local<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Shopping local not only helps the local economy, but can help YOU as well \u2013 you\u2019re staying close to home (or having purchases brought to you), you can get to know the people serving you, and you\u2019re supporting a local business person, who is a community member or even a neighbour! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tune into local groups and look around for local businesses you can support this year.\u00a0Whether they\u2019ve got a small shop, an etsy online shop, do hand-craft at home, or are a direct seller sharing a trusted product, you can be guaranteed your service will be top-notch, and your business will be appreciated!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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6. Remember your reusable shopping bags<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Using your\u00a0reusable shopping bags\u00a0has so many benefits, and not just for groceries, but also for your holiday shopping.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can carry your groceries \u2013 and your holiday gift purchases – more comfortably.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re not paying for bags at the checkout and\u00a0contributing to the plastic problem.\u00a0Plus, you\u2019re not creating more household waste, or an unsightly cupboard stuffed full of plastic bags.<\/p>\n

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7. Clean and organize your fridge<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Never a fun task, but\u00a0a clean and organized fridge\u00a0will make your holiday season a whole lot happier.<\/p>\n

ENJO\u2019s\u00a0Kitchen Duocloth and\u00a0ENJOfil are perfect for simple, fast cleaning of your fridge, wiping down shelves, walls and drawers and leaving you with a clean space (without a single harsh chemical) to reorganize the contents.<\/p>\n

Plan to use up foods that may go out of date and make sure you leave room to store all your holiday feast leftovers!<\/p>\n

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8. Get ready for dirty dishes<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The holidays always mean more cooking and baking, and of course that brings more cleaning.<\/p>\n

Be ready for all dishes, including roasters, pots and pans with ENJO\u2019s Kitchen Scrub\u00a0and\u00a0Orange Blossom Washing Up Liquid.\u00a0 <\/span>A few drops of this degreasing formula will help to make cleanup faster and simpler.<\/p>\n

These powerful pieces last 3 years, which helps to reduce disposable sponge waste, and ensures you\u2019re never without your washing-up essentials.<\/p>\n

Of course, more washing up means more drying too!\u00a0 <\/span>One of the most versatile tools in your kitchen, make sure you have enough\u00a0ENJO Tea Towels at your disposal.<\/p>\n

Choose quality over quantity \u2013 ENJO Tea Towels, our most absorbent fibre, dry dishes quickly and don\u2019t leave behind any fluff!\u00a0 <\/span>Keep one near the sink and a few in the drawer for easy access. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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9. Reorganize your pantry<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Cluttered pantries happen, but searching for what you need can slow you down, and makes baking and cooking that much harder.<\/p>\n

Take time to reorganize your pantry and wipe down the shelves \u2013 and, you can take stock on your holiday dish ingredients while you\u2019re in there.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re cooking up a meal that uses lots of herbs and spices, separate these out and place them in a box or container for each recipe.<\/p>\n

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10. Stock up on snacks<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Don\u2019t go overboard, but having snacks handy is always a good idea during the holidays.<\/p>\n

Festive nuts, cheese and crackers, cookies \u2013 choose a few family favourites to have on hand for fewer trips to the store and for those unexpected festive moments. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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11.\u00a0 <\/span>Make time for meal prep<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Stress a whole lot less throughout the season by doing some advanced food prep \u2013 not just for the holiday feasts, but to keep you energized and healthy in the weeks leading up to the big day.<\/p>\n

Before you grocery shop each week, sit down and write out breakfast and lunch options, as well as the planned dinners.\u00a0 <\/span>This will help you to shop smart, reduce waste, and you\u2019ll feel relief in not having to be creative each day. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After shopping, use ENJO\u2019s\u00a0Fruit and Veggie Cloth\u00a0to clean all your fruits and vegetables, then peel, chop and store in the fridge\u00a0as necessary.\u00a0 <\/span>This helps to ensure that meal preparations are smoother, and makes it easier for the family to grab healthy foods on the go.<\/p>\n

If possible, cook in batches, so that you can freeze some dinner portions ahead of time.\u00a0 <\/span>This will reduce your stress on busy weeknights.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As the big day gets closer, measure out ingredients for other recipes ahead of time, this will be a big time-saver and will help keep your kitchen workspace clean and clear on the day.<\/p>\n

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12. Clean your oven NOW \u2013 really!<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A clean oven is more effective \u2013 which is what you want when cooking and baking this time of year!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Keeping it clean without chemicals is quick and healthy \u2013 no more toxic fumes.<\/p>\n

Remove buildup early in the season using cold water, the ENJO Kitchen Scrub, Duoglove and ENJOfil.\u00a0 <\/span>For stubborn buildup, grab your Marble Paste to boost your cleaning power. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Once it\u2019s sparkling, think maintenance \u2013 by taking 5 minutes each week to give the oven a wipe with the Kitchen Duoglove and cold water, followed by a dry-behind with the ENJOfil, you\u2019ll leave it sparkling for the holidays. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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13. Remember to clean as you cook\/bake<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It sounds so simple, but when you\u2019re in the middle of cooking numerous dishes, the kitchen can descend into chaos quite quickly.<\/p>\n

Before you start cooking make sure you have your ingredients organized, your recycling bin and compost bin easily accessible.<\/p>\n

Keep your\u00a0Kitchen Allpurpose Cloth at the ready and wipe down surfaces with\u00a0cold water\u00a0as you go.\u00a0 (Remember to allow all hot surfaces to cool before cleaning with ENJO).<\/em><\/p>\n

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14. Plan your table trimmings<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This year, more than ever, bring joy into the holidays.\u00a0Get the kids\/family involved and think about how you would like to set up your table ahead of time.\u00a0Add decorations and name settings to make it extra special.<\/p>\n

ENJO\u2019s Cutlery and Glass ENJOfil is the perfect tool for bringing back the shine back to your best cutlery and glassware.<\/p>\n

Dress and lay the table the night before any special feast you\u2019re planning \u2013 it takes little time, but can mean one less task \u201con your plate\u201d when preparing to celebrate with family.<\/p>\n

Canadian household waste rises by up to 25% over the holiday season, and your table\/feast can be a contributor!\u00a0 <\/span>Give some consideration and plan the supplies you\u2019re using, as a few easy swaps can help to reduce your home\u2019s waste considerably over the holidays..<\/p>\n