This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to Erin and Areta!
The holidays are a busy time of year for everyone and especially if you’re like us and have a rotating door of family and friends through your house from the end of November to the end of January.
From impromptu drinks with colleagues to spaghetti and meatball dinners with friends to week-long in law visits, our house has been busy and this working momma has been busy just trying to keep it at a minimum level of clean.
When the PR people at P&G asked if I would be interested in a video of Colin Cowie, lifestyle expert and party planner for celebrities like Oprah and Kim Kardashian, sharing popular holiday colour trends, organizational tips along with easy ways to keep the home tidy and party ready for those impromptu get-togethers I of course said “YES, send it on over”. The video is exactly what it promised to be and more (it’s also embedded below) but I thought I’d take this opportunity to share with you how this busy, full-time working mom of three kids, one puppy and a hubby (because let’s face it – they are sometimes the messiest ones!) is keeping this tiny rental house as guest ready as it will ever be.
First up – dishes!
I always take the time before having guests over to hand wash all of the glasses we might use. This ensures any water stains or leftover food bits from that night you were too tired to hand wash anything and shoved anything that would fit into the dishwasher are gone. A quick dip in a sink of warm water and Dawn dish soap means your guests won’t be holding the glasses up to the light wondering just what exactly is that?
‘Tis the season for food and family but it’s also the season for over-stuffed dishwashers. That’s why we only use Cascade Allin1 Pacs. Clean dishes every single time! Even the ones “someone” else may have stuffed in there without rinsing.
Then there’s those pesky jobs we always skip when doing our regular cleaning like baseboards and dusting the blinds. These are perfect jobs for your older kids using Swiffer 360 Dusters and Mr. Clean Magic Erasers (the select a size are perfect!)
Then there’s the powder room – the place every single guest sees, whether they are in your home for an hour or a month. Always keep it well stocked with the good stuff (I’m talking toilet paper here people!).
And keep the sink and counter tops sparkling with Mr. Clean 7 Days Of Shine.
Also, my cousin Jenny taught me that you should always leave good tissues like Puffs readily available in your bathroom (especially during cold season). Then add a Febreze scented candle (vanilla and moonlight) as a perfect décor item that also masks potential unwanted bathroom smells during parties.
Speaking of Febreze – meet Yukon, my 10 week old Mastiff puppy.
Even though I love him madly already we are taking a few extra puppy smell busting precautions including:
Febreze Noticables
and Febreze Fabric Refresher.
I also spray Febreze Air Effects in the trash can before guests come over or when I know it’s going to be a bit before someone can take it out.
Finally, for those overnight guests (like the in laws) the combination of Tide Pods, Downy Unstopables and a Bounce Dryer Bar leaves sheets and towels smelling fresh and just washed for days.
So there you have it – how this busy mom is keeping her house guest ready during the holiday season. It may not be exactly how Colin Cowie does it but it works!
Now here’s what you can win:
Charmin giveaway pack includes two (2) packs of Charmin Ultra Soft, two (2) tubs of Charmin Fresh Wipes, two (2) boxes of Puffs tissue and one (1) bottle of Downy Unstopables. Valued at $40
P&G Home Holiday giveaway kit is valued at $50 and includes everything that is pictured here:
Here’s how to enter:
Simply leave a comment with your best tip on how you keep your home guest ready.
Want a bonus entry:
Just leave another comment telling me your favourite Colin Cowie tip from the video embedded below.
Want to be super sweet:
Feel free to share this giveaway with your friends.
And for all you rule followers out there here they are:
- Two winners will be randomly chosen – one for the Charmin prize package and one for the PG Holiday Home prize package.
- Giveaway closes Saturday, January 5, 2013 at 8 p.m. EST.
- Open to residents of Canada only.
- Winners will be chosen via And The Winner Is plugin. In the event of plugin failure random.org will be used.
- Winners will be sent an email to the email address provided in the comment on Saturday, January 5, 2013 notifying them of which prize they have won and will have 48 hours to reply to my e-mail or a new winner will be chosen.
- By entering this contest you are accepting that your name, email address, mailing address and phone number will be shared with the company and/or the PR agency(ies) providing the prize for the purpose of mailing.
I am a P&Gmom. As part of my affiliation with this group I receive products and special access to P&G events and opportunities.
The opinions on this blog are my own.
We keep our home guest ready by keeping air fresheners throughout the house to freshen it up.
From the video, I like the tip to have an artificial tree and to spray it with Febreze (they used a Cranberries scent in the video) to add fragrance to the tree.
The only thorough cleaning I do before entertaining is the bathroom. The rest if the house gets a quick once ove.r
To keep the home guest ready, I vacuum and swiffer every other day. Using air fresheners also helps!
I love the idea of using lots and lots of candles to set the mood!
For a guest ready home – Vacuum, clean the bathrooms, febreeze everything!
Candles always use them to get rid of odours especially pet odours!
My favorite colin cowie tip was to spray febreze fabric refresher onto furniture and carpets!!
To reduce clutter, I have my kids bring some toys upstairs to their room before they are allowed to bring any into the living room. I also do my cleaning chores every morning, so nothing gets too out of hand.
When I know guests are coming over I put out new towels and fancy soaps in all the bathrooms. If guests are spending the night I put new sheets on the beds as well
I love the idea of using spray on the artificial tree to make the room more festive, great tips in the video.
I love blue Dawn mixed with vinegar to clean my tub and shower!
I try to purge just before the hollidays, do I good clean as the tree goes up and keep all my boys stuff contained to their rooms! Backpacks in the room! Spray cleaner in all the bathrooms helps too!
With a dark laminate floor and a very large husky mix dog……the swiffer with dusting cloth is the only way for us to rankle all the white fur tumbleweeds on a daily basis! We really should have named her pigpen after the peanuts character but after 9 years its too late to change her name!!
I am also a big fan of the scented candles…anything vailla based.
Since I have two kids at home, so I frequently clean up the floor. I always have wine and finger food at home so in case that guests are coming to our place on short notice, I will still be able to have something for them.
I love the idea to put lot of candles out to create the festival atmosphere at home
Tidy up as you work and do not leave it all til the end. It is so much easier and way less stressful
I love the idea in the video about grouping candles together
I keep my home guest ready by reducing clutter – it keeps it looking tidy all the time!
My favorite tip is to use a scented spray to make up for the non-pine smell of an artificial tree!
I don’t entertain a ton, but with 3 animals in the house, Febreze is awesome for keeping things fresh!
From the video, I love the carnation balls. I had them at my wedding and I think carnations are totally under rated! Love them.
I like to prepare the home for being guest ready by putting out some simple holiday decor and reducing clutter as soon as I can!
I love to put out some candles to set the mood!
I like to light scented candles when people are coming, plus, I use dryer sheets under all the garbage bags. i find this helps.
in the video I like that he uses light for setting the mood.
p.s. I love love love your mastif!
I have finger foods and treat trays in the freezer so I can entertain guests (even unexpected ones) and have the house constantly tidy.
breej23 at hotmail dot com
I love how he puts candles out to set the mood!
breej23 at hotmail dot com
I get my home guest ready by cleaning up,vacuuming,dusting,changing sheets and towels,plug in air fresheners and spraying febreze around house..lol.
My favorite tip from the video is spray couches and curtains with febreze ,,which I do!!
I love the idea of using candles to create a mood – I do it all the time!!
I keep my home guest ready by quickly throwing things in closets and under furniture if I need to clean up in a pinch. It may not be perfect, but it works!
My home is guest ready because I tidy up daily, make the family put things away as they use them and I always have snacks on hand, I also have air freshners to keep the house smelling fresh
In the video I loved that he said to use lots of candles
My tip to keep your home guest ready, is to tidy up everyday, so it isn’t so much of a chore but your home is clean .I also love to have candles or air freshers to keep my home fresh and inviting
thanks
flower_child_23(at)hotmail(dot)com
My favourite tip from the video is using scented candles to set the mood
flower_child_23(at)hotmail(dot)com
ALWAYS have a plug-in air freshener plugged in. You can’t smell all the odours in your house (cooking, cat litter, etc) but when people walk in, they sure will.
I really like the tip of having fresh flowers out. I love those white carnation balls, very unique.
I like to keep my home guest ready by tidying up daily rather than just having one big, stressful cleanup day.
My favourite Colin Cowie tip from the video is to use an artificial tree.
Baby wipes are fantastic for a quick clean up in bathrooms & the kitchen! And to keep it smelling fresh Febreeze air freshner or plug ins.
My favourite Colin Cowie is using candles to set the mood! Fantastic for soft light and if scented will make your house smell wonderful!
I keep my home guest ready by always having a pot of coffee ready to be made and my house clean.
I like the tip about the artificial tree.