Make it before the chimes strike: top 5 things that should be done before the New Year

Before the new year 2020 comes into effect, you should put things in order in your thoughts and deeds, and also prepare your home for the holiday. And we’re not talking about hanging garlands or decorating the Christmas tree - today we’ll talk about more prosaic things.

Complete minor repairs

If there are any repair defects in the house, it is worth fixing them before the New Year - fixing a faucet from which water is dripping, and a broken switch in the hallway, gluing up wallpaper torn off by a cat, lubricating door hinges, replacing worn out linoleum, or finally hanging a shelf in the bathroom. These little things seem insignificant, but they are the ones that spoil the atmosphere and provoke quarrels between spouses.

Do some general cleaning

Even where people regularly vacuum and dust, you can find a lot of dirt. It enters the house from the street along with the air and settles on all objects. Before the holiday, it won’t hurt to clean up, paying attention to parts of the interior that usually remain “behind the scenes”:

• Remove the lampshades and wash them clean. This can be done by hand or in the dishwasher.
• Wipe the cornices and the top of the doors with a damp cloth.
• Use wet wipes and cotton swabs to clean the outside of outlets, switches, and extension cords. In this case, it is better to turn off the electricity supply at the panel.
• Treat the silicone seals in the shower stall, as well as the seams between the bathtub and the wall, with detergents with an antifungal effect.
• Wipe flower pots and flowerpots with a damp sponge. The trays should be washed with a brush and laundry soap.
• Wash the shelves in the kitchen cabinets.

After such cleaning, it will be easier to breathe, and you won’t be ashamed in front of your guests.

Throw away everything unnecessary

Some people believe that junk accumulated in the house attracts negative energy and prevents them from achieving financial well-being. Others argue that unnecessary things block the possibility of self-development, prevent new acquaintances, do not allow good luck into the home and interfere with harmonious relationships between family members. And still others do not believe in esotericism and believe that the more junk lies in closets and in rooms, the more often they have to clean, because microparticles of fabric, wood and other materials fall to the floor and float in the air, polluting the room. In the end, everyone agrees that we need to get rid of trash.

What should you throw in the trash first? As practice shows, it is better to start sorting things out from the wardrobe, throwing away clothes and shoes that meet the following criteria:

• Does not fit in size - too small or large. It is a mistake to justify its presence in the closet by the fact that it will be useful to a son or daughter when they grow up, or to the owner himself if he loses or gains weight. Styles quickly lose relevance, and in a few years no one will want to wear out-of-fashion dresses, suits and coats.
• Worn and damaged (torn off buttons, broken zippers, holes and stains on the fabric). Even as a home outfit, this is not suitable - surrounded by family you need to look no worse than in the company of strangers. It is better to have two or three changes of good clothes than a lot of old and unpresentable ones.

The next stage is an audit in the kitchen.There is no less trash there than in the dressing room:

• plates, cups with chips and cracks;
• scratched frying pans and non-stick baking sheets;
• pots and bowls from which the enamel has begun to chip;
• expired spices and tea (they are not harmful to health, but have already lost their taste and aromatic qualities), as well as cereals and other products;
• washed towels with stains that cannot be removed;
• empty jars of sauces and canned vegetables.

It also doesn’t hurt to look into the closet - half of what’s in there are things that no one will ever need. Anything that is broken or hasn't been used in the last 12 months can be thrown in the trash.

The furniture is reviewed last. Knobby chairs, falling-apart bedside tables, old sofas with broken springs are the first candidates to go to the landfill.

Wash things that have accumulated

Due to lack of time, it is not always possible to wash things on time. This is especially true for household items - curtains, bedspreads, chair covers, tablecloths. The New Year holiday is a great reason to get your house in order.

Make preparations for holiday dishes

For most housewives, preparing dishes for the holiday table turns into a marathon. To avoid the rush on December 31, you can make preparations a few days before the New Year:

• Bake cake layers (dry ones - for Napoleon - are perfectly stored at room temperature, but it is better to freeze sponge and honey ones - this way the finished product will be juicier and tastier).
• If pies or buns are planned on the menu, it is also not forbidden to stick them in advance and put them in the freezer. All you have to do before serving is bake it.
• Marinate duck or turkey.
• Prepare sauces. Those with a short shelf life will wait their time frozen.
• Cook jellied meat. At a temperature of -18 °C this dish can last for several months. A day before the feast, you need to defrost it, put it in a saucepan, bring to a boil, pour into molds and place in the refrigerator to harden.
• The ingredients for Olivier (except for cucumbers and onions) are perfectly stored in the freezer, so it’s worth boiling and cutting them ahead of time.

So that after cooking you don’t have to spend a long time cleaning the kitchen from splashes of juice and grease, you should cover the “apron” near the stove and the countertop with cling film. Then it can be removed along with the dirt and thrown away.

Preparing for the New Year requires a lot of time and effort, but then you can enjoy a clean house, delicious food, communication with nice people and a festive atmosphere.