Final Clean Week

Two weeks before Christmas? It's time for a final finish cleaning at the Houseworks holiday plan.

We've decluttered and deep-cleaned; this week's goal is to bring the whole house into a ready state for the remainder of the season.

In holiday prep, we'll complete gift wrapping, plan Christmas dinner, mail Christmas cards and bring home the ultimate seasonal symbol: the Christmas tree.

This Week's Houseworks Focus: Final Clean

Reading Assignments from Houseworks:

• Housekeeping Skill Set: Plan - pages 74-81
  Put it all together--schedules, to-do lists and routines--to keep a clean and organized home.

Inspiration from the Web:

• Keeping It Simple This Season

This Week's Houseworks Checklist

• Do a final pre-holiday whole-house clean. Sure, we've tackled household areas week-by-week and the deep-cleaning is done--but this week, it's time to polish up the house with a last whole-house clean.

  Play cleaning service this week, and give every room a top-clean session of dusting, vacuuming and final touch-up. You'll bring the entire house to a holiday-ready state. Time to celebrate!

This Week's Holiday Prep Checklist

• Wrap party! Hold an informal "wrap party" brunch or evening for friends. Work on wrapping packages together. At the end of the party, swap leftover supplies for a fresh look next year.
• Use freezer meals on busy nights.
• Plan Christmas menus. Make a simple menu plan for Christmas week. Delegation is easier if you have an idea of what's for breakfast ... or lunch, or dinner.
• Update address book. As holiday letters and Christmas cards arrive, update the address book with any changes.
• Mail Christmas cards or holiday letters.
• Complete gift wrapping.
• Buy Christmas trees and/or fresh greens.

This Week's Christmas Planner Pages to Print:

Child's Gift List