Handling holiday messes: Faster germ busting and dealing with decoration disasters

(BPT) - Red wine and turkey gravy in the carpet, pine needles on the hardwood floor and the powder room that will see a visit from every sneezy guest that comes through the door – along with all that good cheer, the holiday season has its share of messes. Making matters worse, you probably have less time for cleaning during the holidays than any other season in the year.

Handling holiday messes doesn’t have to dim your seasonal spirit. With the right tools and tricks, it’s possible to keep your home tidy and everyone in it healthy and happy throughout the holidays.

Don’t give germs time to thrive

Cold and flu season are in full swing during the holidays, and headlines about flu outbreaks may have you eager to keep your home as germ-free as possible. With all the activity around the holidays, your family may be exposed to more germs – and they can bring those illness-causing pathogens home with them from school, work, games or shopping.

Give extra attention to high-traffic areas, like the kitchen, where you’ll prepare holiday meals and entertain guests. Use a strong disinfectant to clean often-touched surfaces like doorknobs, counters, sinks, stove tops, appliances and even floors. Don’t forget other areas where germs can linger, such as faucets and doorknobs in the bathroom, remote controls and light switches.

Reduce risks of food contamination. Use separate cutting boards for meats and vegetables, don’t thaw meat on the countertop, use a meat thermometer to ensure meats are cooked thoroughly, and refrigerate leftovers promptly.

Disinfect quickly. Many disinfecting cleaning products can take up to 10 minutes to kill bacteria. Time is of the essence during the holidays, so look for a disinfectant that acts quickly, like Zep Commercial Quick-Clean Disinfectant, which kills 99.9 percent of certain bacteria in just five seconds, and most viruses in 30 seconds to two minutes. Visit www.zepcommercial.com to learn more.

Spills of the season

From serving Thanksgiving feasts for visiting family member to hosting a New Year’s Eve party in your home, a lot of entertaining takes place during the holidays. Spills seem inevitable amid the merriment. Gravy, wine, chocolate and cranberry sauce are just a few seasonal delights that can leave stains on clothing, carpets and table linens.

Tackle spills as soon as they happen. First, remove excess material as much as possible. Remember to blot; never rub as that can push minute particles of the food or liquid into the fibers of fabrics. Next, treat the spot with a cleaner designed for that type of fabric – carpet solvent, clothing spot-treatment or dry-cleaning solution for upholstery – following the manufacturer’s directions. For juice or wine stains on carpet try a peroxide cleaner, and a solvent-based spot cleaner for oily stains like lipstick. Launder clothes after spot-cleaning, but be sure to check that the entire spot has come out before placing garments in the dryer, where heat can set stains.

Dealing with decoration disasters

Pine boughs, wreaths and trees can bring a wonderful holiday aroma to your home, but they also drop needles – even when the decorations are fresh. Place a bag under the Christmas tree to help catch needles, and cover it with a decorative tree skirt. When it’s time to clean up, simply pull the bag over the tree to limit pine needle mess. Keep the tree well hydrated to slow down the drying process. Try a lint roller for spot cleaning dropped needles. For bigger areas or spots where needles have become impacted, try going over the carpet with a stiff-brushed broom to loosen needles before vacuuming.

For broken glass ornaments or holiday bulbs, use a dust pan and broom to sweep up larger pieces and place them in a plastic grocery bag before throwing into the trash. Wipe hard surfaces such as wood floors, tile or countertops with a dampened paper towel to collect any small pieces you may have missed.

Messes and germs don’t have to dim your holiday spirits. With the right cleaning products and tactics, it’s possible to keep your home clean and cheerful throughout the holiday season.