Today is November 1^st, which means it is officially holiday season! The countdown to Thanksgiving and Christmas has begun—21 days and 54 days, respectively. You may not have realized how close the holidays are, and you’re probably freaking out right now, but there’s no need—with these tips you can have your home clean, organized, and ready for all your holiday parties!

The holidays can be a stressful time with so many things to check off your list—cleaning, food preparation, entertainment, out-of-town guests, children, seating, and more. The best way to make this holiday season stress-free is by making an action plan and tackling your list early! To prepare for the holiday season, your home could use a deep cleaning. Hire a cleaning service to help make your home spotless!

Extra attention should be paid to the living spaces where guests will be spending time hanging out, mingling, and dining. In the living room, the couches and lounge chairs should be deep cleaned, and don’t forget underneath the couch cushions! Make sure your fireplaces and chimneys are clean and soot free, and ready for the first fire of the season!

Don’t neglect your Folding Patio Doors during your deep home cleaning! Have the glass panes cleaned with window cleaner (but don’t get any on the wood!) and the interior wood surface cleaned with a damp cloth to remove dust. Don’t wait until the holidays to clean your patio doors—the interior wood surface should be cleaned about once a month! To learn more about maintaining the interior and exterior of your patio doors, click here.

The kitchen is the heart of every home—even if you don’t plan on having guests in the kitchen, you better believe the whole party will end up here at some point. Extra cleaning time should be spent in the kitchen to ensure appliances and cabinets are sparkling. Countertops should be shiny and clutter free, and dining tables and bar seating should be ready to serve their purpose.

When all the living spaces have been cleaned, you can tackle the guest bedrooms next. When was the last time the curtains in the guest bedroom were washed? If you can’t answer that question, it’s time to throw those dusty curtains in the washing machine. Have all the dust bunnies vacuumed up and don’t miss deep down under the beds and dressers! Dress the beds with fresh linens and stock the guest bathroom with plenty of clean towels and toilet paper.

If you haven’t already, it is time to add some tasteful fall decor to your home to embrace the season! You don’t have to get too crazy, small touches will go a long way. Now that your home has been deep cleaned and decorated for the holidays, it will be easier to plan for upcoming parties and events. When the parties get closer, your living spaces will only need a quick surface cleaning to prepare it for dozens of visitors—the rest of your home will still be in good shape from the deep cleaning it underwent a few weeks prior.