I posted this tip last fall, but since everyone is getting out their holiday decor I thought it was worth revisiting! I know I have several silver vases and candlesticks in my Christmas decor boxes; for those of you who also decorate with silver pieces you may find this tip helpful!
Originally published September, 2008
Did you know you can use baking soda to polish silver?
I just sprinkle baking soda onto the piece I want to polish, then start rubbing it with a damp cloth. It takes a bit of elbow grease, but it shines the silver up quickly! Once it looks nice and shiny, just rinse it off with cool water and dry with a soft cloth.
Much cheaper than buying silver polish!
As you work on decorating your home (or at least one area, like putting up your tree or decorating the front porch) don't forget to clean as you go! You'll be glad you did!
Before you start setting up your decorations and hanging garland, make sure the areas you are decorating are sparkling clean! If you're climbing up to drape garlands from the windowframes, it only takes a minute to wipe them with a damp cloth and give the window glass a quick wash. Then your decor can truly shine, without the distraction of dust bunnies or fingerprints.
-Remove your current decor. Clear off those coffee tables and mantles, remove that fall wreath. For now just lay them to the side (I find my bed is the perfect place to set things, as breakable items have a soft, safe place to lay until I have time to properly pack them up)
-Get your clean on! Dust and polish those wood surfaces and shelves, wash the windows you plan to hang wreaths in, and make sure the floors are freshly swept and mopped before you set up that bulky tree! Tidy up the front porch and give special attention to the entranceway so your house is primed for all the upcoming holiday guests!
For myself, I do prefer to leave tasks that require a step ladder until I am ready to decorate, so I don't have to be climbing up and down twice. For example, I wait to dust the tops of my kitchen cabinets until I am ready to climb up and decorate them. That way I can dust and decorate all at once, rather than having to set up the step ladder once to clean and again to decorate later that day. I also do this if I am hanging anything from a chandelier or light fixture-when I'm ready to hang the decor, I get out the ladder and bring up a damp rag with me to dust the fixture before hanging the decor from the light.
-Set up your holiday decor. Have fun arranging and decorating without having to stop and clean each surface as you go, since you did all of that in advance! I do like to keep a damp rag with me as I decorate, so if I find a hidden surface or a spot that needs attention, I can do that while I am thinking of it.
-Pack up your other decor and accessories. All those candle holders, books, and vases you just removed to make way for the Christmas decor! My favorite thing to do is just use the plastic tubs I store my Christmas decor in, since those are usually empty by now; it makes it easy to switch everything back again after the holidays too!
And once you're done, don't forget to take a photo of your favorite decorated area in your home! Share it with me (You can click my new email button on the right side of the blog) and I'll show it off on Saturday's post!!!
Happy cleaning!!!
If you have holiday decor photos to share as you complete this week's challenge ( remember our challenge this week is to clean and decorate one area of our homes?) you can email them to me at
sonotmartha@gmail.com
I'll post everyone's great photos on Saturday, so keep sending them in this week!!!
So, it's time to decorate the Christmas tree!
With the holiday season now upon us, invitations are probably rolling in for all sorts of parties and events. You want to be a good guest, and a great idea is to bring hostess gifts to all the parties you attend during the season.
What I suggest is purchasing several hostess gifts ahead of time (like this week, since you are making your shopping list and purchasing your wrapping paper and wrapping supplies...right??) so that you aren't panicking at the last minute or stopping at the store on the way to the party.
So what makes a good hostess gift? Well, it's the gesture that counts more than anything. Bringing a little something for the hostess shows that you appreciate her hard work and hospitality, and it is also an excellent ice breaker if you don't know the hostess well (say you're meeting your boss' wife for the first time). You can't really go wrong bringing the hostess a gift, no matter what it is....but here are my favorite suggestions anyway!
-Wine. Purchase a few nice bottles and slip them into a decorative sleeve or tie a pretty bow around the neck. When you give it to the hostess, don't ask or expect that she will open it and serve it during the party. She may already have a large selection of wines out, or has carefully chosen a specific wine to go with her menu. Ensure that you let the hostess know this is a gift for her as a thank you for the invitation, so she does not feel obligated to break out the corkscrew if she doesn't want to.
As a hostess receiving a bottle of wine, it is up to you if you want to serve it at the party or not. If you choose not to, a good idea is to write the giver's name on the label before tucking it into your wine rack. That way you can pull it out the next time you invite them over for dinner, or remember to write them a little note after opening it at a later date letting them know how much you enjoyed it.
-Flowers. My one rule when it comes to giving flowers is this; you MUST bring the flowers already arranged and in a vase with water. No hostess wants to be handed a bouquet of flowers wrapped in paper from the store.
Why you ask?
Because she is probably in the middle of a whirl of activity, and suddenly having to climb on a stool to find a vase, cut the flowers, arrange them, fill the vase, and find a spot to place them is only going to make her feel flustered. If a guest hands her a lovely arrangement in a vase, the work has already been done for her and she can simply enjoy the gift!
-Games. There are so many great games out there, and choosing a fun party game (that allows a large group of people to play) can be a welcome addition to a get together. I recommend saving this gift for close friends and family who you know will appreciate the gift, and for parties that you know have a more casual feel. This is NOT the gift to bring to a formal dinner party, or to a gathering where you know very few of the guests. But it's the perfect gift for your neighbor's annual New Year's Eve bash, or Aunt Sally's family dinner!
One thing I've learned about gift giving is that, no matter how small or inexpensive the gift itself is - if it's presented in a beautiful way the receiver will feel loved and appreciated. Seeing that someone took the time to handmake a card, or tie a fancy bow, or wrap the box in their favorite colors is almost as special as the gift inside!
Every year I try to choose a new scheme for my giftwrap. One year it was brown kraft paper with bright colored satin ribbons. Another year it was all blue and silver papers, and another was all white and silver with blue bows.
This year I found one beautiful paper in teal, blue, and navy that I will be using to wrap all of our gifts, along with navy ribbons. I'm also thinking of diy-ing our gift tags somehow.
Whether you have a lot of money to spend or very little, adorable wrapped gifts are possible to create!
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