20 crucial projects to get done before hosting Christmas

Be honest here—anything that is expired or hasn’t been touched in months should be tossed.

Empty out the fridge and scrub the shelves and walls with a mix of half vinegar and half water.

Cleaning out the fridge will get your kitchen ready for Chrsitmas because now you’ll have more room to store your delicious leftovers.

Why stop at the fridge? Check out our essential guide to the dos and don’ts of cleaning, to save you time and effort around the home.

Look for any clutter around the living room, entryway, kitchen and any prime places people will gather.

Get rid of old mail, magazines, newspapers and spent candles.

Dust the coffee and end tables, mantel and media centre, this will help get your home ready for Christmas.

It’s easier than you think to clear the clutter and turn your life around.

If the toilet in the guest bathroom keeps running, now’s the best time to fix it to get your home ready for Christmas.

And make sure nothing is leaking and toilet handles aren’t loose.

The toilet may be the smallest room in the house but there’s no reason it can’t have style.

The last thing you want to deal with on Christmas is a leaky tap.

And you can fix almost any drippy single-lever kitchen faucet in about an hour.

If the tap’s dripping it probably needs a new washer.

To replace it, turn off the water supply and turn the tap fully on.

Place a plug in the plughole to avoid losing small parts.

Use this handy hint if there’s a funky smell lurking in your couch or upholstered chair: Sprinkle a generous amount of regular baking soda onto the fabric and let it sit for at least 20 minutes.

The baking soda will help to release odours and break up some light stains in the fabric.

After about 20 minutes, remove the baking soda—and the funky smell—with a handheld vacuum or a hose attachment for your large vacuum.

Sofa stil smell? Probably time to make a new one.

Here’s another chance to get honest with yourself.

When was the last time you wiped down the blinds or washed the living room curtains?

Pet fur and dander, dust and mildew can all wreak havoc on those with allergies.

Get your home ready for Christmas and prepare for all of your guests health needs.

Venetian blinds can be notoriously tricky to dust, but using this simple technique, you can get them clean in no time.

It’s great that your mother-in-law said she’d bring her famous green bean casserole to bake at your house.

But do you really want her to see the current situation in your oven?

Get it cleaned before she shows up without using harsh chemicals.

Take a look at these five common oven problems and how to solve them.

If you have the will and a whole day (or two) to yourself, you can refinish the hardwood floors in the major areas of your home.

You don’t necessarily need to sand, but if the floor is damaged enough to warrant buffing, check out your local hardware store and rent the equipment for anywhere from 4-48 hours.

The wide range of materials on offer for flooring can make selecting what to lay a daunting task, especially if you want to install it DIY and stick to a budget.

If you’re having overnight guests, be sure to get all the bedding, including sheets, blankets and comforters washed before they arrive.

Clean the ceiling fan (or fix it if it’s wobbly), wash the rug and make sure the room is vacuumed and dusted.

And leave the room smelling great with this delightful lemony potpourri.

No, we aren’t talking a feat of woodworking precision, but a simple sawhorse thanksgiving table that is a snap to set up for entertaining and folds down when not in use.

And sawhorses are very easy to build and you can use an old door or other flat slab of wood (or melamine) as the tabletop.

Whether covered with a tablecloth or left as a rustic centrepiece, your entire family will be happy with enough room to dine in style.

Handyman reader Damien Ryan’s girlfriend gave him the difficult task of building her a 10-seater dining table in time for Christmas. We think he did really well!