If you're going to host a party this summer, let our 'Summer Party Checklist' help so that you will actually be able to enjoy the party yourself!

Three weeks ahead:

Choose a theme and invite your friends.

• Decide what type of party you will have - an elegant dinner party or a summer BBQ? If you decide on a theme (Beach Blanket Bingo or Black and White, for example), this is the time to start looking for decorations.
• Send out invitations with all the details (time, location/address, date, theme, etc.)

Plan the menu.

• Include lots of make-ahead dishes so that you are not running around your kitchen minutes before your guests arrive. Organisation really is the key to having a relaxed and enjoyable time.
• If long-time friends insist on bringing something, it's okay to ask them to bring something off the menu.

Two weeks ahead:

Create a music playlist.

• Your playlist should be long enough that it will continue throughout the party. Remember to set the playlist to a volume that won't interfere with conversation. Also, all your guests may not have the same taste in music - include a nice mix.

Make a detailed shopping list and plan your cooking schedule.

• Be sure to include every ingredient including main meal, starters, dessert, and drinks. This is also the time to place your orders with the local butcher, fishmonger, wine merchant. etc.

One week before:

Give your house a good clean.

• Remove any clutter and thoroughly clean your home so that you will only have to maintain it by doing a quick clean.
• If you find you don't have time to clean, contact your local MOLLY MAID to arrange for them to take this off your checklist.

Day before:

Consider a seating plan, decorate, clean some more, and do your shopping.

• This is the time to prepare the meals that can be prepared ahead of time.
• Arrange flowers.
• Do any cleaning touch-ups wherever necessary (if you need help, MOLLY MAID is always available to help).
• Be sure to check that there are clean hand towels and hand soap in the bathrooms.

Day of:

Set the table and finish cooking your meals.

• Ensure the dishwasher is empty and ready for loading!

One hour before:

Get Ready!

• Put on your party clothes, set the appropriate lighting and music, uncork the wine and have a glass!

After a long day of work or once the weekend finally comes, the last thing you feel like doing is cleaning the house - but you know it still needs to get done. If you tend to procrastinate about cleaning your home, MOLLY MAID offers these great ideas that will get you in gear:

1. Invite family or friends over.  This gives you a deadline and puts how you view your home into a new light. It's common to start looking at the kitchen and bathroom from a guest's point-of-view; suddenly all the chores that need doing jump right out at you!
2. Declutter one room.  Once a week for example, clean one room more thoroughly than the others. Get rid of (or donate) anything you don't use anymore.  Gather items that don't belong in that room and put them in their proper place - if they don't have one, then perhaps you don't need them! A room without clutter will give you energy and a feeling of freedom, which may be the motivation you need to clean more rooms!
3. Get help. If you still feel overwhelmed by cleaning chores that are piling up, there's no trick to giving MOLLY MAID a call at 1-855-223-5851 or find your local MOLLY MAID now.

If you're changing furniture around in a carpeted room, you may notice that 'dents' have been left by heavy pieces in the carpet. Here's a simple trick from the cleaning experts at MOLLY MAID to remove these problem spots!

1. Place one ice cube in carpet dent. If there is a longer or larger dent, multiple ice cubes may be required.
2. As the ice cube melts, the carpet should begin to fluff back up and reduce in size.
3. Check the results after the ice cube melts and remove any excess water with a cloth. If there is still a dent, use a fork to gently lift the carpet fibres and give it a fluffy appearance.

Do NOT use this method if your carpets are hand dyed, antique or delicate, such as silk carpets.

NOTE: It's always a good idea to test this method on a small area before you begin. Place an ice cube on top of your carpet in the corner of the room. Once it has melted, check that that the water hasn't damaged the under flooring by lifting the corner of the carpet.

Cleaning out your clothes closet - packing away warm clothing and hanging up spring and summer items - is one of those must-do chores at this time of year. The cleaning experts at MOLLY MAID recommend this simple way to streamline the process. Get three containers (bins or bags) and label them: 'Keep', 'Donate' and 'Toss'.  Then, follow these rules of thumb to help you decide where each piece of clothing belongs:

1. Keep

• Keep all 'favourite' items of clothing that you've recently worn within the last few months.
• Keep items from last spring and summer that are in good shape and that you look forward to wearing.
• If any of the clothes have been hanging in the closet unworn for a long time (they may even still have price tags but have passed the return/exchange date at the store), maybe it's time to reconsider keeping them. Perhaps they should be put into the 'donate' container.

2. Donate

• Donate clothes that you didn't wear last year. 
• If you keep the same clothes in your closet year-round (regardless of the season) then shorten this to a six month rule. If an article of clothing hasn't been worn in six months, it's time to let someone else enjoy it instead.

3.    Toss

• Toss any items that are full of rips, holes or stains.
• Consider re-using some of the tossed pieces of clothing as rags for cleaning. Examine the pile and consider if any items would work cut up as cleaning rags, especially for those outdoor projects that include dirt or grease (think: cleaning the BBQ or lawn mower).

Are you planning a delicious Valentine's Day dinner with your special someone?  Make sure you know how to wrap up the leftovers!  

Storing food properly prevents food contamination and helps to preserve the food quality and taste. The experts at MOLLY MAID recommend these do's and don'ts:

Do:

• Do put the food in an air-tight container. The rule of thumb is to eat leftovers within two days.
• Do let warm leftovers cool down for at least 90 minutes before you package them up and put them into the fridge. If food is still hot when it is placed in the fridge, it can heat the temperature of the fridge and that can increase bacteria.
• Do store meat in a container at the bottom of your fridge so that it can't leak onto other food.
• Do freeze meat and fish before the use-by date.
• When defrosting meat, do keep it in a plastic bag placed in a bowl - in order to prevent leakage.
• Do clean the fridge regularly in order to keep it hygienic and prevent bacteria growth and to maintain its condition.

Don't:

• Don't store food in an opened can because metal from the can may transfer into the actual food. Instead, empty the contents of the can into an air tight container or a bowl, cover it and place in the fridge.
• Don't refreeze meat or seafood once it has been thawed.
• Don't keep food in the freezer indefinitely. Date packages if possible so you always know what's in the freezer (and fridge) and try to plan meals accordingly.
• Don't reheat food more than once. Once defrosted and heated, eat food immediately and only defrost as much as you can eat. The more times you reheat food, the higher the risk of food poisoning.