Holiday Hosts Worry More About Clean Homes Than Christmas Dinner
If you’re hosting Christmas this year, chances are you’ve already felt the pressure. But here’s the twist: it’s not the turkey or the presents causing the most stress—it’s the house.
A new survey of 2,000 adults found that the top worry for holiday hosts is guests judging how clean their home is. That beats concerns about how the meal tastes or whether everyone likes their gifts.
How much time are we spending cleaning?
On average, people spend more than two hours tidying up on Christmas Day before guests arrive. That’s longer than the hour and a half most spend eating dinner. For 15% of hosts, making the house spotless is the hardest part of the holidays.
Who’s the toughest critic?
Hosts worry about comments from any guest, but the biggest stress comes from mom (25%) and mother-in-law (22%). No surprise there!
Last-minute cleaning hacks
When the “we’re on our way” text hits, hosts squeeze in a 14-minute “festive spruce.” Popular tricks include:
- Focusing only on visible surfaces (28%)
- Hiding clutter in cabinets (25%)
- Closing doors to messy rooms (18%)
Some even avoid serving foods that stain, like cranberry sauce and gravy. And yes, a few admit to lighting a scented candle and hoping for the best.
So if you’re stressing about the state of your home this Christmas, you’re not alone. The good news? Most guests are probably too busy enjoying the holiday to notice that dust bunny in the corner.
