If there’s one universal truth about the Christmas season, it is that between work, shopping, family, cooking and the general chaos of life, keeping on top of cleaning and tidying can be near-impossible – which is unfortunate given that it is also the time of year most of us welcome more guests through the door than any other.

It is something that Ann Russell , a professional cleaner for more than 20 years, knows all too well. But given that she has spent her career rescuing messy homes, she has her fair share of emergency solutions to make yours look cleaner than it actually is. Here are her go-to tips for when there is that unexpected knock at the door…

Address the hallway

According to Russell, the hallway is the smartest place to begin when time is tight. “It’s the first thing pe

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