How-to holiday: A few tips for holiday clean up and hot lines for food emergencies

With the holiday season upon us, your home is set to be fun central for the next few months. But, with merriment comes messes. Whether you've got family, friends or co-workers visiting, your holiday festivities are sure to involve cookie crumbs, spilled glitter and scattered tinsel along with tracked-in snow and slush.

"The holiday season is one of my favorite times of year, but it can definitely wear you out unless you know a few ways to simplify your celebrations," said Stephanie Begley associate marketing manager for Dirt Devil. "This year, I've decided to bake cookies for co-workers and host a holiday gathering, but I have a plan in place to keep my home guest-ready and myself stress-free."

Embrace the holiday season and all the fun it has to offer with these tips for keeping the house in tiptop shape.

* Clear coat clutter: Before you host a holiday party clear out your coat closet to make room for guests. Decide what you actually wear then donate the rest to your local coat drive or charity.

* Quick kitchen clean up: From sprinkles for adorning holiday cookies to diced tomatoes that slip off bruschetta on the way to the oven, keep a hand vac in the kitchen to tackle those unexpected spills that are sure to happen twice as often during the holidays.

* Plan ahead: As you plan for your party or holiday dinner, write down things that your guests can help prepare when they arrive. These might include taking coats, opening wine bottles, keeping nut dishes filled and arranging fruit, vegetable or cheese platters. So when guests ask to help, it's easy to refer them to the list.

* Handy dandy tool kit: Before you begin pre-party dusting and spraying, put all your cleaning supplies into a basket and carry it with you while you clean. Having everything with you will help make you more efficient.

* Pet hair emergency: The guests are about to arrive and suddenly you realize that your pet has picked an inopportune time to hop on the couch. Tidy up with a quick swipe of a lint brush or a specialized vacuum like the Dirt Devil Vision Dual Cyclonic-Pet Vacuum, which electrostatic tools that pull up pet hair up and a carbon filter to help absorb odors from your furry friends.