September. October. November. December.

The “BER” months are officially here — and with them comes one of the busiest times of the year for our homes.

Halloween parties. Football watch parties. Thanksgiving dinner. Holiday get-togethers. Overnight guests. Family dropping by. And somewhere in between all of that, you are supposed to actually enjoy the season.

October is the perfect time to get ahead of it.

Start Before the Holiday Rush

Waiting until the week before Thanksgiving to tackle months of accumulated dust, clutter and grime can turn holiday preparation into a marathon.

Instead, think of October as your home reset month.

A thorough cleaning now gives you a fresh starting point before the busiest weeks of the year arrive. Pay special attention to the spaces guests are most likely to see — kitchens, bathrooms, living areas, dining rooms and entryways.

And do not forget the places that are easy to overlook, like baseboards, ceiling fans, light fixtures and those corners that somehow collect dust no matter what you do.

Give Your Kitchen Some Extra Attention

During the “BER” months, the kitchen tends to become command central.

Before the serious holiday cooking begins, clear countertops, wipe down cabinets and appliances, clean the microwave and give the floors a thorough cleaning.

This is also a good time to clean out the refrigerator. Toss expired items, wipe down shelves and make room for party trays, holiday ingredients and — eventually — all those Thanksgiving leftovers.

Get Guest Bathrooms Guest-Ready

Nothing makes you notice your bathroom quite like knowing guests are about to use it.

October is a great time for a deeper clean. Pay attention to shower doors, grout, fixtures, mirrors, baseboards and the areas around the toilet and vanity.

Once the room is thoroughly cleaned, keeping it company-ready becomes much easier. Fresh towels and a stocked supply of soap and toilet paper can handle the rest.

Think About Overnight Guests Now

If friends or family will be staying with you during Thanksgiving or the holidays, do not wait until the day before they arrive to open the guest-room door.

Wash bedding, dust furniture, vacuum under the bed and clear out anything that has migrated into the room during the year.

Getting the space ready early means one less thing on your holiday to-do list.

Make Your Entryway Feel Welcoming

Your front door and entryway set the tone before guests ever make it to the kitchen.

Sweep the porch, shake out or replace the doormat, wipe down the front door and clean the floors just inside the entrance.

Then bring on the pumpkins, wreaths and seasonal decorations.

It is always more fun to decorate a clean space.

Clean First. Decorate Second.

Speaking of decorating, there is a practical reason to clean before pulling out the fall and holiday décor.

Decorations add more surfaces — and more obstacles — to clean around.

Taking care of the deeper cleaning first means you can decorate once and enjoy it rather than constantly moving pumpkins, candles, garlands and decorations out of the way.

Give Yourself More Time to Enjoy the Season

The “BER” months go quickly. Before you know it, Halloween becomes Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving becomes December, and your calendar is packed.

Getting your home clean and ready now can make everything that comes next feel a little easier.

And if you would rather spend your October enjoying cooler weather, football, pumpkin everything and time with family and friends, You’ve Got Maids can help.

Schedule your cleaning now and head into hosting season with a home that is ready for whatever — and whoever — the “BER” months bring.