Are you ready for the holidays? They'll be here before you know it, and they just might bring you a house full of guests. Undoubtedly you'll dash around cleaning the house and shopping for extra food before company arrives, but don't overlook these basic maintenance tasks. Checking them off your to-do list ahead of time will add to your guests' comfort and allow you to relax a bit more, knowing you won't need to tackle them later.

• Air Quality: Changing your furnace filter and having your ducts cleaned will improve the quality of the air in your home, helping everyone to breathe – and probably sleep – better. If it's been a few years since you've had this done, and especially if you have pets, this is worth the effort.

• Sinks & Showers: Repair or replace any old, leaky faucets. If you have hard water or mineral build-ups, make sure to soak the shower heads and faucet aerator screens in a cleaning solution like vinegar or CLR to restore the flow. This is also a good idea for your kitchen sprayer.

• Knobs & Handles: With more people in the house, your doorknobs and handles will get extra use, so check all your closets, cabinets, desks and doors to make sure they're on tight and turning properly.

• Closet Space: Closets are so easily overlooked. If you want to keep your house feeling organized and uncluttered during the visit, consider providing your guests with some closet space. Of course, this means you'll need to move your items elsewhere temporarily, but a good cleaning is likely overdue anyway, and will help with the overall air quality (see above).

• Kitchen Appliances: It's likely your guests will be spending time in the kitchen, possibly doing some of the cooking or baking. Clean out your refrigerator, wiping all the shelves and tossing any suspect or out-of-date items. Organize the contents to leave room for casserole dishes. Clean the inside of your oven and your microwave, and de-grease the outer surfaces, including handles and knobs.

None of these tasks are particularly hard, but if left undone for too long they can really become a bother. Having them out of the way before anyone arrives will not only give you the satisfaction of being ahead of the curve, but will also save you embarrassment if any of your guests have an uncomfortably scrutinizing nature. Your peace of mind is worth the effort.