Your holiday to-do list is endless, but where to start? Cleaning and organizing your home seems like a good bet, and it’s probably not as bad as you think. Begin with the simple stuff and go from there. “An uncluttered home looks cleaner than a cluttered home. So without any cleaning at all, you can make a much better impression on guests if you take some time to grab a laundry basket and pick up all that stuff that belongs elsewhere,” according to Donna Smallin, author of The One-Minute Cleaner. When you’re ready to put on the rubber gloves and get to work, here are some well-tested tips from the experts.

Start cleaning in the most important, or difficult, room in your home, says Dorothy Breininger, President of the Center for Organization and an expert on A&E’s “Hoarders.” Then set the number of minutes you will spend cleaning it. “Prioritizing your room ensures you get the most meaningful rooms done first — so if you run out of time, you’ll still be ok.”