It’s the most wonderful time of the year—the time when holiday cleaning is on your already loooong holiday to-do list. However, with guests coming and the holidays fast approaching, this is a holiday prep that can’t get moved to the bottom of the list—or take forever to get done!
The merry news is that holiday cleaning doesn’t have to take forever or add to your holiday stress. This list of holiday cleaning tips can get your home ready for the holidays FAST and well, so you and your guests can enjoy a jolly holiday together.
Holiday cleaning tips
- Clean every room top-to-bottom (from the ceiling down). This simple step keeps you from having to clean dust twice!
- Carry a caddy of cleaning supplies. Want to get done with your cleaning faster? This time-saving step cuts down on all those extra trips to get cleaning supplies.
- Use the right cleaners (and cloths). The right cleaning products make holiday cleaning easier. If you’re trying a new cleaner, like a carpet stain remover, test the product on a part of the floor people don’t see (like under a couch or in a closet) before using it to clean carpets. Some floor cleanings can damage flooring and void the floor warranty; check with local floor cleaning pros to find out what cleaners are recommended by the flooring manufacturer. Take the same care when choosing cleaning cloths. Abrasive cloths can damage soft surfaces and wood furniture.
- Don’t clean windows on a sunny day. No matter how much you want to admire your clean windows, don’t! Cleaning a window while sunny dries the cleaner, which tends to cause smudges and smears.
- Bring in the pros when needed. If your list of to-do’s is extremely long, hire professionals to take on some or all of the cleaning tasks. In addition to being a huge time-saver, a cleaning professional can also remove household allergens that make holiday guests wheeze and sneeze.
- Make a cleaning checklist. A holiday cleaning checklist is a great way to organize and break down cleaning tasks so it doesn’t seem overwhelming. For busy households, a holiday cleaning checklist helps track what rooms are cleaned and what cleaning tasks are done. A holiday cleaning checklist also cuts down on deciding what needs to get done next, getting the home cleaner so everyone can enjoy the holidays.
Holiday cleaning
Checklist living room
Dust fans
Clean light fixtures
Launder/clean window treatments
Dust shelves and knick knacks
Clean artwork
Wash windows
Clean lamps
Wipe down/vacuum couches and furniture
Dust end tables and cabinets
Clean TV and entertainment equipment
Dust trim
Clean floors/schedule floor cleaning
Kitchen
Clean light fixtures
Launder/clean window treatments
Dust cabinets and shelving
Clean artwork
Wash windows
Clean stove hood
Wash countertops
Clean stove top
Wipe down appliances
Deep clean sink and faucets
Clean microwave
Dust trim
Clean floors
Dining room
Clean light fixtures
Launder/clean window treatments
Dust shelving and artwork
Wash windows
Dust trim
Clean floors
Bathrooms
Launder towels
Clean light fixtures
Launder/clean window treatments
Wipe down/scrub shower tile and doors
Clean faucets
Wipe down mirror
Dust/clean cabinets
Deep clean floors
Guest room
Launder linens
Dust ceiling fans
Clean light fixtures
Launder/clean window treatments
Dust shelving and knick knacks
Dust furniture
Dust trim
Deep clean flooring
Make bed
Bedroom
Launder linens
Dust ceiling fans
Clean light fixtures
Launder/clean window treatments
Dust shelving and knick knacks
Dust furniture
Dust trim
Deep clean flooring
Make bed
Mudroom/foyer
Clean light fixture
Wash windows
Dust furniture
Dust trim
Clean flooring
