The holiday season is here! Think about the last two months of the year packed with the biggest and most festive occasions, from Thanksgiving to Hanukkah, then Christmas and New Year. Your calendar will be about squeezing in last-minute gift shopping and either hosting or attending holiday get-togethers with friends and family in your already hectic schedule. Sometimes, the excitement and anticipation of the holidays can be overshadowed by the stress and pressure of preparing your home, particularly if you’re expecting guests to visit or stay with you for a couple of days to celebrate. As a professional home cleaning company, we’ve seen it all.
Our Ultimate Holiday Cleaning Guide is your one-stop resource for easily navigating this season. It covers everything you need — from inspiring benefits, cleaning hacks and tips, and seasonal cleaning checklists to links to detailed home cleaning blogs for a deeper dive.
Why Holiday Cleaning Is Essential
As cliche as it sounds, preparation is the key to achieving a stress-free holiday season. It’s a proactive and holistic approach that also effectively lets you:
- Become more inspired to decorate your home without the dust and the mess in the background.
- Create a warm and welcoming space and leave a lasting positive impression on your guests.
- Minimize last-minute panic cleanups when unannounced visitors ring your doorbell.
- Reduce the likelihood of getting sick since the holidays are also during cold and flu season.
- Transition back into your daily life and routine as effortlessly as possible with a post-holiday cleaning plan in motion.
Decluttering Before Decorating for the Holidays
Home decluttering can be daunting, especially in the holiday season amidst the chaos of shopping, decorating, and hosting. While many opt to tidy up beforehand, waiting until the festivities are over can be a strategic choice to avoid the added stress and cramming too many tasks in such a short amount of time. The holidays also bring an influx of gifts, decorations, and supplies, making it harder to identify what truly needs to be kept or discarded. In addition, decluttering your home while you’re hosting parties or having relatives stay over during the holiday break can also be inconvenient for you and your guests.
Post-holiday decluttering provides an opportunity to start fresh in the new year, making it easier to organize your space at your own pace. By postponing major decluttering efforts, you allow yourself to enjoy the season with your friends and family without worrying about multitasking or whether you’ll get everything done on time. Once the festivities wind down, you’ll have more time and headspace and gain more clarity to assess which of your stuff is still worth keeping or no longer serves you.
Christmas Cleaning Checklist
Create a holiday cleaning checklist with all the chores and deadlines for each one. Break the work into manageable sections and schedule tasks over several days or weeks to avoid burnout. These include:
- Clean from top to bottom — meaning ceiling and high shelves first before the floors.
- Collect clutter and other unnecessary items that shouldn’t be in the living room or entryway.
- Strip the couch covers and cushion covers. Throw everything machine-washable in the laundry.
- Vacuum floors and pay close attention to frequently forgotten areas, including baseboards, corner detailing, and hard-to-reach spots behind or under the furniture.
- Use a clean microfiber cloth when wiping shelves, staircase hand rails and spindles, and other surfaces. It effectively picks up dust instead of setting it airborne, like a feather duster.
- Wipe and sanitize frequently touched surfaces like light switches and door handles.
- Wash your glass window panes and window sills.
- Sweep and mop the entryway and hallway floors.
- Decorate. To set the mood for the holidays, add a festive doormat or wreath to your front door. Set up your tree and wrap your staircase and window sills with Christmas garlands.
Remember to also take into account post-holiday cleaning tasks. If you’re hosting, set your cleaning schedule to finish at least a day before guests arrive to allow for last-minute touch-ups.
Kitchen Deep Cleaning: A Holiday Survival Guide
- Clear countertops, tables, and other available kitchen surfaces to create more usable prepping and cooking space.
- Declutter your pantry. Take inventory of items you have in stock or need to buy to prepare your dishes.
- Clear and deep clean your fridge to ensure ample storage space for holiday leftovers.
- Clean your kitchen appliances, which will be hard at work during the holidays. These include your microwave, oven, and dishwasher.
- Clean and check your sink drain for clogs to prevent mishaps at the height of holiday meal preparation.
Prepare the Guest Room for the Holidays
Clean your guest room whether you have loved ones who are planning to stay over or not. You’ll never know. What if one of your holiday dinners ends up pretty late, and one of your guests misses the train and decides to crash at your place? Cleaning your bedroom just in case is better than having to stress clean last minute. Here are some helpful tips for cleaning and setting up the guest room for the holiday season.
- Dust and sanitize all visible surfaces, including nightstands and lamps.
- Have fresh linens, blankets, and towels available at all times.
- Provide a space for guests to store their belongings. You can improvise with large woven baskets or a clothing rack if no closet space is available.
- If your guest room has an en suite bathroom, remember to deep clean this area as well.
- Refresh toiletries, first aid kit, and bedroom slippers within their reach.
- Add personal touches like scented candles or holiday-themed decor.
Post-Holiday Cleanup Tips
The cleanup continues after the celebrations. To make post-holiday cleaning easier:
- Gather everything you need, including cleaning supplies and storage containers.
- Vacuum glitter and pine needles from floors and carpets.
- Deep clean the main areas, such as the kitchen, living room, and bathroom.
- Take down decorations systematically and store them in labeled bins.
Be Strategic and Realistic
Think about your experiences in the previous years. Consider which factors made them stressful and which areas of your home you can improve to enhance this year’s holiday experience for everyone, especially for you. For example, were the kids upset last year because you didn’t put up the tree and the lights until the very last minute because you were swamped with work? Or was the house a complete mess for a long time because you felt too exhausted to clean after hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas parties back-to-back?
If you answered yes to one or both, don’t feel bad. That’s ok. You may be putting too much pressure on yourself by thinking you can do everything alone. Make it a different story this year. Here’s how:
Involve the Family in Home Cleaning
Cleaning doesn’t have to fall on your shoulders alone. Don’t hesitate to ask for help from friends or family, including your kids, by assigning age-appropriate tasks. Turn on holiday music to make it more enjoyable!
Book Professional Cleaners to Save Your Sanity
Don’t think twice to call in the expertise of a professional cleaning company. The holidays are busy enough without the added stress of cleaning your home. Booking professional cleaners can be a lifesaver this season. It will save you time and energy and allow you to be fully present in the moment, celebrating with the people you love.
Ready to Make Your Home Holiday-Ready?
Trust us. There’s a less stressful way to prepare your place for the holidays. Let our top-rated cleaning professionals take care of your holiday cleaning. At FreshSpace, we only work with expert and local career cleaners who have successfully passed our strict hiring and background check process, assuring you of the highest quality of service and peace of mind.
