The holidays are a time for lots of gatherings. Which means friends and family are coming to visit. In this post, I’m going to share some holiday cleaning tips that you can use to make sure all of the holiday cleaning is complete in time for holiday parties and gatherings.
It is important to use your time wisely when it comes to holiday cleaning. You don’t want to waste time in areas that no one will see. I’m going to go over where you should focus and what you should clean with these holiday cleaning tips.
Where to start with your holiday cleaning
Declutter first
Decluttering first is going to save you time in the long run with your cleaning. Instead of going from room to room overwhelming yourself with the clutter, focus on only the common areas. Common areas consist of:
- Living room
- Dining room
- Kitchen
- Main bathroom
- Entryway
Don’t worry about your laundry room, garage, and other rooms that guests are not going to see.
Once you’ve gone through your clutter it’s time to start the holiday cleaning.
Create a 7-day holiday cleaning plan
It’s time to create a holiday cleaning plan. By creating a cleaning plan you’ll be able to know what all needs to be cleaned. Follow the holiday cleaning tips below.
I’m going to walk you through a simple 7-day holiday cleaning plan that you can follow. I’ve also created a checklist that you can download below.
Holiday cleaning day 1
The first day is usually one of the biggest days which you’ll see the biggest reward.
Day 1 you’ll want to:
- Wash light fixtures
- Wipe down baseboard
- Wipe down air vents/baseboard heaters
- Wash bedding (for out of town guests or as needed)
When you finish washing your light fixtures make sure that all of the lights work and replace lightbulbs if any are out.
Remove the dust from all of the baseboards. Wash/dust air vents or baseboard heaters. Replace filters if applicable.
Holiday cleaning day 2
Day 2 like day 1 will be a big cleaning day but just think about how amazingly clean your home will be once you’re done!
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Day 2 you’ll want to:
- Dust ceilings and corners (remove cobwebs and dust bunnies)
- Wash windows and mirrors
- Vacuum
screens
- Launder and iron window and shower curtains
Holiday cleaning day 3
Day 3 is focusing on the bathroom(s). Make sure that it’s nice and clean and ready for guests. Go through the medicine cabinet, cupboards, and make sure there are extra towels available for people.
Day 3 you’ll want to:
- Deep cleaning bathroom(s)
- Go through the medicine cabinet (people do snoop!)
- Do any additional decluttering in bedrooms if necessary
Holiday cleaning day 4
Day 4 is focusing on the entryway. Make sure you clear out some room in the coat closet for more coats. If you live in a shoe-free home, have room for the extra shoes.
Day 4 you’ll want to:
- Make room in the coat closet
- Make room for extra shoes
- Clean and dust rugs
in the entryway
- Clear any dust and cobwebs
- Do any additional cleaning to the entryway table (if applicable)
Holiday cleaning day 5
Day 5 is kind of a big day. You’ll want to move your focus to the kitchen. Since big holiday gatherings focus on food, you’ll want to prepare your kitchen for that.
Day 5 you’ll want to:
- Clean the stove top, oven, and filters
- Clean out the fridge, and make room for party food.
- Dust the top of the fridge and cabinets
- Wipe down all appliances, use a polishing microfiber cloth
- Wipe down cabinets doors and drawers
- Take out the garbage, food scraps, and recycle
- Clean the inside of the microwave
Holiday cleaning day 6
Day 6 you’ll finally be able to some of the cleaning that needs to be held off until almost the last minute like sweeping and vacuuming.
Day 6 you’ll want to:
- Sweep
your entryway
- Vacuum and sweep floors
- Clean doorknobs, light switches, and other handles
- Do some last minute decorating
- Dust all surfaces. Don’t forget photo frames, ceiling fans, and other areas that might be forgotten
- Clean all sinks and freshen drains
Holiday cleaning day 7
Today’s the day you’ve been planning for. This is when you’ll want to complete all of the finishing touches.
Day 7 you’ll want to:
- Take out the trash, replace the liners
- Wipe down all tables and counters (bathroom, kitchen, living room)
- Wipe down floors with a damp towel or use a steam mop
- Scrub toilets
- Hang fresh towels in the bathroom and kitchen
- Fluff sofa cushions and pillows (learn how to make your own pillows)
- Air out the house (make sure that your home smells nice and fresh before your guests arrive.)
- Do a quick clean up of the home
By following a 7-day holiday cleaning schedule you’ll have your home ready for an upcoming holiday party. You can download the free holiday cleaning checklist to follow when you’re ready to get your home party-ready.
Jenn
