8 Essential Tips for a Thorough Home Cleaning Before the Holidays

The holiday season is just around the corner, and homeowners are starting to decorate their houses. However, when you plan to schedule a general cleaning, it can be hard to determine where to start. In addition, there are times when you can get overwhelmed with all the things you need to organise. At the same time, you need to consider your guests when planning and organising your home.

Meanwhile, there are instances when you think you must add more decorations just to feel the holiday season. However, it’s not always the case. Sometimes, you don’t need much decoration to feel the festivities.

In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how to get started with cleaning your home this holiday season.

1. Plan Ahead

The first step to a successful general cleaning is to plan. You can start by listing all the tools and materials you need when cleaning. Some of the most common things you need to prepare for your general cleaning include a vacuum, broomstick, dustpan, mop, rags, boxes, tapes, and trash bins.

In addition, you should also plan the tasks you need to do, how you’ll arrange each room and the decorations you would like to add to common areas. For instance, if you’re planning to decorate a tree, should you also add some stockings and gifts?

Aside from the interior, you should also arrange the lawn or backyard. Meanwhile, if you’re in a more complicated setting, like dual occupancy homes, you can arrange a schedule with the other tenant to clean the exterior of the house or hire a cleaning team. 

2. Declutter First

Cleaning can be a lot easier if fewer things are going on in the area. This is why you should declutter first. Get three boxes, and label them with keep, donate, and throw out. After that, go to the area that you’re planning to clean based on your schedule, and decide on each item whether you should keep, donate, or throw them out.

When cleaning, it’s advisable to arrange the areas with high traffic first, including the kitchen, living room, and entryway.

3. Spend Time Cleaning the Kitchen

As mentioned, one of the high-traffic areas in every house is the kitchen. At the same time, it’ll be busier since it’s the holiday season, so you need to cook and prepare food.

When it comes to cleaning the kitchen, you can start by removing all the expired items in the pantry, and organise the remaining ones. After that, clean the appliances, such as the stove, oven, and refrigerator. Usually, it’s not recommended to use harsh chemicals when cleaning appliances, since they may damage the material and cause a fire. Instead, you can just dilute vinegar to water, and use it as a cleaning agent.

4. Freshen Up Living Spaces

After eating, guests usually hang out in the living room, which is another busy area in houses. After decluttering, the next thing you should do is clean the surroundings and freshen up items that already look old and dingy.

In addition, as mentioned, you can add more decorative stuff in the living room, such as the Christmas tree, stockings, gifts, and garlands. You can also add holiday-themed throw pillows and music to unify all the elements.

5. Prepare Guest Areas

If some of your guests are staying overnight, they should feel welcome. To create such a vibe, you should prepare a room for them with fresh sheets and blankets. In addition, you can also provide extra towels, shampoo, and toiletries in the bathroom.

Aside from that, they should have a space where they can put all their belongings. So, if you have a spare cabinet, you can have them use it for a while.

6. Don’t Forget the Details

The details do matter when it comes to cleaning and organising your home. For instance, even if you’re done cleaning the area, you can still miss wiping the windows. If they seem too dirty, it’ll look as if you didn’t clean them after all.

Aside from the cleaning part, you should also consider the odour, decoration, and even the fixtures. If you think the faucet or doorknob is already faded, maybe it’s time to change them.

7. Maintain the Cleanliness

Cleaning the entire house is just a waste of resources if you’re not going to maintain it. Once you’re done with the general cleaning, make sure to keep things neat. You don’t need to clean every day. Just make sure to avoid disarranging things and clutter.

In addition, you can have cleaning supplies that are within reach, so that you can clean spills and dust right away.

8. Ask for Help

Conducting a general cleaning alone is not ideal. Instead, ask your family members for help for a more efficient cleaning schedule. At the same time, it can be a great bonding experience, especially if you’re busy most of the time.

Besides, during this time of the year, companies and schools are offering more breaks, so that people can spend more time with their loved ones.

Final Thoughts

A clean and well-organised home is a great start to enjoy the holiday season. By incorporating these tips when cleaning your home, you can successfully achieve your goals, and enjoy the festive season.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aliana Baraquio writes for Worthington Homes, the new Home Builder in Sydney NSW who makes major life milestones happen and stays with you through thick and thin. You can also find her trying out new recipes for barbeque and other grilled meals in her free time.