As the holiday season approaches, it’s time for the traditional holiday cleaning. You might not have the entire day to clean every corner of your home. If you need to make your life more practical, you can complete this long-lasting cleaning process more easily by following the steps below.
1. Tidying Up is Half the Work
Organizing and classifying items in a room ensures its orderliness. A well-organized room not only looks clean but is also easier to clean. By correctly classifying and placing every item in your home, you can break down the cleaning process into simple parts. To make the cleaning day more practical, you can tidy up your home in general the day before you start cleaning.
2. Determine a Priority Order for Home Cleaning
After establishing order in your home, you should separate the rooms and determine a priority order. When creating this priority order, you can start by cleaning the kitchen first, followed by living areas, and finally, the bathroom and lavatories.
3. The Importance of Sequence in Sweeping, Dusting, and Mopping
We recommend sweeping first, then dusting, and finally, mopping or wiping the floors. This way, you avoid raising dust and re-soiling the areas you’ve cleaned. You should also consider other details when it comes to holiday cleaning.
4. Start by Removing Carpets and Rugs
When performing a thorough cleaning, you should clean beneath the carpets and rugs in your room. Remove all rugs and carpets at the beginning of the cleaning and, if suitable, wash them or deliver them to a carpet cleaning company.
5. Identify Washable Textiles and Start with Them
At the beginning of the cleaning process, you can wash textile items such as sofa covers, curtains, bed linens, lace, or tablecloths. By sorting and washing machine-washable items according to color, you can maintain the fresh scent of cleanliness in the items are returned to their places after cleaning.
6. How Should Window and Mirror Cleaning Be Done?
In your home, start with cleaning window frames and glass surfaces from the outside in. When cleaning surfaces like glass and mirrors that can leave watermarks, wipe with a damp cloth after using a chemical cleaner, and then dry with a dry cloth. Using different cloths for each task will make the process more practical.
7. How Should Furniture and Upholstery Be Cleaned?
After beginning the sweeping process in the rooms, you can clean the furniture in your living space. First, remove the cushions and then sweep the edges and corners. Ensure that you remove all dust and debris from the gaps between the cushions. If your vacuum cleaner doesn’t have a water-cleaning feature, you can wipe your upholstery with a dust cloth.
8. How to Perform Detailed Cleaning in the Kitchen?
You can clean residue on appliances such as ovens, microwaves, water heaters, and coffee makers using a natural cleaner made of vinegar and water. Before starting the cleaning, apply the vinegar solution to these surfaces and let them soften.
9. How to Clean Sinks, Basins, and Faucets?
In rooms with sinks, basins, and faucets like the bathroom and kitchen, you can use limescale remover solutions for easy cleaning. You can also use drain opener products for clogged drains. Using limescale removers or water stain-resistant chemicals can make your sinks, basins, and faucets shine as they should.
Start Early: The 7-Day Holiday Cleaning Plan
Starting early is the key to thorough and stress-free holiday cleaning. By following the 7-Day Holiday Cleaning Plan, anyone can get their home guest-ready by dividing tasks into manageable daily assignments. This approach eliminates day-of holiday cleaning chaos and provides a feeling of accomplishment each day leading up to the event. With a little bit of planning and effort, anyone can achieve a tidier home well before guests arrive. [1][2]
Day 1: Assessing Your Space and Assigning Tasks
On the first day of holiday cleaning, it’s important to assess the space and assign tasks. This includes walking through the home with a visitor’s eye, taking note of imperfections and making a plan to turn cleaning into a group effort. By gathering family members and assigning chores, the holiday cleaning process will become much easier and manageable. Remember, many hands make light work! So, get your loved ones involved and make it a fun bonding experience. [3][4]
Day 2: Focus on Easily Viewable Areas
On Day 2 of the holiday cleaning plan, it’s time to focus on easily viewable areas in the house. This includes washing windows and vacuuming window screens, damp-mopping baseboards, laundering and pressing curtains and bedspreads if needed. These tasks will make a big difference in how clean and tidy the house appears to guests. It’s important to tackle these areas early on to avoid last-minute stress and chaos. By breaking up the cleaning tasks into manageable segments, the house will be ready well before the guests arrive. [5][6]
Day 3: Clean Bathrooms and Bedrooms
On day three of the 7-day holiday cleaning plan, it’s important to focus on cleaning up the bathrooms and bedrooms. A deep clean of the bathrooms, including the toilets, sinks, and shower area, should be done. Additionally, make sure to declutter and organize any bedrooms that guests may stay in. This will create a welcoming and comfortable environment for your guests and make their stay more enjoyable. Remember, a clean and organized home is a happy home. [7][8]
Day 4: Prepare the Entryway for Guests
On day four of the seven-day holiday cleaning plan, prepare the entryway for guests. Straighten the coat closet to make room for guests’ coats and add extra hangers if necessary. Wash or spot-clean area rugs to make sure they look clean and fresh. These small tasks will give guests a warm and inviting welcome as they enter your home. A little bit of extra effort goes a long way in creating a festive and hospitable atmosphere for holiday get-togethers. [9]
Day 5: Deep Clean the Kitchen
Day 5 focuses on deep cleaning the kitchen. This is the perfect time to clean out the refrigerator, making more room for party foods and wiping down all large and small appliances. Don’t forget to tackle the range or stove top surfaces and grates. Dusting the top of the refrigerator will make it shine. With all the cleaning done, it’s the perfect time to get cooking. [11][12]
Inside the House: Cleaning Checklist
The Inside the House Cleaning Checklist is a lifesaver for preparing your home for holiday guests. It includes tips like wiping down walls to eliminate scuffs and marks, deep-cleaning floors and baseboards, and spot-cleaning carpets. Don’t forget to dust houseplants and deodorize and clean out the fridge! These essential tasks will leave your home sparkling clean and ready to impress your visitors. [13][14]
Entryway Cleaning Tips
The entryway is the first place guests see when they enter your home during the holidays. To ensure a clean and welcoming entrance, it’s important to establish a regular cleaning routine. Ahmad Jamal, a cleaning expert at CleanersAdvisor, suggests keeping regularly used cleaning tools like a mop or broom, multi-purpose cleaner, microfiber cloth, and vacuum in the closet. Start cleaning from top to bottom – dust the shelves and light fittings, clean the inside of the door and its handles, and consider spot-cleaning or washing area rugs to create a fresh and inviting space. [15][16]
Kitchen Cleaning Tips: Deep Cleaning and Deodorizing
For a thorough holiday cleaning, the kitchen requires extra attention since it’s a high-traffic area and the heart of many festive meals. Deep cleaning and deodorizing will keep it shining and smelling fresh. Scrubbing the oven, fridge, and freezer with a homemade solution of baking soda, white vinegar, and water is a great alternative to auto-clean. Lemon ice cubes fight garbage disposal odors, while a powder washing detergent soak brings back the shine to oven racks. Wiping down all surfaces and cleaning out old food in the fridge will ensure it’s ready for holiday leftovers
Conclusion
To perform holiday cleaning practically and effectively, you can follow these steps. During this process, it’s essential to maintain order, determine a priority order, and use proper cleaning techniques. Also, ensure that the cleaning products and materials you use are suitable and effective. By doing so, you can complete your holiday cleaning smoothly and quickly, creating a spotless and fresh environment in your home.
