Ok, it may only be the first day of fall, but we are already thinking about holiday planning. Can you blame us, we are a house cleaning company! If you already have visions of a full table set with a bountiful Thanksgiving meal or family baking Christmas cookies in your kitchen, then this guide is for you.
The holiday season brings a lot of joy and excitement. However, it can also bring a lot of stress and burn-out as your to-do list continues to grow. Between cooking, shopping, and planning, cleaning can feel overwhelming. But, we’ve got you with a plan to create a welcoming, guest-ready home without the last minute rush to clean.
Step 1: Start with the Entryway
First impressions count, right? As you welcome family and friends into your home, the entryway sets the tone for the rest of your home and ushers in the holiday feeling for all of your guests.
Cleaning:
- Clear clutter like shoes, bags, and jackets.
- Take down any decor from the summer.
- Sweep and mop floors, shake out rugs, and wipe down the front door.
- Dust and polish foyer tables, wall art, and other items
Start Decorating!
- Add a small touch of holiday décor to make it warm and inviting.
- Bring in holiday scents with a candle, diffuser, or plug-in.
- For fall, consider pumpkins, vases of fall florals, and exchanging photos in frames with holiday family portraits.
- For Christmas, adding Christmas trees, reindeer, garland, and twinkle lights will really help to bring warmth and festive touches to your entryway.
Quick tip: Keep a basket near the door for shoes, a coat rack for guests’ jackets and bags, and a tray on the table for guests’ small items.
Step 2: Tidy Up the Kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of holiday gatherings. Naturally, family and guests congregate in the kitchen as you prepare final touches on your festive food. From the large Thanksgiving meal preparations to family cookie decorating, the kitchen is a central focus for the holiday season. Be ready for the extra activity in this room with some quick prep.
Cleaning:
- Wipe down cabinets and polish appliances.
- Move everything off of your counters and give them a good scrub.
- Clean out your fridge and pantry to make room for holiday food.
- Sweep between appliances and mop thoroughly, cleaning baseboards and spots and splatters on the walls.
- Take serving dishes and hostware out of storage, clean and polish them so they are ready when you need them.
- Wash holiday linens like napkins, table runners and covers.
Decorating:
- Using festive ribbon and a removable hook, add holiday wreaths to your top cabinet doors.
- Place garland with sparkle lights along the top of your cabinets or over windows.
- Put out holiday hand towels, table runners, and place mats to dress up your kitchen and dining table.
Quick tip: Stock up on extra dish soap, paper towels, and trash bags.
Step 3: Refresh Bathrooms
Chances are, guests will be using your bathroom. Another key room in your home, your bathrooms get a lot of use and mess can build up quickly. You can continue to bring holiday warmth into your bathroom and keep the celebration going throughout your home. Let’s start with a clean slate!
Cleaning:
- Do a quick declutter, replacing empty soap bottles, putting away bath toys, and clearing the space to let the holiday decor shine and create a serene space for guests.
- Scrub and clean shower, wash and rehang shower curtain.
- Clean sinks, toilets, mirrors, and countertops.
- Polish light fixtures, wall art, and any furniture.
- Add extra toilet paper, tissues, and soap in plain sight.
Decorating:
- Add a small holiday-scented candle and festive hand soap dispenser.
- Exchange regular towels with holiday-themed towels.
Step 4: Focus on Guest Spaces
If you’re hosting overnight visitors, a few extra steps can amp up the warmth of their space and give your guests a memorable experience.
Cleaning:
- Update the bedding with clean Christmas or fall themed sheets, pillowcases, and blankets.
- Clear and dust surfaces like nightstands and dressers.
- Provide extra toiletries in case your guests forget.
Decorating:
- Add a small Christmas tree in the room with themed ornaments.
- Decorations added onto shelves and furniture like garland, Christmas trees, pumpkins, or pinecones can bring all of the holiday excitement into your guest spaces.
- Consider adding a small festive rug by the bed.
Quick tip: Place a small welcome basket with bottled water, snacks, or travel-size toiletries in the room.
Step 5: Living Room Ready
One of the more important spaces of your home, the living room is where your guests will visit, rest, play games, and share in the season’s events. Take extra time to prepare a clean space so your decorations can truly shine.
Cleaning:
- Dust surfaces, vacuum furniture, and fluff pillows.
- Declutter magazines, toys, or random items.
Decorating:
- Setting a large, fully decorated Christmas tree sets the living room as the gathering place.
- Following the theme of the Christmas tree, arrange decor across the room.
- Holiday throw pillows and blankets make the furniture comfortable and festive for visitors.
Quick tip: Keep a basket nearby for last-minute clutter—you can tuck items away in seconds.
Step 6: Don’t Forget the Details
Little touches go a long way.
- Empty trash cans in all rooms.
- Vacuum or sweep, and mop high-traffic areas.
- Add seasonal scents with candles or essential oils.
- Adjust the thermostat so the temperature is comfortable for guests.
Bonus: A Holiday Cleaning Timeline
- One week before: Declutter guest spaces and deep clean bathrooms.
- 2–3 days before: Clean kitchen and living areas, wash bedding.
- Day of: Quick tidy-up, empty trash, light a candle, and relax!
Final Thoughts
Preparing for holiday guests doesn’t have to be stressful when you break it into simple steps. A little planning ahead ensures your home is clean, comfortable, and ready for everyone who walks through the door.
If you’d rather focus on making memories instead of scrubbing floors, let H&R Cleaning take care of the hard work for you. Our professional cleaning services will have your home guest-ready in no time so you can actually enjoy the season.
Book your holiday cleaning today and check one more thing off your list!
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