Many people like (or maybe the more appropriate term is “feel the need”) to deep clean their home before Christmas, especially if they have guests staying. Currently there are 17 weeks to go until Christmas, so now is a good time to start adding weekly deep cleaning jobs to your regular cleaning routine. The weeks before Christmas get very busy with shopping, wrapping, cooking, school events and festive get togethers so aim to finish the deep clean before at least December if you can. This will keep things less stressful for you.
Take a look at our handy guide “How to Deep Clean Your Home Before Christmas” to get started:
Are you ready to deep clean?
Before you start to deep clean your home you need to be up to date with the daily cleaning tasks. If you’re not I suggest you follow another plan, such as The Organised Mum Method (TOMM)’s 1 Week Boot Camp to get your home back in order. Just doing this in your home will make a huge difference, so don’t worry if you don’t manage to get to the deep clean. Do the best you can do for your home.
If you are ready to deep clean your home- then read on!
1. Deep Clean the Living Room
Begin with the living room as it’s where you spend a lot of time and where visitors will be over Christmas. Start from the top of the room and work your way down:
- Dust or vac ceilings, trims and wall corners. Wipe where needed.
- Dust and clean ceiling lights and fans.
- Dust and wipe the top of tall furniture, such as tall bookcases and storage units.
- Dust and wipe all picture frames, mirrors and wall hangings.
- Dust all ornaments and wipe all plant leaves if needed.
- Dust and wipe all lower level furniture- desks, mantelpiece, coffee tables etc.
- Dust lamps.
- Dust electronics.
- Disinfect high touch areas such as buttons and remote controls.
- Clean windows and window sills.
- Take cushions off and deep vac sofa. If possible wet vac or wash sofa.
- Clean blinds or wash net curtain and curtains.
- Wash all cushion covers.
- Dust and wipe all skirting boards.
- Clean doors and door frames.
- Vacuum carpets or sweep floors, moving all heavy furniture to clean behind and under them.
- Carpet shampoo all carpets or mop the floors.
- Wash rugs or vac and wet vac them.
- Refill all reed diffusers.
2. Deep Clean the Kitchen
It’s important to declutter anddeep clean the kitchen before Christmas. This will free up surface area and make it a lot easier to make your Christmas bakes and banquets.
- Dust or vac ceilings, trims and wall corners. Wipe where needed.
- Dust and clean ceiling lights and fans.
- Dust and wipe the top of tall kitchen units, appliances and shelves.
- Wipe walls and splashbacks.
- Wipe any picture frames or mirrors.
- Wash all display items on shelves.
- Clean windows and window sill.
- Clean blinds or wash curtains.
- Deep clean the oven (this is a job you can outsource to professionals if you wish).
- Clean the hob.
- Clean the cooker hood, vent and change filter if needed (you will need kitchen extraction cleaning if you also use your kitchen for commercial purposes, such as a home baking business).
- Deep clean the microwave.
- Deep clean the dishwasher (if you have one) and sink and draining area.
- Deep clean the washing machine and dryer if they’re in the kitchen (if not do the laundry/utility room during a different day).
- Declutter and clean all the tableware and pot cupboards and the cutlery draw. Lay new draw liners if used.
- Clean all surfaces and cupboard doors.
- Declutter and clean all the food storage/pantry cupboards.
- Clean and organise the fridge and freezer. Defrost the freezer if needed.
- Wipe clean all small appliances. Empty the crumbs from toaster. Disinfect high-touch areas, such as the kettle handle.
- Descale the kettle.
- Clean and disinfect the rubbish bin, recycling bins and indoor food and compost bins.
- Clean and disinfect light switches and door knobs.
- Wipe skirting boards and plinths.
- Dust and mop floors.
- Wash door mats and rugs.
3. Deep Clean the Bathroom
During a regular bathroom clean we tend to focus on the high use areas: the sink, bath/shower, the toilet and the bathroom floor. During a bathroom deep clean we’ll look at the whole of the room:
- Dust and wipe ceilings, trims and wall corners.
- Dust and clean ceiling lights.
- Dust and wipe the top of tall furniture, such as wall mounted storage cupboards, shelves and storage units.
- Clean all tiles.
- Dust and wipe towel rail/radiator.
- Clean window and window sills.
- Clean air vents.
- Clean mirror and picture frames.
- Deep clean shower head and shower door or curtain.
- Clean seals.
- Scrub the bathtop and sink, deep clean the taps and clean to a shine.
- declutter toiletries. Clean and organise all bathroom storage- shelves and cupboards.
- Deep clean toilet.
- Deep clean sink.
- Deep clean behind sink and behind toilet.
- Disinfect toothbrush holders.
- Clean and refill soap dispenser.
- Clean all surfaces
- Clean any lower shelves and skirting boards.
- Wash and disinfect bathroom bin.
- Sweep floor and mop.
- Wash all bathroom mats.
- Wash towel and hang new hand towel.
4. Deep Clean the Bedrooms
If you’re having guests to stay your priority may be getting the guest room ready. Otherwise it’s always a good idea to deep clean your bedroom at this time of year.
- Dust or vac ceilings, trims and wall corners. Wipe where needed.
- Dust and clean ceiling lights and fans.
- Dust and wipe the top of tall furniture, such as wardrobes and storage units.
- Dust and wipe all picture frames, mirrors and wall hangings.
- Clean windows and window sills.
- Clean blinds or wash net curtains and curtains.
- Dust all ornaments and wipe all plant leaves if needed.
- Dust and wipe all lower level furniture- chest of drawers, bedside tables and dressing tables etc.
- Wash bedding.
- Vacuum mattress.
- Vacuum and clean headboard.
- Move bed and vacuum and clean behind and under bed.
- Vacuum and clean behind and under all moveable furniture.
- Declutter, clean and organise drawers.
- Declutter, clean and organise wardrobe.
- Declutter, clean and organise dressing table.
- Empty and clean bedroom bin.
- Dust and wipe skirting boards.
- Vaccuum and wet vac or mop bedroom floor.
- Wash or wet vac rugs.
5. Deep Clean the Playroom
The number of rooms you need to deep clean depends on your home and lifestyle. The more bedrooms and bathrooms you have, the more you have to deep clean. You may also have a playroom, office, home gym or another room that needs to be cleaned. If you have a Playroom, its ideal to deepclean it before Christmas. This process helps you to see what your children have and need. It will also make it easier to put away all their new toys after Christmas!
- Dust or vac ceilings, trims and wall corners. Wipe where needed.
- Dust and clean ceiling lights and fans.
- Dust and wipe the top of tall furniture, such as shelves and storage units.
- Dust and wipe all picture frames, mirrors and wall hangings.
- Clean windows and window sills.
- Clean blinds or wash net curtains and curtains.
- Dust all ornaments and wipe all plant leaves if needed.
- Dust and wipe all lower level furniture- toy storage unit, desk and table etc.
- Declutter and organise toys.
- Clean and reorganise shelves.
- Clean and reorganise cupboards.
- Wipe down cupboards.
- Clean or wipe toys where possible.
- Wash or damp sponge and air fancy dress costumes.
- Wash any cushion covers or throws.
- If you have a sofa deep vacuum and wet vac if possible.
- Wipe walls and skirting boards.
- Wipe light switches.
- Move furniture and dust, clean and vacuum behind and under.
- Vacuum and carpet shampoo or mop floor.
- Wash rug.
Deep cleaning your home does take time. If you are on top of your regular cleaning you could just pick a few deep cleaning tasks each week to keep up with it all year round. Otherwise dedicate time to deep clean a different room each week- you will get there eventually!
