Every year the holidays seem to sneak up out of nowhere. You would think we would expect them by now, but time flies when you are having fun, and now you have to come up with a game plan. Whether you’re going out for parties or hosting your own, having a clean house will help alleviate the stress of the season and make your life just a little bit easier. But what is the right cleaning frequency during the holidays?
Some things around the home can go months without being picked up and scrubbed. Other features need constant attention to maintain their luster.
Daily
Simple daily routines can keep a home fairly clean during the hustle and bustle of the season. Keeping kitchen countertops clear of dirty dishes and food will keep multi-legged home squatters from invading. Fewer bugs mean less to worry about around your home. Keep an eye on the contents of your refrigerator and throw out any old and expired food.
Delegate all of your dirty laundry to the washroom, keeping it off of the bathroom and bedroom floors. This will help keep your home clutter free and make it easier stay on top of keeping clothes clean. Try keeping dirty clothes in sorted piles before you do your laundry.
Clean out your kitchen sink after each use. Soap scum and toothpaste can quickly build up and leave it a grimy mess. Wiping down your shower will keep any soap and water stains off the walls and keep it cleaner for longer.
Making your bed every day will keep the room looking and feeling inviting. This is especially important if you aren’t expecting guests, but they show up anyway. No more rushing to close the bedroom door to hide a disheveled mattress.
Weekly or Bi-weekly
Less frequent cleaning can be done for other fixtures in your home to keep up their appearance during the holidays. Floors can be swept, mopped, or vacuumed once a week or every other week depending on the flow of guests in your home. A good vacuum will keep dust and debris out of the carpet which can also extend the life of your floors.
Nobody likes to do it, but the toilet does need to be cleaned as often as your floors. Grab your gloves and cleaner, it doesn’t take too long and when done frequently enough can be wiped clean in a jiffy. If you have hard water, it may be a good time to do a quick scrub of the tub too.
Your stove and oven may need some attention as well. If you are cooking for the holidays, it’s always nice to have a clean surface to make the magic happen. Clean the stove top and clean out the oven. If your oven has a self-cleaning option, be sure to read the instructions first, and do it on a good day when you can open the windows and doors to keep the fresh air flowing.
Monthly
Probably often forgotten are the ceiling fans. Once a month it’s a good idea to wipe down the blades and clean the lights (or just keep them spinning so no one notices).
Nobody wants dust flying into their food and drinks when you turn on the ceiling fans. Even if it’s cold outside, once a dozen people get in the room, things can start to warm up. Once your fans are dusted, go ahead and dust your shelves too.
If you have tile anywhere in your home, now would be a good time to go through and clean it. The bathroom is especially important. Cleaning there will keep mold and mildew from taking hold, keeping your home smelling fresh and clean.
Seasonally
Fireplace cleaning is especially important. Be sure to clean it out regularly, and once a year you need to get the chimney swept. Most people do this in the spring once the holidays are done, and it starts to get warmer outside.
If you haven’t done it this year, or if you don’t remember the last time you thoroughly cleaned your chimney, you may want to give your local chimney sweep a call.
If the holidays are a little busy for you, or all of this seems too daunting, take a look at what 2 Green Chicks can do for you. Why stress about chores when you could be full of holiday cheer.
Before you call a cleaning service, download our guide on questions to ask before you hire!
