Start early
Late November or early December is the time for the bigger jobs – oven, fridge, carpets and the guest room. The week before Christmas should be just a regular clean and a tidy. Cleaners and carpet cleaners get very busy in December, so book early if you want help.
A countdown
Here's a timeline that spreads the work:
| When | Jobs |
|---|---|
| Three to four weeks before | Declutter; book any professional cleans; clean the oven |
| Two weeks before | Carpets and upholstery; guest room; wash spare bedding |
| The week before | Clear and clean the fridge before the big shop; clean bathrooms |
| Two or three days before | Regular clean throughout; clean the hallway and entrance |
| Christmas Eve | Quick tidy, empty bins, fresh towels |
Pre-Christmas cleaning timeline
The kitchen
You'll be cooking more than at any other time of year, so start with a clean oven – a heavily soiled oven can smoke and affect the taste of food. See how to clean an oven. Clear the fridge out to make room for the food shop, and declutter worktops so there's space to prepare.
Guest bedrooms and bathrooms
For overnight guests:
- Wash bedding and make up the bed
- Clear a drawer or some hanging space
- Put out fresh towels
- Clean the bathroom, with extra toilet roll and soap
- Check the room is warm and the curtains close properly
Get quotes from local cleaners
Before you put the decorations up
Dust and clean the living room before the tree and decorations go up – it's much harder to clean around them. A vacuum before the tree arrives, and regularly while it's up, keeps pine needles under control.
Guest-ready in an hour
If people are arriving soon and you've had no time, focus on what guests notice:
- Clear the hallway and entrance – coats, shoes and post
- Clean the toilet, sink and mirror in the bathroom guests will use, with fresh towels
- Wipe the kitchen worktops and empty the bins
- Clear the living room surfaces and plump the cushions
- Vacuum the main walkways
- Open the windows for ten minutes to freshen the air
Cooking for a crowd
Before a big cooking day, clear as much fridge space as you can and check it's at 5°C or below. Clean the worktops and keep raw meat separate from ready-to-eat food. Have extra bin bags ready – the amount of packaging over Christmas catches most of us out.
Afterwards, deal with roasting tins while they're still warm (but not hot) – a soak in hot soapy water makes them far easier than leaving them overnight.
After Christmas
The post-Christmas clean-up is real: wrapping paper, crumbs, spilled drinks and pine needles. Recycle what you can – check with your council, as glittery wrapping paper and foil-backed cards often can't be recycled. Deal with drink spills on carpets and sofas promptly by blotting, not rubbing.
A professional clean in early January is a popular way to start the year fresh. Many cleaners are quieter then than in December.
