Cleaning Tips for Your Holiday Season

Written by Greystar

Edited by Greystar

Lifestyle December 13, 2024

The holiday season is finally here. But before you can cozy up with a cup of cocoa and enjoy quality time with family, there’s a bit of prep work to do. Whether you’re hosting for the holidays or traveling to visit loved ones, seasonal cleaning is a must to ensure you’re ready for the new year. Plus, as one of the busiest seasons of the year, you may not have the time to keep up with regular, weekly cleaning.

With the celebrations ahead, now is the perfect time to get your home in order so you can enjoy the holidays without the stress of a messy household hanging over your head. To help you prepare your apartment for the holiday season, we’ve created a guide on all the “must-do” seasonal cleaning tasks.

Pre-Holiday Prep

Before the holidays (and guests) arrive, here’s everything you should do to keep your home cozy and clean, just in time for the most wonderful time of the year.

Bedroom(s)

Rotate and refresh mattresses. Turn your mattress from front to back to even out wear. Then sprinkle a light layer of baking soda and let it sit for 15 minutes to eliminate odors. Be sure to vacuum up the baking soda before putting sheets on your bed.
Freshen up guest bedding and linens. Planning on having company over the holidays? Launder extra bedding and pillowcases for guests. Be sure to also leave out fresh towels and bath linens.
Clean out your closet. The holiday season often brings new items into our homes, so take time to declutter your closet beforehand. Donate any gently used items, such as extra blankets or outgrown clothes, or sell them online to earn a bit of extra holiday cash.

Woman organizing her closet, with a stack of folded clothes on the bed and a lamp nearby, creating a tidy and focused scene.

Kitchen

Prep your holiday dishes and cutlery. Whether they’ve been in storage or out on display, give your holiday dishes a good wash before use to remove any accumulated dust or dirt.
Clean out and restock the refrigerator. Before all the holiday cooking begins, be sure to go through your refrigerator. Throw away any expired condiments or old food items and give the fridge a good wipe-down. Once all the old food is cleared, make a trip to the grocery store to restock any items you may need for cooking and baking over the holidays.

Living Room

Clean your fireplace before use. If you have a fireplace, now is the perfect time to give it a good clean before use. Follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions to ensure it's ready for cozy movie nights by the fire.
Fluff and rotate couch cushions. Give your living room seating a quick refresh by fluffing and flipping cushions. This not only improves comfort but also evens out wear and tear, keeping your furniture looking fresh and inviting. For an extra cozy touch, lay out some warm blankets.
Wipe down surfaces, windowsills, and fan blades. Summer is usually when dust accumulates the most. To keep your surfaces and air clean, use a damp cloth with a gentle cleaning solution to wipe down baseboards, windowsills, and fan blades. For fan blades above furniture, spread a towel beneath to catch any falling dust particles.

Man vacuuming the living room with headphones on, cleaning a rug while surrounded by stylish home decor.

Entrances and Appliances

Seal up drafts and check windows and doors. As temperatures drop, inspect your windows and doors for any drafts. A drafty window or door can drive up heating costs, so it’s important to address any gaps or leaks. Reach out to your leasing office to arrange for repairs.
Clean windows, mirrors, and shower doors. Windows and mirrors can easily be overlooked on cleaning day. Use a clean cloth or squeegee to give them a streak-free shine. For glass shower doors, keep a squeegee in the bathroom to reduce water stains after each use.
Replace air filters for better indoor air quality. Swap out your air filters to reduce indoor allergens and improve air quality. Fall irritants like mold and dust can linger, so clean filters will help keep allergies at bay.
Check smoke detector batteries. Before the holiday cooking begins, be sure to replace the batteries in your smoke detectors. It's a small step to ensure you and your guests’ safety while preparing a holiday spread.

Post-Holiday Cleanup

After the excitement of the holidays, January is the perfect time to reset your space for the new year. This post-holiday cleaning checklist will help you tackle leftover messes and get organized for a fresh start in the new year.

Store holiday decor carefully. Pack up decorations with care to avoid tangling or breaking. Use storage bins with dividers for fragile items, and label boxes clearly to make next year’s decorating easier. Wipe down any decor that might have gathered dust before storing it.
Deep clean high-trafficked areas. The holidays usually mean extra guests, so focus on deep cleaning highly-trafficked spots, like entryways, living rooms, and dining areas. Vacuum rugs and carpets, mop floors, and wipe down surfaces like coffee tables and kitchen counters.
Organize your kitchen and pantry. With holiday meals and gatherings, the kitchen takes a beating. Take time to reorganize your pantry, dispose of any old Thanksgiving leftovers, and restock on essentials.
Freshen up bedrooms and linens. Now’s the time to refresh bedrooms after any guest stays. Wash or replace mattress covers, launder comforters and blankets, and vacuum or dust underneath the bed. This quick refresh will help you start the year with a clean, comfortable space.
Re-organize and donate (again). If you received new items over the holidays, go through your belongings and consider donating anything you no longer need. Local charities and online resale platforms make it easy to clear out space while helping others.

Neatly organized pantry with glass jar containers and wooden shelves, creating a tidy and visually appealing storage space in a home.

Whether you’re preparing to host guests or heading home for the holidays, a clean apartment sets you up for a successful, stress-free season. At Greystar, we believe that finding your dream home is equally as important as maintaining it. By following the above cleaning tips, your Greystar apartment will be ready to show off to friends and family this holiday season.

For more useful information about Greystar apartments, visit our other helpful blog articles.

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