Pre-Holiday Deep Clean: Areas You’ll Thank Yourself For Tackling
The weeks leading up to the holidays always seem to move a little faster. Suddenly, the calendar fills, guests are on their way, and the cozy gatherings you’ve been looking forward to feel right around the corner. This is why taking time for a pre-holiday deep clean can feel like a gift to your future self—not the frantic, last-minute tidy that leaves you exhausted, but a steady, thoughtful reset that makes your home feel lighter, warmer, and easier to enjoy.
Start With the Entryway
The entryway tends to collect the season—leaves, boots, rain gear, dog leashes, mail—and it doesn’t take long for it to feel cluttered. Clearing it now creates a welcoming sense of arrival every time you step inside. Give everything a place: a basket for shoes, hooks for bags, maybe a fresh doormat. Small touches set the tone and make your home feel instantly inviting.
Give the Kitchen Some Love
The kitchen is where the holidays truly happen, where food becomes memory and warmth fills the air. A deep clean here isn’t about perfection—it’s about creating ease. Wipe down cabinets, clear out expired spices, organize baking tools, sharpen knives, and reset the fridge. You’ll be grateful later when you can prep meals without hunting through drawers or playing refrigerator Tetris. Think of this as preparing the stage for all your holiday gatherings.
Don’t Forget the Overlooked Spaces
Baseboards, ceiling fans, window sills, and under couch cushions are the spaces we live with but rarely notice. Cleaning these areas now makes your home feel brighter, even if no one else sees exactly why. Wash blankets and throws, fluff pillows, and light a candle with a warm scent like vanilla, cardamom, or cedar. These small touches make your home feel cozy and cared for.
Prep Guest Spaces
Even if you aren’t expecting overnight visitors, fresh sheets, cleared surfaces, and soft places to sit make your home feel ready. If your guest room doubles as storage (no judgment), tackle one corner at a time. Progress over perfection is key. These small efforts ensure that any space is welcoming without feeling like a chore.
The Gift of Calm
A pre-holiday deep clean isn’t about chasing flawless or magazine-perfect results. It’s about creating calm. It’s about giving yourself room to breathe when the season begins to swirl. You’ll thank yourself later—for the clear counters, welcoming spaces, and ease of moving through your home. And when guests arrive, meals are prepared, or a quiet night by the fire finally settles in, you’ll feel it: the warmth of having made space for joy to thrive.
