The Ultimate Christmas Cleaning Checklist

Here’s a Christmas Cleaning Checklist you can use to get your house ready for the holidays, plus a complete list of cleaning supplies you’ll need.

During Christmas, visitors may stop by to drop off and collect presents, you may throw holiday parties or even host house guests.

The last thing you want is for your house to be a hot mess when guests show up. The holidays are a good time to deep clean your home. The last time you probably did this was during Spring so I think it’s long overdue.

The idea of cleaning your entire house can be quite overwhelming. But, we’re going to walk through this step-by-step, so it’s manageable. I’ll break down all the cleaning supplies you’ll need for each room and at the end, I’ll provide a complete list. Plus, you’ll find a free printable version of this entire checklist that you can download and use.

Christmas Cleaning Guide

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Kitchen Deep Cleaning Routine

Food is at the heart of the holidays for many families. It sure is in mine! So, you’ll need a clean kitchen since guests always seem to end up there somehow. Plus, you’ll need to make sure you have room to store all that food.

Gather Cleaning Supplies

First grab all the items you’ll need to clean. Here’s a list I recommend:

• Cleaning cloths and sponges
• Gloves
• Soft toothbrush
• All-purpose, non-abrasive cleaner
• Stainless steel cleaner, if you have stainless steel appliances
• Glass cleaner e.g. Windex
• Lysol or Clorox wipes
• Caddy or basket to store cleaning supplies
• Telescoping duster
• Mop and bucket or steam mop
• Broom and dustpan or vacuum cleaner
• Empty basket or box

Clear Kitchen Counters

Grab the empty box or basket. Remove anything that doesn’t belong on the kitchen counters. Store items that are kept in the kitchen where they should be and stash stuff that is stored in other rooms in the box. You’ll put those away later.

Fill the Sink

Plug the drain and fill the sink with warm, soapy water. Place items in here that need soaking as you clean.

Clean the Refrigerator

Remove spoiled or expired food from the fridge. If there are leftovers in storage containers, throw the food away and place the empty containers in the sink.

Next, deep clean the fridge so you have plenty of space for all the food that you’ll need to store during the holidays.

Dust

Use the telescoping duster to brush away cobwebs and dust from the walls, ceiling and light fixtures. Remember to clean the tops of cabinets and the fridge.

Start on one end of the kitchen and work from high to low. Don’t worry about the dust falling to the floor. You’ll clean that up later.

Clean Upper Cabinets and The Microwave

With a damp microfiber cloth, wipe down the front of the upper kitchen cupboards and the handles. If you have a mounted microwave, wipe that down as well. Clean grates, the range hood and anything else that’s up high.

Next, clean the interior of the microwave. A simple way to do that is to place a microwave-safe bowl filled with a cup of water and lemon, lime or orange slices inside. Turn it on for several minutes on high until the solution boils and the window is steamy. Let it cool for at least 10 minutes before opening the door. Remove the bowl and wipe the inside. The steam will have loosened grime and it will be easier to clean.

Clean the Stovetop

Remove the grates, if your stove has them, and place them in the sink to soak. Use a dry cloth to brush off loose crumbs to the floor. Then, wipe the stove with the all-purpose cleaner.

Wash the Dishes

Either wash the dishes you left soaking by hand or put them into the dishwasher. Don’t drain the water yet, though.

Clean the Small Appliances

How often do you clean the toaster or toaster oven? Yet, you probably use them frequently. Well, now’s the time to change that.

Remove drip pans or crumb trays and place them in the sink. Wipe off each one using the all-purpose cleaning solution. Make sure to put the cleaner on to the cloth and never directly on the appliance.

Rinse and dry the trays and pans. Replace them in each appliance.

Clean the Kitchen Sink

Unplug the sink to drain the water. Rinse it with hot water and scrub the basin with the all-purpose cleaner. Remember to clean the faucet and handles too. Rinse again.

Clean Your Counters

Wipe your countertops using a cleaning agent that’s appropriate for them.

Lower Cabinets and Drawers

Next, wipe off the front of the lower cabinets  and drawers, plus the handles and pulls.

Wipe Down Large Appliances

After cleaning the lower cabinets, wipe down the fronts and handles of the large appliances including the dishwasher, oven and refrigerator. Use the toothbrush to clean the seals inside the dishwasher and fridge doors.

Clean the Floor

Vacuum and mop the floor. Empty any debris you collect from sweeping into the trash.

Empty the Trash Bin

Remove the garbage bag. Wipe down the inside and lid of the bin. If it’s really dirty, you may want to take it outside and clean it with soapy water and disinfectant. If you regularly clean it, wipe it down with some disinfectant wipes e.g. Lysol or Clorox wipes. Dispose of the wipes and take the garbage bag outside. Replace it with a new bin liner.

Get the box where you stashed items that don’t belong in the kitchen. Put those things away in their rightful homes.

How To Clean the Living Room

Gather Your Cleaning Supplies

Here’s a list of cleaning supplies you might need for this room:

• Microfiber cloths
• Mop and bucket or steam mop
• Vacuum cleaner or broom and dustpan
• Telescoping duster
• Furniture polish
• Febreze
• Glass cleaner
• Empty box
• Trash bag

Clear Surfaces

Get the empty box and declutter surfaces. Once again, put anything that doesn’t belong in the living room inside the box. Throw trash inside the garbage bag.

Dust and Polish

Wipe the window blinds and take down the curtains. Set them aside to be washed, along with throws, blankets and pillow covers. Anything that can’t be laundered, take them to the dry cleaners.

Clean lamps, the T.V., fan and decor.

Use the furniture polish and microfiber cloth to clean wooden furniture. Next, use the glass cleaner and a different microfiber cloth to clean all glass surfaces. This will include the windows, glass table tops, mirrors, picture frame inserts and even fireplace screens.

Wipe off door handles and light switch plates with Lysol wipes.

Clean Soft Furnishings

Check for lost items in between the couch and chair cushions. Use the vacuum cleaner upholstery attachment to pick up loose dirt and crumbs.

Clean the baseboards using the crevice attachment. Finally, vacuum the floors using the regular attachment. Move lighter furniture pieces out-of-the-way and make sure you get underneath and behind them.

Spray the furniture with Febreze to get rid of stinky odors.

Final Touches

Spray air freshener and put away the cleaning supplies. Throw away any trash you gathered. Then, grab your box and replace items that didn’t belong to the living room.

How To Clean Your Room

Gather Cleaning Supplies

By now, you should be familiar with this routine. Grab everything you’ll need to deep clean the bedrooms. Here’s the list:

• Microfiber cloths
• Furniture polish
• Glass cleaner
• Lysol wipes
• Vacuum cleaner
• Mop and bucket or steam mop
• Telescoping duster
• Air freshener
• Empty box
• Trash bag

Clear Surfaces

Remove clutter from surfaces. Fold and put away or hang clean clothes. Throw dirty clothing in the laundry basket.

Put anything that doesn’t belong in the bedroom in the empty box to be stored later.

Take Out The Trash

Empty the trash bin in the garbage bag. Wash the bin with hot soapy water, then rinse and set aside to dry.

Remove the Linens

Take down the curtains and remove the sheets. Wash them while you finish cleaning. If your curtains need dry cleaning, set them aside to take them later.

Dust and Polish

Remove pictures or artwork from the walls. As you dust, work from one side of the room to the next and from high to low. Using the telescoping duster, clean the ceiling, crown moldings, light fixtures, ceiling fan, walls and baseboards.

Wipe picture frames with a microfiber cloth and use glass cleaner to clean the inserts. Replace them on the walls.

Clean windows, mirrors and any other glass surfaces using the glass cleaner. Wipe off all other decor.

Wipe off light switches and door handles with a Lysol wipe.

Last but not least, clean wooden furniture using the furniture polish and a microfiber cloth.

Clean the Mattress

Follow this step-by-step guide to clean and deodorize your mattress.

Clean the Floors

If you have carpet, sprinkle baking soda on it, let it sit for a few hours and then, vacuum it up. This will remove funky odors and dust.

No carpet? Just vacuum and mop. Try to get behind and underneath furniture as much as possible. Clean along the baseboards with the crevice attachment to remove dust.

Final Touches

Replace the trash bin, make the bed with fresh sheets and hang some curtains.

Spray the room with air freshener.

Don’t forget to take that box of items that don’t belong in the bedroom and put them where they should be.

If you’re expecting house guests during the holidays, it may be a good idea to clean the guest bedroom first. You can work on the other bedrooms later.

Routine for Deep Cleaning The Bathroom

Gather Cleaning Supplies

Below is a list of cleaning supplies you might need to clean the bathroom:

• Microfiber cloths
• Sponge
• Non-abrasive all-purpose cleaner
• Shower cleaner
• Glass cleaner
• Toilet bowl cleaner e.g. Lysol
• Lysol wipes and spray
• Scrubbing brush
• Toilet brush
• Mop and bucket or steam mop
• Vacuum cleaner
• Trash bag

Deal with Dirty Laundry

Place all the dirty laundry and towels in the hamper. Wash these separately.

Disinfect the Toilet

Pour toilet bowl cleaner around the bowl of the toilet, including under the rim. Let it sit while you clean the rest of the bathroom.

Clear the Bathroom Countertop

Put away items that don’t belong on the counter. Clean the sink using a sponge and all-purpose cleaner. Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry with a microfiber cloth.

Replace the hand soap and anything else that should be on the countertop. I recommend only storing the bare minimum items on the bathroom vanity so it doesn’t look cluttered.

Clean the mirror

Spray the mirror with glass cleaner and wipe with a microfiber cloth.

Clean the shower

Scrub the shower floor and walls using the shower cleaner and scrubbing brush. Rinse thoroughly. In the future, spraying the shower with a daily shower cleaner can help reduce the build-up of soap scum.

Clean the Toilet

Now, go back to the toilet and rub the bowl using the toilet brush. Flush to remove the toilet bowl cleaner.

Wipe the seat, underneath the seat, rim and outside of the bowl with Lysol wipes. Dispose of the wipes. Spray the handle with Lysol spray.

Empty the Trash

Empty the trash into the garbage bag. Wash the bin with hot soapy water and set aside to dry.

Clean the Floors

Remove bath mats and launder them.

Vacuum to pick up hair and other debris. Then, mop to sanitize the floor.

Replace the bath mat with a clean one.

Final Touches

Hang clean towels, restock toilet paper and pull the shower curtain across so it can dry properly, if you have one. Straighten up any shelves.

Spray air freshener.

Cleaning the Rest of the House

Carpets and Rugs 

You can choose to DIY the cleaning of your carpets and rugs using a carpet cleaning machine or you can hire a professional to do it for you.

If your carpet smells a bit funky, simply sprinkle baking soda on it. Let it sit for a few hours before vacuuming it up.

Try this DIY cleaning routine for your rugs, if they need a bit more TLC.

Window Cleaning

Spray window cleaner on the windows and wipe clean using a microfiber cloth. Do this both on the inside and outside.

Walls, Ceiling Fans and Light Fixtures

Use a telescoping duster to remove cobwebs and dust from the walls, ceiling fans and light fixtures throughout your home. After knocking the dust to the floor, vacuum it up.

Complete List of Cleaning Supplies Needed

Click here to download a printable version of this Christmas Cleaning Checklist.