If you haven’t started cleaning up and prepping for the holiday seasons yet, don’t worry—it’s not too late! Before you know it, Spring Cleaning and Chinese New Year will be here, and you’ll realize that if you want to enjoy the holidays without any stress or anxiety, you need to get going now! This last-minute Christmas cleaning checklist will help take care of everything from vacuuming and dusting to organizing your home office or study. Plus, all of these tasks can be done in less than an hour!
1. Dust
Regular dusting and vacuuming makes your house look clean, but they also prevent allergens from floating around. That’s particularly helpful during spring and summer when many people suffer from hay fever or other allergic symptoms. They’re also crucial to public health— up to 80% of indoor airborne contaminants are in fact due to surface dust!
2. Sweep
When tidying up, it’s easy to miss dust bunnies in corners and crevices. Use your broom to sweep all hard floors thoroughly before you mop (see below). It might seem like an unnecessary step, but even if you run over these areas with your vacuum cleaner they’ll be filled with dirt and dust from your shoes—and will still look dirty. If you’re cleaning rugs or carpets, simply pick them up and shake vigorously outside.
3. Wipe Down All Surfaces
In addition to general clutter, dust and dead skin cells can also be hiding in your home’s nooks and crannies. Wiping down all surfaces is an easy way to keep your home germ-free and give it that extra spruce up before you have guests over for dinner or holiday parties. This differs from dusting in that you will need to use your preferred cleaning product to properly disinfect the area.
4. Wash Bedding, Curtains and Other Linens
Wash sheets, pillowcases and other linens in hot water to rid them of dust mites and other contaminants. Give pillows a fluff after washing them (or buy new ones if they’re too worn), then place all your bedding in fresh plastic bags so it won’t collect dust while you sleep. Hang curtains out to dry thoroughly before storing. If you live in humid climes, take them down for winter storage so mildew doesn’t settle into your mouldable surfaces.
5. Scrub Bathrooms
One of the most important steps in preparing your home for holiday guests is giving everything a thorough scrubbing. Take some time to clean out shower/tub drains and clean walls, floors, and mirrors from top to bottom. Don’t forget about bathrooms; if you don’t want your guests wondering why there are stains all over your bathroom floor, take care of them now!
6. Give Floors a Good Mopping
An easy way to ensure your floors are clean is to mop them! As you get into cleaning, mopping might seem like an unnecessary chore—but trust us, it’s very important. Mops come in various sizes and styles, but they all have one thing in common: they can trap germs and bacteria in their dirty water (even if you’re using antibacterial soap) as you go.
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