Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Hacks & How-to's
  3. Evergreens

How to deep clean your home before the holiday season sets in

By
Add as a preferred source on Google

Before all of the shopping, get-togethers, and crazy holiday festivities begin, you might be considering a deep clean of your home. Cleaning your house before the holiday season sets in can save you time, money, and stress. It’s also a great way to refresh and replenish your home before you begin hosting any parties or events.

What is a good cleaning schedule?

When it comes to pre-holiday cleaning, you can never go wrong by adhering to a good cleaning schedule. Cleaning schedules are based on two things: Frequency of use and seasonal cleanings. Dishes, for example, get cleaned nearly every day in most households. On the other hand, the oven might receive a deep clean only four times a year.

A good cleaning schedule is one that suits your lifestyle but also encourages a healthy home and the elimination of dust and dirt buildup. 

Related

Larger items like your sofa, bed, and refrigerator should see monthly deep cleans to keep your home safe and fresh. Deep cleaning the inside of trash cans, the microwave, the tub and shower, and the inside of the oven can also be done monthly to prevent buildup.

Cleaning your AC system, windows, range hood filters, and drains can be an activity done seasonally depending on the frequency of use. 

woman holding cleaning bucket
VGstockstudio / Shutterstock

What areas of the home are cleaned least?

Shockingly, some of the least-cleaned areas of your home are some of the most frequently used spaces. Remote controls, doorknobs, kitchen handles, bath mats, and toothbrush holders are a few things that we use frequently but often forget to clean.

Also be sure to wipe down surfaces that people frequently touch. This includes light switches, buttons on appliances, doorknobs, handles, tech, and cabinets.

Wash your bath mats, towels, doormats, and small rugs as well to ensure your floor is safe and clean. Doormats, especially, require regular cleanings because they see a lot of foot traffic from all over. 

Bath mats need to be cleaned frequently. Remember, they collect everything from water when you get out of the shower to when your shoes touch the surface before you leave the house. Bathrooms can get quite humid and become a breeding ground for bacteria, which is why it’s important to deep clean them often.

Cleaning furniture

Furniture can be challenging to thoroughly clean. Steamers, vacuums, and spray-on formulas are some of the cleaning tools that seem to work best for larger items that can’t be thrown into a washer. 

When cleaning a couch, remove all of the cushions and vacuum underneath. You’d be surprised at all of the dust and dirt that can collect in these spots. The best solution is to hand vacuum and steam each cushion individually as well as the mainframe of the couch or sofa.

It’s best to wait until everything is dry (if using a spray-on formula or steamer) to prevent any musty smells or bacteria buildup.

Cleaning your bed requires a similar process. Once the mattress is steamed and cleaned, leave it to air out for a few hours before adding fresh sheets. To make mattress cleaning even easier, you can add a special mattress case to further protect your mattress from dead skin cells as sweat. Washing the mattress case in the washer and drying is also extremely efficient. 

spray bottle for cleaning next to plant
cottonbro/Pexels

Deep cleaning carpet

When it comes to deep cleaning carpet, specialized vacuums that double as carpet cleaners can work wonders. This also goes for large rugs that can’t fit into the washer and dryer. While these carpet cleaners can be relatively expensive, they provide a quality clean and help to reduce the amount of dirt, dust, and bacteria in your home.

Cleaning your carpets should be a regular activity. It’s best to clean them at least monthly, if not more often since your carpets see a lot of foot traffic and activity in your home. It’s best to clean them as often as you can.

Also, you can join us as we discover the best carpet cleaner sprays.

Amelia Wilson
Amelia Wilson
Former Author
Topics

Editors’ Recommendations

The Easiest Way to Set the Table
Cutlery, Fork, Spoon

Have you ever wondered why the fork sits on the left and the knife on the right? Or why Europeans eat “Continental style,” holding the fork in their left hand and the knife in their right, while Americans cut, switch hands, and then eat? It turns out there’s a reason for all of it, and once you understand the history, setting the table suddenly feels far less mysterious. Before beautifully layered place settings and Pinterest-worthy tablescapes, dining was far more practical. Medieval feasts were less about etiquette and more about survival. Plates were often shared, forks were nonexistent, and eating with your hands was the normal standard. Tables were filled with trenchers (pieces of bread used as plates), and the idea of “proper placement” simply didn’t exist.

By the mid-to-late 1800s (around 1860–1870), European dining evolved again as meals began to be served in courses. This shift introduced what became known as the Russian style of dining, where utensils were laid out intentionally and used from the outside in. The fork stayed in the left hand, the knife in the right, and the table itself began to reflect structure, rhythm, and order. This approach eventually became the “Continental style” still used across much of Europe today.

Read more
Color Drenching: The bold hue movement that is sticking around in 2026
Green living room walls with velvet green sofas

What is color drenching?Color drenching is an interior design trend where a single color is used on every surface in a room. This includes walls, trim, doors, and even the ceiling, creating a cohesive and immersive atmosphere. The technique can make a small room feel larger or a spacious room feel cozier, and it often extends to furniture, radiators, and cabinetry for a bold, unified effect.

While the term color drenching is relatively new, the concept has deep roots in design history. The look can be traced to historic European interiors where monochromatic schemes added depth and luxury. Even in the Victorian era, richly saturated jewel tones were often used in grand spaces such as libraries and parlors. It reappeared during the 1960's and 1970's as well. Designers have long understood that a single, enveloping hue can create a striking sense of mood and continuity.

Read more
Houseplants: Which ones thrive in your home all year long?
Snake plant

So which plants can handle winter? For homes that tend to be cooler, hardy plants like Snake Plants (Sansevieria), Cast Iron Plants, and ZZ Plants (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) are ideal. The good news is that all three can handle temperature drops and limited sunlight. The Cast Iron Plant, for example, can thrive in conditions as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

While not quite as hardy, other low-maintenance favorites include Pothos (Epipremnum), Spider Plants, Ferns, and Heartleaf Philodendrons. These do well in shadier, low-light spots and require minimal care.

Read more