We love things to sparkle at the holidays and our homes are at the top of that list. Crystal clear windows, glowing hardwood floors, shimmering chandeliers – these are a few of our favorite things (as the song goes!).
And now is the perfect time to get your sparkle plan in order. Halloween is just around the corner, followed by Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then New Year’s Day. There’s a lot of celebrating to do, so getting the house cleaning done early leaves more time for holiday fun.
To get things going, we’ve curated nine proven tips for getting your home to sparkle for the season. These are in addition to your regular weekly cleaning tasks, so you may want to space them out over several days to avoid “cleaning fatigue.”
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1. Entryways
Often the first thing a guest sees when visiting your home, entryways are special greeting spaces. During the holidays, give them a cleaning and spruce them up with simple or elaborate displays to make them even more welcoming.
At our place, we have three enclosed entries that lead into the house and love to dress them up with sap buckets full of seasonal foliage. We also know those areas can get pretty grungy, so we make it a point to keep them clean.
Sweep (or vacuum) and mop these areas. Remember to clean the baseboards and remove any cobwebs that may be hanging around the ceiling, too. Shake out (or vacuum) mats and rugs, and wash down windowsills and doors.
2. Exterior Doors
Doors benefit from a regular wipe down, especially when prepping for the holidays. A bucket of warm water and some mild detergent (like Dawn) will remove dust and dirt, making your doors look like new.
3. Mantles, Staircases, Banisters, and Bookshelves
These often overlooked spots become focal points during the holidays. Give them a good cleaning to ready them for your holiday décor. Wipe them down with a mild cleaning solution so they’re primed for your creativity.
If you have a wood burning fireplace, ensure the firebox is clean of any ash and remnants from last season and that your chimney has been properly swept. Safety is a critical part of a happy holiday – no chimney fires!
4. Glass, Crystal, and China
The “good stuff” that makes an appearance a few times a year should also be cleaned in advance. You don’t want to be saddled with this chore at the last minute.
Use warm water and a mild detergent for china and the same solution with a little white vinegar mixed in for your glass and crystal. Voila – ready to roll.
5. Silverware
And while we’re on the table setting topic, it’s also time to take a look at your silverware. We have a combination of sterling silver and silver plate that usually needs spiffing up. A little bit of Wright’s Silver Polish does the trick every time. If you’re going with stainless, you can skip this step!
6. The Kitchen
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important nonetheless! Kitchens see a ton of activity this time of year – likely the most of any room in the house.
Clean your refrigerator and pantry (and oven if it needs it) before Thanksgiving. This is also a great time to start taking inventory of items you may need for holiday meals and baking.
7. Light Fixtures
These can be really easy to forget…until you turn your chandelier on and see dust and cobwebs dangling from it.
If your home includes a very elaborate light fixture, you may want to call in a professional to clean it or set aside a good amount of time to get the job done yourself. Ours is fairly simple – wrought iron with some crystals – so I can manage it, but it still takes about an hour once I’m set up with a ladder, etc.
Glass and crystal can be cleaned using a solution of warm water, vinegar, and a squirt of dish soap. You can find more information on this DIY solution here.
Acrylic and other plastics require a different approach to keep them from getting cloudy and scratched. A cleaner, such as Brillianize, developed specifically for these materials is recommended.
8. Linens
Linens you plan to use for holiday meals and entertaining should be washed and ironed. This includes napkins, tablecloths, table runners, and cloth placemats. I like to do this on a rainy day when I know I’m stuck inside. When finished, fold them gently and store till needed.
9. Mirrors
Mirrors, particularly those in areas that see a lot of holiday activity (like family and dining rooms), should sparkle. You want them reflecting the beauty of your home and not a heavy coating of dust. A few wipes with our tried-and-true glass cleaner and you’ll be good to go.
For more prep tips, check out our Ultimate Guide to Getting Your House Holiday Ready and download our free planners!