The Ultimate Guide to Pre-Holiday Cleaning for Busy Families

The summer holidays are fast approaching, which for many families means Christmas, sunny weather and upwards of seven weeks without school.

During this season, people tend to entertain friends and family more than at any other point in the year.

So, it is worth taking the time to give your home a thorough cleaning before your social calendar gets filled up with playdates, dinners and casual get togethers.

However, as the average Aussie residence, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, has three bedrooms, that is a lot of property to clean and tidy before the guests come round.

For those who already have busy lives, this can create quite a challenge, which is why our ultimate guide to pre-holiday cleaning might prove inspirational!

Create a Plan 

It doesn’t matter how many bedrooms you have in your home.

The thought of doing a deep clean can seem overwhelming.

As a result, you should put together a plan of how you intend to tackle the project, as doing this will make it appear more manageable.

You don’t have to make this plan too complicated.

Simply deciding on a pecking order of which room you will tackle first is often enough.

However, if you put a structure towards your cleaning efforts, it will give you some perspective of what needs doing and enable you to tick off parts of your to-do-list once they have been done.

Declutter 

Before you start cleaning any of the rooms in your home, you should take the opportunity to declutter.

A new season is always a good excuse to get rid of things you no longer need or use, particularly if you are likely to introduce more furniture or possessions into the house (such as Christmas decorations and any presents you might receive).

When decluttering, you really need to be ruthless and clinical and not get too sentimental.

Therefore, if you have a side table that has been stored in the basement or a vase that has remained in its packaging in a cupboard for years, it’s a good idea to part company with them (even if they were given by a close friend or relative).

Whatever you decide to discard, it is a good idea to sort it into four piles.

One that you can sell, one that you can reuse, one that you can recycle and one that you will throw out.

If you find yourself with a lot of items you no longer want, getting a company like 1300 Rubbish to dispose of them for you will save you a lot of time.

Give your Property a Good Airing Out

When you finish the decluttering process, it is a good idea to open all the doors and windows in your home to give it a proper airing out.

By doing this, you will significantly improve the air quality in your property, which might have declined during the winter and early parts of spring – through a combination of the weather being too cold to open them and having the heating on for prolonged periods.

The longer you can leave them open the better because this will rid your home of stale air and bacteria that can trigger colds, allergies or flu, which can make you sick.

Clean Strategically 

With the air quality improved, you can start to do the cleaning.

It is a good idea to do this on a room-by-room basis because you risk leaving some spaces half-finished if you don’t.

It is worth remembering that the process is not a race, and the ultimate goal is to ensure your home is as clean and presentable as possible.

Therefore, you should take the time to dust and polish all fittings, fixtures and surfaces and steam wash and hoover carpets or wipe down ceilings and floors as required.

Here is a structure you might want to follow.

Should the weather be good, taking your furniture outside to dust down and clean is a good way of ensuring the recently refreshed air in your room is not suddenly full of dust.

In terms of which room to clean first, the choice is entirely up to you.

Perhaps you might want to complete the largest or most difficult room straight away  – while you still have most of your enthusiasm.

Or you might prefer to reduce the number of rooms that need to be cleaned by doing the smallest ones first.

The choice is yours!

Remember the Outside of Your Home 

Pre-holiday cleaning doesn’t just mean inside your home. It also refers to the front and back gardens and exterior walls of your property.

Since the previous summer, the combined forces of wind, rain and hail might have taken a toll on the curb appeal of your property.

Therefore, you should consider getting it power-washed to restore it to its former pristine nature.

You should also take the opportunity to clean out any branches, leaves and debris from the gutters of your roof and give the garden a good mow and prune to make it look its best.

Get the Professionals to Help

If you really are a busy family that can’t spare the time (or have the inclination) to do the cleaning, you could always call the professionals to help you.

Of course, doing this will come at a cost.

But these services will have your home spick and span in no time to leave it as good as it was on the day you first laid eyes on it.

Final Thoughts

Pre-holiday cleaning can be a daunting task, but with a strategic approach, it becomes manageable—and even enjoyable!

By breaking down the process, prioritizing rooms, decluttering, and not hesitating to get professional help if needed, you’ll have a clean and inviting space ready for any holiday gathering.

Whether you’re tackling it all yourself or enlisting some support, this guide ensures your home is prepped to welcome the joy and warmth of the holiday season.

Photo Credit: Depositphotos