Read also: The Ultimate Guide to Tackling Christmas Stains: How to Clean Festive Messes

Aim to create a festive and welcoming atmosphere not a museum-like tidiness.

Primary Goals of Christmas Cleaning

The holiday is causing stress for a surprising number of people, especially parents, so the last thing you need is to stress over cleaning, too. The key to an efficient Christmas cleaning is to make your home feel warm and cosy rather than achieving sterile perfection. Here are a few easy and stress-free ways to approach your home’s holiday makeover: 

• Cosy Over Sterile: Think festive decorations, soft throws, and plump pillows. Add some scented candles to create a magical ambience.
• Minimal Effort, Maximum Impact: Aim for a quick clean that makes a big difference.
• Welcoming Atmosphere: Create an inviting space for you and your guests. Light a fire in the fireplace (if you have one), put on some festive music, and set out some holiday treats.

Christmas cleaning should not take up all your well-deserved time off.

Christmas Cleaning Chores for Your Own Comfort

Suppose you haven’t planned to host and simply want to achieve a pleasant, cosy home atmosphere for your comfort. In that case, your Christmas cleaning list will include these key areas, all of which are manageable and won’t overwhelm you:

Kitchen To-dos

Even if you don’t plan on cooking big festive meals for a dozen people, during the holiday, you are more likely to spend some time preparing your favourite snacks, so the goal for the kitchen is to sanitise food preparation areas and make cooking more easy and enjoyable:

• Declutter: Put away any gadgets and dishes you won’t be using.
• Pantry Audit: Toss expired goods. Check for any mysterious jars of dried food – are they still edible? Give your spices a sniff test – they lose their aroma over time.
• Restock Essentials: Make sure you have plenty of baking supplies on hand.
• Clear Counters: Free up counter space for easy meal prep.
• Sanitise Food Preparation Areas: Wipe down sinks and countertops with a disinfectant.
• Quick Oven Cleanup: Here’s a time-cutting oven cleaning hack to try: place a bowl of hot water with a couple tablespoons of dish soap inside. Run the oven at its highest temperature for 15 minutes. The vapours will help loosen grime, making it faster and easier to clean the inside of the appliance.
• Fridge Refresh: Leave the deep cleaning of the fridge for after the holidays. Instead, wipe down shelves and toss any expired food. Ensure there’s ample space for groceries and holiday leftovers.

Read also: Our Ultimate Guide on How to Clean a Heavily Soiled Oven

Living Room

This is the room you will likely spend the most time in, so your Christmas cleaning goal for this area is to make it cosy: 

• Tidy Up and Dust: Quick dusting with a duster or microfiber cloth will suffice. We’re not aiming for museum-level cleanliness here.
• Tidy Up: Put away any clutter.
• Vacuum: Give the sofa, cushions, carpets, and rugs a thorough vacuuming.
• Quick Mop: A quick mop of the floor will freshen things up.

Read also: 6 Ways to Keep Furniture and Carpets Clean All Year Round

Fold and put away clothes and blankets for a relaxed bedroom look.

Bedrooms

You deserve a nice rest during your holiday. Here’s what to do to create a relaxing atmosphere in your bedroom:

• Tidy Up: Put away all dirty laundry in the hamper and neatly fold any clothes lying around.
• Change Bed Linens: A fresh set of sheets will give you a holiday feel.
• Dusting: Nobody has time to dust their bedroom daily; however, the dust piles up. A swift dusting of surfaces with a duster or microfiber cloth will make the room feel more relaxed.
• Vacuum: Vacuum the carpet and floor to remove dirt and hair.
• Quick Mop: Mopping the floors will help you get rid of the last particles of dust and help refresh the air in the room. 

Check also: How to Care for Your Mattress at Home

Bathroom

We are sure you won’t want to deal with the bathroom on Christmas (we don’t), but you will surely enjoy it if it’s clean and smells fresh. Here’s how to achieve this:

• Quick Wipe: Give the tiles a quick wipe with a strong bathroom cleaner after showering – the steam from hot water loosens the buildups, so this is the best time to clean the bathroom.
• Sanitise: Apply a generous amount of bathroom cleaner on the sink and toilet bowl and let it sit like this for 10 minutes. After that, scrub and rinse the porcelain surfaces for quick sanitisation.
• A Shiny Touch: Polish the mirrors and faucets for an instant uplift.
• Fresh Towels: Replace old towels with clean ones.
• Refresh the Bin: Throw away the old bin bag, scrub the container with soapy water and put in a new liner. This chore takes less than 5 minutes, but it has a massive impact on the freshness of the bathroom.

Read also: How To Clean The Bathroom Carpet

Our Christmas cleaning tips will help prepare the house even if you have family and friends staying over for the holidays.

Christmas Cleaning List When You’re Having Guests

If you’re hosting a Christmas party and have invited guests, especially if they will spend a few nights at yours, pay extra attention to these areas to make their visit more enjoyable for you and them both:

Guest Bathrooms

In most cases, these smaller bathrooms are not used very often, so they can benefit from a quick refresh: 

• Sanitise: A quick scrub of the toilet and the bathroom sink can make the area look and feel very clean and inviting.  
• Stock Essentials: Provide soap, toilet paper, and fresh towels.
• Freshener: A spritz of air freshener can make a big difference.
• Empty Bins: Ensure trash cans are empty and leave spare bin liners at a place that is easy to find.

Fold and put away clothes and blankets for a relaxed bedroom look. Image source: www.freepik.com

Guest Bedrooms

Most of us rarely use the spare bedrooms for their designated purpose; instead, they turn into storage spaces that stay closed 99% of the time. It’s not unusual for the room to accumulate dust or to start stale, and your efforts should be aimed at these two main issues: 

• Declutter: If you use the room for storage, tidy up a bit and put all the bulky items in one place – under the bed, over the wardrobe, even next to the wall works – the goal is to prevent things from getting in the way and making the space more accessible.
• Ventilation: Open windows to air out the room.
• Dusting: Dust all surfaces.
• Vacuum & Mop: Vacuum the carpets and quickly mop the floors.
• Fresh Linens: Make the beds with clean sheets, blankets, and pillows.

Reaad also: The Only Cleaning Routine You Need to Keep Your Foldable Guest Bed Nice and Fresh

Make sure to vacuum the sofa bed for maximum comfort of your guests. Image source: www.freepik.com

Guest Beds (If You Don’t Have a Guest Bedroom)

You may have a pull-out bed or a folding sofa if you don’t have a designated guest room. These beds tend to sit unused for a long time, accumulating dust and sometimes trapping unpleasant odours. Here’s how to prepare them for your visitors: 

• Clean & Aerate: If you have a pull-out or folding bed, assemble it, vacuum it thoroughly, and leave it open to air out.
• Prepare Linens: Prepare fresh linens and blankets. If you plan on using the area during the day, you can put all the bed linens in a basket so they don’t lie around the room and give it a messy look.

Keep your Christmas cleaning routine simple for a stress-free holiday.

What NOT to Clean Before Christmas

You might be tempted to deep-clean the entire house before the holidays, but it’s crucial to prioritise and let go of some tasks if you’re short on time. Here’s what you can skip without feeling guilty:

Rugs & Carpets

Deep carpet cleaning is best left for after the holiday festivities. The increased foot traffic and potential spills during Christmas can quickly dirty your carpets again. Thorough vacuuming is sufficient for now. Also, with the colder and often more humid weather, there might not be enough time for carpets to dry if you opt for professional cleaning.

Sofa and Soft Furniture

Deep cleaning your sofa and other upholstered furniture can wait unless you’re dealing with a significant issue like a huge grease spill on the upholstery. Thorough vacuuming, including the cushions and underneath, is enough for now. You can always use throws or blankets to disguise any minor imperfections.

Deep cleaning of windows, carpets, and furniture can wait this Christmas.

Windows

While clean windows brighten a room, thorough window cleaning can be a messy and time-consuming endeavour. With shorter days and everyone gathered indoors, the impact of sparkling windows might be minimal. If you have any particularly unsightly smudges or fingerprints, a quick wipe-down with a microfiber cloth and window cleaner should suffice.

Focusing on these high-impact cleanups and skipping deep cleaning tasks can significantly reduce your cleaning workload and allow you to enjoy a more relaxed holiday season. We hope these tips help you have a stress-free and enjoyable Christmas!

You deserve to enjoy the holiday in a cosy and warm environment – and this shoukld be your main goal.

Enjoy Your Christmas

Remember, the holiday is about spending time with loved ones, not achieving a spotless home. Let go of the pressure to do a deep clean and focus on creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Need Help After the Holidays?

Don’t stress about the post-holiday cleaning frenzy. Our team of expert cleaners can help you tackle any messes that may arise during the festivities. We offer professional carpet cleaning to revive carpets after heavy foot traffic and spills. Our upholstery cleaning services can restore the shine to your sofas and chairs. Our stain removal experts can make even the stubborn stains from festive drinks and food disappear without a trace. We can also help you with a professional mattress cleaning service – perfect for dealing with accidental spills or stains from those inevitable midnight holiday snacks.

Let us handle the aftermath while you relax and enjoy the memories of a wonderful Christmas.

You might also like: Christmas Cleaning in 2 Days (or Less): A Practical Guide for Time-Strapped People

Before you continue, it might be helpful to read our post Stain removal is a matter of chemistry. You can also check our post on different types of upholstery fabrics and how to take the best care of them for more useful insights.

Cheerful toasts often result in red wine spilt on both clothes and furnishings. Image by Freepik

1. Red Wine, Port or Cognac

Red wine, mulled wine, or even a splash of port can make for a festive and enjoyable holiday toast. However, accidents can happen, and wine pills can leave behind stubborn stains on furnishings. If you find yourself dealing with a red wine stain after a Christmas get-together, don’t worry! Here is how to treat the spill and salvage your carpet or sofa:

• Blot up as much wine as possible with a clean, dry cloth if the stain is fresh. 
• Apply dishwashing soap mixed with water to the stain and blot gently with a sponge.
• Rinse with cold water and continue blotting until the stain lightens. 
• Rinse with clean water and let it air-dry completely.
• If the stain has dried up, using a carpet stain remover like Wine Away or Chateau Spill may be better. Follow the instructions on the product label. 

Check also: How to Clean a Carpet at Home – DIY Guide

Rich meaty sauces are the perfect addition to the Christmas turkey, but can leave a nasty stain on the carpet. Image:  Robert Owen-Wahl

2. Gravy and other meaty and greasy sauces

Can Christmas dinner be considered complete without the rich flavour of gravy? We don’t think so! The darker and thicker the sauce, the tastier it is. However, it is also more difficult to clean. Therefore, before attempting to remove a gravy stain from your furnishings, please consider the 5 tips at the end of the article. To remove gravy stains from your carpet or sofa, follow these steps:

• Remove any solids and blot excess gravy. 
• Sprinkle cornstarch or baking soda over the stain. 
• Leave the powder on the stain for at least 30 minutes. 
• Vacuum the powder thoroughly. 
• Mix 1 tbsp dish soap, 2 cups of warm water, and 1 tbsp ammonia if the stain persists. 
• Blot the stain with a clean sponge dipped into the solution. 
• Rinse with clean water and blot dry.

Read also: How to Remove Grease Stains From Upholstery Fabrics

The vibrant red colour of cranberry sauce can be quite a challenge to remove from carpet and upholstery. Image: Flickr

3. Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce spills can become stubborn stains and an unpleasant memory of the holiday dinner if not cleaned up promptly. This is because cranberries contain anthocyanins, which are highly pigmented and give red foods and beverages their intense colour. In fact, anthocyanins are commonly used in the food industry as natural colourants. However, cranberry sauce stains are tough to remove since the sauce is also sticky and gooey due to the added sugar. Here’s how to deal with a cranberry sauce stain on your carpet or upholstery:

• Scrape away any excess cranberry sauce using a dull knife or the edge of a spoon.
• Mix a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.
• Using a clean cloth or sponge, blot the stain with the solution.
• Continue blotting until the stain lightens.
• Rinse the affected area with clean water and blot dry.
• If the stain persists, consider using a specialised carpet or upholstery stain remover. Be sure to follow the product instructions carefully.

Check also: 6 Ways to Keep Furniture and Carpets Clean All Year Round

Decadents deserts are the star of every festive dinner but nobody likes to remove chocolate from their upholstery. Image by vecstock 

4. Chocolate

During holiday celebrations, hot cocoa, chocolate cakes, and candies are always crowd-pleasers. However, chocolate stains can be quite stubborn to remove from carpets and upholstery. If your furnishings are dark or brown, you might even miss seeing the spots at first. Eventually, the stains will become visible due to milk, butter, and other fatty ingredients present in chocolate. Therefore, inspecting your furnishings for stains and crumbs after your Christmas feast is a good idea. Here’s how you can remove chocolate stains from your carpet and furniture:

• First, gently scrape off any lumpy bits on the surface using a flat knife or spatula.
• Apply carpet and upholstery stain-removal product. 
• Start blotting the area using paper towels or a clean white cloth.
• Reapply the product and keep blotting until the stain is no longer lifting.
• Rinse the area thoroughly by blotting it with a clean cloth dipped in cold water.
• Blot the surface with a dry, clean cloth and let the spot dry before using your furnishings.

Read also: How to Remove Greasy Stains From Your Carpet?

Children often want to be a part of the toast and some of their fruit juice can end on the carpet. Image by Freepik

5. Fruit juices and soft drinks

When children want something colourful in their glasses like adults, they cannot drink alcohol, so we give them fruit juice. Sadly, most fruit juices are brightly coloured, and kids, excited by the Christmas spirit, are the ones who spill the most often. There’s no use in getting angry with the children and ruining your Christmas mood. Instead, you can follow these simple steps to clean a fruit juice stain from your carpet or furniture.

• Blot up as much of the juice as possible using a paper towel or clean cloth
• Mix 2/3 cup of water with ½ cup of white household vinegar into a spray bottle and apply it to the juice stain.
• Blot the vinegar out using a clean, damp sponge.
• Mix 1 tbsp dishwasher detergent with a cup of warm water. Apply this onto the fruit juice stain and blot.
• Rinse the area using cold water and a damp paper towel.

Check also: The Ultimate Guide to Sofa Stain Removal

All the excitement among the youngest family members can lead to accidents on carpets and mattresses. Image by mdjaff on Freepik

6. Urine

During the holiday season, experts often write about removing stains caused by gravies, wine, sauces, and other festive menu items. However, many people seem to avoid discussing stains caused by wetting accidents, even though they are very common. In fact, it’s not a surprise that the abundance of foods and drinks during Christmas festivities results in urine stains left by the youngest family members. Here’s how to treat urine stains on carpets, mattresses or upholstery:

• Put on a pair of heavy-duty cleaning gloves.*
• Grab a few rags or a bunch of paper towels, and soak the urine as quickly as possible.** 
• Mix 1 cup of distilled white vinegar and 1 cup of water in a small bowl or spray bottle.
• Damp a clean sponge into your cleaning solution and blot the affected area, but try not to saturate it. Repeat a few times.  
• Use paper towels or a dry cloth to blot out the cleaning mixture.
• Rinse away any vinegar residue by blotting with a clean sponge dipped in lukewarm water. Repeat until you make sure there’s no cleaning solution on the carpet or upholstery. 
• Use dry, clean rags or paper towels to soak the residual water. 
• Let the carpet air-dry away from direct sunlight or heat.

* Always wear gloves when dealing with organic stains like urine, faeces, vomit or blood to avoid potential health issues.

**If the urine stain has dried, we strongly recommend you book a stain removal specialist to help you remove the strong smell and ensure your carpet or mattress is pristine.

For more information you can read our comprehensive guide on urine stain removal.

Heavy foods can lead to nausea, so it’s not surprising vomit is among the most common stains after a holiday get-together. Image by benzoix on Freepik

7. Vomit

When it comes to uncomfortable topics, we can’t ignore vomit, which is another unpleasant stain that might surface during the holidays. The rich holiday menu, topped with plenty of alcohol, can get the best of us and make us feel a bit sick. Young children may also eat more than their stomachs can handle. As a result, it’s not surprising that vomit is among the most common stains during holiday get-togethers at home. Once you’ve ensured that the person who vomited is okay, the next thing you need to focus on is the vomit stain. Here’s how to deal with it:

• Grab a pair of cleaning gloves, as vomit can be potentially infectious.
• Scrape any solid bits from the surface using a flat knife or spatula.
• Mix 1 cup of water with a few tbsp of baking soda. Apply the solution onto the stain. 
• The baking soda neutralises the high acidity of stomach acid. This will prevent damage to the carpet or upholstery material.
• Blot the area to lift the remaining liquid.
• We strongly advise you to stop the DIY treatment at this point, even if there’s still visible colouration from the vomit. The reason is that vomit can be quite complex, consisting of various foods and beverages, especially after a holiday dinner. It is best to cover the stain with a clean towel to prevent spreading the substance and call a certified stain removal specialist.

Read also: How to Remove Blood Stains from Carpet and Upholstery?

Sometimes you might need to loosen the dried up dirt on the carpet with a brush. Image by Freepik

5 Tips for Successful Stain Removal from Upholstery and Carpets

If we spill something on our clothes, we can easily remove the garment and soak it in water to remove the dirt. However, the stain removal process is quite different when dealing with a spill from the Christmas dinner on carpets or furniture. We must be careful not to spread the stain or oversoak the spot to avoid ruining the furnishings. Additionally, carpet and upholstery stains may not be noticed immediately, unlike a spill on clothes. Therefore, it’s essential to keep in mind the following tips from carpet and upholstery cleaning professionals while cleaning stains from carpets or furniture after a festive dinner:

• Act quickly, as some stains are almost impossible to remove once they dry.
• Don’t treat a stain if you’re unsure of its origin. Some dried foods can look alike, making it challenging to identify and remove.
• Using multiple cleaning products to treat a stain will likely make it worse.
• If you are uncertain about the type of fabric or material you are dealing with, it is best to refrain from cleaning it yourself. Instead, seek the help of a professional stain removal service.
• If you need to wait for a stain removal specialist but want to avoid spreading the dirt, cover the spot with a clean rag or paper towel.

You might also like: 9 Things You Need to Know About Stain Protection for Carpets and Upholstery

Don’t hesitate to contact us whenever you need help getting your home immaculately cleaned. Our cleaning experts will remove even stubborn stains and dirt and bring back the as-new look of your carpets, furniture and mattresses.

We hope our tips will help keep your home nice and clean during the festive season. The CleanerCleaner team wishes you happy holidays!