12 Days of Cleaning: A Tidy Countdown to a Merry Christmas
By Anna Hopaluk
The holiday season brings cozy gatherings, festive lights, and warm memories—but it can also bring stress, especially when preparing your home for guests. To help you feel confident and calm this season, we’re introducing the 12 Days of Cleaning: a step-by-step guide to creating a clean, cozy, and welcoming home before the big day.
Day 1: Decluttering Delight
Start your holiday prep by tackling one room at a time. Sort items to keep, donate, or toss—making room for holiday décor and gifts. A clutter-free home instantly feels more inviting.
Day 2: Kitchen Chronicles
Deep clean your kitchen, the heart of holiday cooking. Wipe counters, scrub appliances, and organize the fridge to make space for festive treats and leftovers.
Day 3: Bathroom Blitz
Ensure your bathrooms sparkle and smell fresh. Clean toilets, mirrors, and tiles, and stock up on fresh towels. Add festive scents like potpourri for a cheerful touch.
Day 4: Living Room Luster
Dust shelves, vacuum carpets, and fluff cushions. A clean living room is the perfect canvas for holiday decorations and creates a cozy space for guests to gather.
Day 5: Bedroom Oasis
Wash bedding, dust furniture, and add holiday-themed touches. Cozy bedrooms offer rest and comfort amid the holiday bustle.
Day 6: Windows to the Wonders
Let winter light shine through. Clean windows inside and out with a simple natural solution: water, vinegar, and a drop of dish soap. Sparkling glass brightens the home and the mood.
Day 7: Floor Focus
Sweep, mop, or steam-clean floors to remove mud and snow tracked in by guests. Boot racks and mats help keep the mess under control.
Day 8: Dusting the Halls
Target often-overlooked spots like ceiling fans, baseboards, and picture frames. Start high and work down to capture falling dust effectively.
Day 9: The Guest Quarters
Prepare guest rooms with fresh sheets, pillows, and a basket of essentials. Add little extras like festive books, a coffee or tea station, or seasonal music to create a welcoming retreat.
Day 10: Laundry Load-Off
Wash tablecloths, napkins, towels, and other linens. Try a homemade festive detergent with washing soda, borax, castile soap, and essential oils for a fresh, seasonal scent.
Day 11: Safety Sweep
Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, inspect lights and cords, and child-proof or pet-proof as needed. Ensure decorations are flame-resistant and safely positioned.
Day 12: Finishing Touches
Set the table, arrange decorations, and do a final sweep. Celebrate your 12-day tidy with a glass of wine, hot chocolate, or your favorite festive beverage.
By breaking holiday cleaning into manageable steps, this 12-day plan transforms preparation from stressful to joyful. With a clean, cozy, and welcoming home, you can focus on what matters most: creating warm memories with family and friends.
Happy holidays, and here’s to confident, cozy hosting!
~ Your Friend, Anna
Meet the Author - Anna Hopaluk
Being a mom of four very active, energetic and inquisitive kids, Anna knows the importance of time management and the need for delegation.
After struggling to rediscover her purpose, but knowing her need for connection and desire to help people, Anna searched for a way to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
In 2016 Anna started My Friend Anna Cleaning and Organizing Services with a vision to give people the gift of time.
Founder My Friend Anna Cleaning | Public Speaker | Home Cleaning Services | Empowering Women & Supporting Families in Calgary & Area
Email: info@myfriendanna.ca
Phone: 403.477.2662
Facebook: My Friend Anna Cleaning
Instagram: myfriendannacleaning
Note: The author, compiler and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party due to these words coming from the author’s own opinion based on their experiences. This account is based on the author’s own personal experience. We assume no responsibility for errors or omissions in these articles.
