Apartment cleaning checklist for the holidays

The holidays are coming and it’s time to get organized. Who says you have to pour all your energy into home cleaning the week before Christmas when you can take one small step at a time starting…now!

Go shopping! Maybe dropping by the hardware store is not exactly what you had in mind but hey, it’s still called shopping. Make a list of everything you need to clean the house, glass cleaners, furniture polish, a good rag mop, a microfiber cloth as well as all the little things that need fixing or replacing. If you choose using all-purpose cleaners, make sure you read all through the label because not all of these products are safe for every purpose that comes to mind.

De-clutter your living space. An apartment that is well-organized and aired looks much cleaner even if you don’t vacuum and scrub floors every single day. Go through your closet and get rid of old clothes and single socks, items that no longer fit or anything else you haven’t worn or used in the last twelve months. Do the same for your bathroom and kitchen. This is also a good time to review your decorations, throw away anything that’s broken and make room for new ones.

Delegate tasks. If you’re sharing space with other people, family, roommates, or a partner maybe, involve everyone in the process and draft a cleaning schedule for each and every one of you to enjoy. Unless you’re making all the mess around the house, then it’s solely your responsibility. Make a to-do list with all the things that need to be done and cross them off one by one as you advance to a sparkling home. Here’s an example:

1. Clean blinds, wash drapery and slipcovers
2. Give rugs a deep clean
3. Clean windows and mirrors
4. Water plants
5. Dust working surfaces
6. Vacuum
7. Trash out

Come up with a plan of attack. Start from a room that you don’t use as much. This way you’ll know everything behind you is neat and tidy and everything ahead of you requires attention. It’s a great way to measure what you’ve accomplished so far and what’s left to do. Leave the kitchen and living room last as because these are the places where we cook and hang out and there will always be some kind of mess here. You can clean the kitchen last, after you’re done with all the cooking for the feast, so that your home looks spotless clean, to impress even the pickiest mother-in-law that comes to visit.

The last week before Christmas is for the little details. Changing bedsheets, pillowcases, and quilt covers, fluffing the pillows on your couch and chairs, de-cluttering your home’s entryway to make room for your guests’ coats, bags and shoes and setting up decorations.

And then let the fun begin!