The big clean before the holidays: a plan for home and office

December is the month of guests — relatives visit at home, there's a Christmas party at the office, restaurants host company celebrations. That's why the big clean before the holidays is a tradition. But without a plan it easily turns into an exhausting weekend where everything is done at once and nothing gets finished.

This article is a plan for the deep clean before the holidays — for the home and the office. We've split it into stages so you can spread it over two or three weeks instead of piling it all into the last day.

Why the floor comes last

The first rule of a deep clean: work from the top down. Dust from cabinets, shelves and light fittings falls downwards. If you mop the floor first, you'll have to mop it again.

So the order is:

1. Ceilings, corners and light fittings
2. Cabinets, shelves and windowsills
3. Windows
4. Furniture and appliances
5. Floors — last

Week 1: Decluttering

The hardest part of a deep clean isn't the washing, it's the decluttering. The fewer things on surfaces and on the floor, the faster and better you clean.

At home:

• go through the cupboards and throw out what you don't need;
• clear boxes, bags and shoes off the floor;
• make room for the holiday decorations.

At the office:

• ask colleagues to clear their desks and the floor around them;
• throw out old boxes and documents for shredding;
• clear the common areas — kitchen, reception, meeting room.

Have plenty of bin bags ready — there's more rubbish than usual when you declutter.

Week 2: Top down

Dust from high places

Start with the ceiling and corners, where cobwebs collect, then the light fittings and top shelves. Use a dry or slightly damp microfibre cloth — it holds the dust rather than sending it into the air.

Windows

Clean windows on a cloudy day — in direct sun the water dries quickly and leaves streaks. Use a microfibre glass cloth for the glass and an ordinary microfibre cloth for the frames and sills.

The kitchen

The kitchen takes the most time: cabinets inside and out, worktops, appliances, the tiles above the worktop. Grease on tiles and appliances needs a suitable degreaser — a general-purpose floor cleaner isn't designed for it.

The bathroom

Grout, limescale on taps and the shower glass. You'll need descaling products here — use them only on suitable surfaces and never mix them with bleach. More on safety in the article on safe handling of cleaning products.

Week 3: The floors

When everything above the floor is clean, it's the floors' turn. This is the step that makes the biggest impression — a fresh floor with a pleasant scent greets guests at the door.

1. Under the furniture

The deep clean is the time to reach places you normally don't: under the sofa, the bed, the fridge, behind the cabinets. Move the light furniture, then vacuum or sweep.

2. Corners and skirting

Corners and the line along the skirting are cleaned with a brush or a microfibre cloth before you go over them with the mop.

3. Mopping

Mop with solution at the dose on the label, from the furthest corner towards the door. Change the water for every room. For hard floors — tiles, porcelain stoneware, stone — Cobra floor cleaners are low-foam and fast-drying.

4. The grout

If the grout has darkened, now's the time — with solution and a brush. More in the article on porcelain stoneware and ceramic tiles.

5. The mats

Shake out or wash the entrance mats. In December guests come in from the cold and mud — a good mat protects the clean floor. More in the article on mud, snow and salt.

A festive fragrance

Fragrance is part of the festive mood. A fresh smell on arrival is the first thing guests notice. Choose a fragrance for the holidays — for example Cobra with luxury fragrance for a more elegant feel or Cobra Mango for freshness. Mop the floors a day or two before the guests arrive and ventilate, so the scent is fresh rather than heavy.

The office before the Christmas party

• The day before the party — a thorough mop of the common areas.
• During the party — set up a quick-response station: cloths, a small bucket, a mop. Spilled drinks are easiest to clean straight away.
• After the party — a thorough clean the next day, before colleagues are back at work. Dried drinks get sticky.

If the office is cleaned by a company, arrange an extra clean after the party in advance.

Shopping list

Before you start, check you have:

• floor cleaner — Cobra Perfume, Strawberry, Mango or Luxury fragrance in 5-litre canisters;
• a microfibre mop and a bucket with wringer;
• microfibre cloths and glass cloths;
• a brush with handle and a dustpan;
• gloves;
• bin bags;
• a stock of toilet paper and paper towels for the guests.

In short

• Spread the cleaning over three weeks: decluttering, top down, floors.
• Work from the top down — the floor comes last.
• Reach under the furniture and clean the grout.
• Mop a day or two before the guests, ventilate, choose a festive fragrance.
• At the office — a quick-response station during the party and a clean the next day.

Frequently asked questions

How long before the holidays should I start?

Two or three weeks give you enough time to spread the work. Leave the floors for the last few days before the guests arrive.

In what order should I clean the rooms?

Top down within each room, and from the furthest room towards the entrance across the home or office.

How do I avoid wearing myself out?

Split the work into small stages and don't try to do everything in one day. A good plan and supplies ready to hand save more time than rushing.

What if I don't have three weeks?

Focus on what guests see and feel: the entrance, the living room or common areas, the bathroom and the kitchen. Declutter, dust from the top down and mop the floors last. The deep clean of the cupboards and the store room can wait until January.

How should I clean up after the holidays?

Start with the rubbish and spills — dried drinks and food get stickier and harder to remove with every day that passes. Then sweep and mop the floors from the furthest room towards the entrance. Wash the mops and cloths so they're ready for next time.

How much cleaner should I buy for the deep clean?

More than your usual monthly consumption, because you mop a larger area more thoroughly. We show how to calculate consumption in the article on planning cleaner consumption.