Christmas and Chinese New Year are more than simple celebrations. They are joyful moments where everyone gathers to celebrate and embrace new beginnings. But the festive ambience can’t be achieved if you haven’t done thorough cleaning.
It is time to clear out everything unpleasant to readily welcome another year with family and friends. Here are some simple but effective house cleaning hacks you can use to achieve a sparkling space in no time, including booking holiday house cleaning services.
Planning Your Pre-Holiday House Cleaning
With Christmas a few weeks away and Chinese New Year following shortly after in February, now is the perfect time to start cleaning. Break down your cleaning tasks into manageable phases to avoid feeling overwhelmed during the busy holiday season.
How to start?
You can start by creating a room-by-room checklist that focuses on areas where guests will spend the most time. Usually, these are the:
- Living room
- Kitchen
- Dining area
- Guest bathroom
Supplies You Will Need
- Multi-purpose cleaners and disinfectants
- Microfiber cloths and scrubbing brushes
- Vacuum cleaner with fresh filters
- Mop and bucket
- Glass cleaner for windows and mirrors
- Clear storage boxes for CNY decorations
- Recycling bags for sorting papers and recyclables
- Boxes for donation items
Three-Week Action Plan
Week 1
- Sort through your belongings and organise items for:
- Blue bin recycling
- Paper products
- Newspapers, magazines, and junk mail
- Paper packaging and cardboard boxes
- Wrapping paper and greeting cards
- Books and textbooks
- Paper bags and envelopes
- Clean paper receipts
- Rinsed and cleaned Tetra Pak cartons
- Glass items
- Clean glass bottles and jars
- Remove metal caps and plastic labels where possible
- Metal
- Aluminium cans
- steel/tin cans
- Metal bottle caps
- Clean aluminum foil
- Plastic
- Clean plastic bottles and containers (Types 1-7)
- Plastic packaging
- Clean plastic bags
- Paper products
- Here are more recycling options, aside from blue bin recycling:
- E-waste bins at community centres
- ALBA e-waste recycling points
- Cash-for-Trash stations for recyclables
- Blue bin recycling
- Consider listing items for selling on Carousell to earn extra holiday cash, or sell used electronics to Cash Converters or PC Dreams.
- You may also want to donate some useful items to organisations, such as:
- Salvation Army donation centres
- MINDS Shop
- Thrift Mart
- Organise textbooks and assessment books for donation to local community centres like FairPrice Group Share-A-Textbook
- Schedule e-waste recycling for old electronics via ALBA collection points
- Arranging clothing donation to organisations like H&M’s recycling program
- Join local Facebook community groups like “Free Your Stuff Singapore” to give away usable items to families in need
Week 2
- After decluttering, focus on deep cleaning tasks (see Essential Areas to Focus On for more details).
- Have your AC units serviced early, as technicians get very busy near CNY.
Week 3
- Plan your decorations and their placement
- Test all electrical decorations before setting up
- Prepare spaces for:
- Christmas tree and decorations (if celebrating)
- CNY decorations
- Family gathering areas
- Lohei station for CNY
Essential Areas to Focus On
If you are feeling overwhelmed about where to start, don’t worry. We will break down each crucial area with simple and achievable steps.
Living Room
- Give your sofa and cushions a thorough cleaning
- Including vacuuming beneath the cushions
- Treating stains (if any)
- Clean ceiling fans and light fixtures
- Wipe all surfaces clean, such as the coffee tables and TV consoles where guests will place drinks and snacks
- Deep clean your rugs
- Clean AC filters for better air quality during gatherings
- Also clean the curtains and blinds
Kitchen
- Deep clean your oven and cooker hob
- Clear out and sanitise your refrigerator to make space for ingredients and leftovers
- Descale kettles and coffee makers
- Clean and organise your cupboards/cabinets
- Clean the countertops and backsplashes
- Check and clean cooker hoods
Dining Area
- Clean and polish your dining table and chairs
- Wash the table linens you plan to use
- Clean the light fixtures above the dining area
- Make sure that serveware and cutlery are clean and ready for use
- Allocate space for additional chairs, if needed
Guest Bathroom
- Deep clean the toilet, sink, and shower areas
- Stock up on toilet paper, hand soap, and fresh hand towels
- Check and clean bathroom ventilation
- Place air fresheners or scent diffusers, if preferred
- Clean the mirrors and glass surfaces
Entryway
- Clean and organise shoe racks
- Prepare additional storage for guests’ footwear
- Wipe down door frames and handles
- Clean welcome mats
Windows and Glass Surfaces
- Clean both sides of all windows
- Clean mirrors throughout the house
- Wipe glass cabinet doors clean
- Clean sliding door tracks
Point to remember: high-touch surfaces should be your priority when disinfecting surfaces. Examples are door handles, light switches, and remote control. These need regular disinfecting.
Smart Hacks on House Cleaning During Holiday
Make your holiday cleaning more efficient and effective with these clever tricks that work especially well in our climate.
Tackling AC Units
Before deep cleaning your air-conditioner, spray the filters with white vinegar and let sit for 10 minutes to dissolve stubborn dust.
When wiping AC fins, use a fin comb instead of cloth or newspaper. A fin comb can also fix bent fins.
And clean your aircon during the cooler morning hours to avoid condensation issues.
Achieve a Sparkling Kitchen
Mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water with a drop of dishwashing liquid to remove grease.
If you are dealing with oil splatters on walls, apply baking soda paste. Let it sit for five minutes, and then wipe clean.
When cleaning your microwave, heat a bowl of water with lemon slices for three minutes, and then wipe it. The steam loosens all stuck-on food.
Curry stains from plastic containers can be effectively removed when you leave them in the sun for several hours after washing.
As for the lingering food odours from your fridge, place used coffee grounds in a container with holes.
For Humidity-Related Issues
You can place silica gel packets in storage boxes with CNY decorations, and calcium chloride dehumidifier tubs in closets to get rid of musty odours.
For bathroom mould, spray a mixture of white vinegar and tea tree oil on affected areas. When possible, keep the windows slightly open to circulate the air.
Floor Care
For tile floors, mix white vinegar with warm water. If there are scuff marks on your vinyl flooring, mix equal parts white vinegar and water and gently rub the mark using a cloth or sponge.
When tackling marble floors, clean them with plain water first and then use a specialised marble cleaner. For wooden floors, avoid excessive water and use a barely damp mop to prevent warping.
Window and Glass Cleaning
Clean the windows on cloudy days so that the cleaning solution doesn’t dry too quickly, leaving streaks. Instead of paper towels, you may use coffee filters to avoid streaks.
And you can make your own glass cleaner. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water with a few drops of dishwashing liquid.
Furniture and Upholstery
Sprinkle baking soda on sofas and mattresses, let sit for 30 minutes, and then vacuum to get rid of unwanted odours.
Spray and wipe skirting boards with a mixture of fabric softener and warm water to prevent dust from settling on them and remain clean for a long time.
Put on rubber gloves to remove pet hair from furniture. Just run your hands over the surface and watch the hair collect.
Smart Storage Solutions
Use clear storage boxes for decorations and label them clearly. Wrap your Christmas lights around cardboard pieces. Use vacuum storage bags to store festive cushion covers and table linens (also a wise tip to save space).
Special Holiday Considerations
| Christmas-Specific Cleaning | Chinese New Year-Specific Cleaning |
Tree Area Preparation
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Traditional Customs
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Book Your Holiday House Cleaning Services Today!
Time is of the essence, as we are fast approaching the festive season. Starting your cleaning efforts now will save you from the last-minute rush and guarantee a stress-free holiday season.
For those considering professional house cleaning services, the weeks leading up to CNY are particularly busy for cleaning companies in Singapore. Book your cleaning services in advance to get your preferred date and time slot and have enough time for follow-up cleaning if necessary. Start your holiday cleaning plan today. Contact us at KungFu Helper to secure your cleaning schedule early, and we will be ready to help you prepare your home for a joyous Christmas and a prosperous Chinese New Year.
