From Thanksgiving through New Year’s, a lot of East Valley homes turn into guest houses. Family flies into Sky Harbor, winter visitors are back in Mesa and Gold Canyon, and the spare room that has held boxes since spring suddenly needs to look ready. The trick is not cleaning harder the night before. It is cleaning in the right order, starting three weeks out.
Here is the plan our team has refined over more than 30 holiday seasons in the East Valley.
Three weeks out: jobs that need drying time or a calendar slot
Start with the work that cannot happen at the last minute.
- Carpets. Holiday foot traffic and fall dust show up first in hallways and in front of the couch. Hot water extraction pulls the soil out, and carpets usually dry in 4 to 6 hours. You still want them done before furniture gets rearranged and decorations go up. Book carpet cleaning now, while open days remain.
- The couch everyone will sit on. Upholstery holds body oils, pet hair and last year’s party spills. A cleaning now means it looks fresh in every photo. See upholstery cleaning.
- Windows. Low winter sun shows every hard water spot and dust film on the glass. One customer had us clean their windows before relatives came for the holidays and liked the result so much they added windows to their regular rotation. Start with window cleaning.
- Tile and grout in the entry and kitchen. These are the first floors guests see and the first to show dark grout lines.
Two weeks out: the deep clean
A regular cleaning keeps a home in good shape. The holidays call for the jobs that get skipped the rest of the year:
- Inside the fridge, so there is room for leftovers
- Inside the oven, before it runs for hours on a turkey or ham
- Hand-wiped baseboards and blinds
- Inside cabinets, plus spot-cleaned walls and doors
- A top-to-bottom guest bathroom
All of these can be added to a house cleaning visit. If you have never had a professional deep clean, the holidays are a good time to start. We recommend one for every new customer’s first visit anyway.
The week of: a room-by-room reset
Once the heavy work is done, keep a short list for the last few days.
Entry
- Shake out or vacuum the door mat
- Wipe the front door, handle and light switch
- Clear shoes and bags from the walkway
Guest room
- Fresh sheets and an extra blanket for cool desert nights
- An empty drawer and a few hangers
- Dust on nightstands, lamps and the ceiling fan
Guest bathroom
- Clean towels, a spare roll and hand soap
- Wipe the mirror, faucet and counter
- Empty the trash
Kitchen
- Clear counters for serving space
- Wipe appliance fronts and the inside of the microwave
- Run and empty the dishwasher before guests arrive
Living room
- Vacuum under the cushions
- Dust the TV stand and shelves
- Clear the coffee table
After the party
Spills happen. When one does, blot it with a clean white towel instead of rubbing, which pushes it deeper into the fibers. Then call us. The sooner a stain is treated, the better the odds it comes out completely.
A post-holiday cleaning on the first weekday of January is also an easy way to start the year without spending your last day off scrubbing.
Why East Valley families hand this off
Holiday prep takes a lot of hours at the busiest time of year. Our cleaners are our own background-checked employees, trained at our Mesa office, and they bring every supply. If an area we cleaned is not right, tell us within 24 hours and we will come back and re-clean it free under The Heavenly Re-Clean Promise.
We serve Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley and the rest of the East Valley. See all our service areas. Wondering what a holiday deep clean costs? Get a free quote online in a couple of minutes.
Holiday cleaning FAQs
How far ahead should I book holiday cleaning?Book in early November for Thanksgiving and by the start of December for Christmas. Weekday slots fill first, and Saturday appointments are limited.
Do I need to be home during the cleaning?No. Many customers leave a key, a lockbox or a garage code. We give a two-hour arrival window and can call 30 minutes ahead.
Will my carpets be dry before guests arrive?Carpets usually dry in 4 to 6 hours. To be safe, schedule carpet cleaning at least a day before company comes.
New to Heavenly Scent? Your first house cleaning is 2 cleaners for 2 hours for $166. Claim the new customer special or call 480-807-4306.