The Katchy Guide to Holiday House Cleaning

Blog written by Katchy.

It’s the busiest time of the year for most of us, folks. We’ve got family obligations. We’ve got holidays. We’ve got gifts to buy. We’ve got shows to binge watch until 4am. And on top of all that, we have jobs that take up way too much of our precious time on this earth. How the hell are we supposed to keep our houses nice and tidy ON TOP OF ALL THAT? 

Until recently, I didn’t know. I was stressed and tired, like I assume all of you are. That is, of course, until I realized the subtle art of holiday house cleaning. That’s right - there is an art to the madness of cleaning during the holidays, and I’m about to share it with you. 

I’ve created the ultimate deep cleaning checklist for this season - from the do’s and don’ts of cleaning, the best air purifiers to use, and which Katchy bug catchers will give you the best results for those pests that just won’t buzz off. 

Is Winter Cleaning a Thing?

Absolutely! Winter is actually one of the best times to clean, as we often neglect many parts of our house during the colder seasons, which can lead to a buildup of mildew and dust in areas we don’t often walk or stay in.

Moreover, many people usually have a plethora of guests in their home during the winter season (Covid permitting), usually due to the copious holidays that occur around this time - so, believe it or not, our houses are often at their dirtiest! 

This is why stocking up on holiday cleaners and supplies is essential - there are a lot of sales on cleaners around winter too in time for the holidays! 

What Should I Do to Prepare My House for Winter?

Before we get to holiday house cleaning, why not learn a few tips that will save you some cash on heating and home repair? There are actually a lot of things you can do to prep your house for winter before you even pick up a broom:  

• Seal up your hard surfaces. If you have a driveway, walkway, or concrete patio, apply a concrete sealer to all of the exterior surfaces. This prevents damage from winter temperatures and elements, keeping your surfaces safe and chic.

• Check your heating and air conditioning systems. Before it gets too cold, change your filters! This can help you to get rid of dust, dirt, and mold in your vents. This can also prevent your heating system from giving out in the dead of winter, when you need it most! 

• Clean your chimney and order some firewood. If you have a fireplace, stock up on wood before it gets too cold and it’s in high demand! (Plus, you can’t reap the rewards of your winter cleaning without lighting a toasty fire after a job well done.)

• Drain any outside faucets. Our outdoor water faucets are totally unprotected from nature’s fury, and are susceptible to splitting open if they’re filled with frozen water. It’s not common, but it happens! 

• Seal up your attic. Don’t leave this space off of your deep cleaning checklist! The upper part of our home makes a great nest for squirrels, raccoons, and rats. These unwanted guests can cause a lot of damage and even create health problems for you and your family. Seal up any holes you can find in your attic before it gets too cold!  

• Check for holes or cracks in your windows and doors. A LOT of drafty air can come in from unsealed windows and entryways. Seal them up to save money on heating and temperature regulation!

Useful Tips for Winter Cleaning

Time to get to the meat of the article - what should you really focus on while winter cleaning? Which places should you deep clean? Let’s dive in: 

The Winter House Cleaning Checklist:

1. Reduce clutter. 

• Organization is the key to keeping a house clean, no matter what season. The more detritus you have laying around, the more dust and dirt it will collect, and the more overwhelming it will be for you to clean it up later. 

2. Wash the windows. 

• The reason why this is so important for holiday house cleaning is because it’s often overlooked in the winter. Snow, sleet, and salt can do a good bit of damage to our windows, and make them look pretty awful. 

3. Start with your kitchen, then move outward. 

• Many people find themselves asking ‘When cleaning a house, where do I start?’ The kitchen! Our kitchens are more often than not one of the dirtiest places in our house. Plus, this is a good opportunity to reach unreachable places, such as…

4. Clean hard-to-reach areas (such as the back of your fridge, oven, and couch). 

• You have to do this at least once a year, so wintertime is really the best time to get it out of the way. For your fridge, make sure to clean not only the walls, but the coils as well. Dirty coils reduce energy efficiency and can cost you quite a bit! 

5. Get a bug catcher to catch any pests that come in for the winter.

• While we all hope that the bugs that bother us will simply vanish (or perish) during colder seasons, some are here to stay. I recommend the Katchy Automatic Indoor Insect Trap - all you have to do is put it in the area affected most, turn it on, and eureka! 

6. Steam your carpet and furniture. 

• Winter weather often makes us track in snow, sleet, and mud. Make sure you get thorough while you’re holiday house cleaning, and address those stains ASAP by steam cleaning your carpet, couch, and chairs! 

7. Go the extra mile and make your home smell nice.

• Get some potpourri, boil some orange slices, or get some candles! For more tips, check out our blog dedicated to creating a good smelling home for the holidays. 

Winter Cleaning FAQs

How Often Should You Deep Clean Your House?

You should do a deep clean once every few months. While most people typically only do a deep clean in the spring, it’s actually way healthier to clean out all of those nooks and crannies much more frequently. Moreover, it is recommended that you dust furniture, sanitize sponges, wipe down kitchen appliances, mop kitchen and bathroom floors, and vacuum weekly - not just while winter cleaning!

Why is My House So Dusty in the Winter? 

Houses often get dustier in winter due to a prolonged use of their heating system. This blows more dust in the air, and causes our skin to dry out and flake. To combat this, I recommend adding an air purifier to your deep cleaning checklist. Specifically the Veva ProHEPA 9000 Air Purifier, which is medical grade, has a washable pre-filter, a small carbon filter, AND a HEPA filter. Your air will be so clean, you’ll wonder why all houses don’t just come with this.

When Should You Start Cleaning for a Holiday?

About 1 week before the holiday, or a little before. Holiday house cleaning is great, but if you’re cleaning for relatives, make sure they’ll actually be able to see the results of your work! Don’t wait until the last minute, but also don’t do it a month in advance only to have your home just get dirty and dusty again. 

How Do You Keep Your House Clean on a Busy Schedule?

The typical rule of thumb for winter cleaning on a busy schedule is to prioritize what needs cleaning, put stuff away right after you use it, keep cleaning supplies on hand, and divide your tasks into daily habits and weekly chores. Try just 1 or 2 of these things at first to form the habit, then add more habits as you get a little better. 

Final Thoughts

Holiday house cleaning can be intimidating, taxing, and difficult - but it doesn’t always have to be! Doing a little bit at a time, having the right priorities, and not overwhelming yourself are key! Oh, and having the right products in your home is essential - so be sure to check out the Veva and Katchy websites for more tips and products that can save you this season! 

Tis the season for tidiness! 

Contributing Writer: Aurora Detor