The A-to-Z Pre-Festive Cleaning Guide

“A clean home is a happy home, ready for celebrations and good fortune.”

There is something wonderfully satisfying about cleaning your home before the festive season. It is not simply about making the house look presentable for visitors. In many Indian homes, the pre-festival clean is almost a ritual — you clear out what you no longer need, tackle the corners you have ignored all year and begin the celebrations with a home that feels lighter.

But deep cleaning is very different from your everyday jhadu-pocha.

The trick is not to attempt the entire house in one exhausting day. Divide the job into rooms, work from top to bottom and dry to wet, and know which jobs are better handed over to someone else.

Before you begin: assemble your cleaning kit

You really don’t need a cupboard full of chemicals.

Useful equipment includes:

• A good vacuum cleaner with crevice and upholstery attachments
• Microfibre cloths — ideally separate ones for kitchen, bathroom and general cleaning
• Microfibre or flat mop
• Long-handled/duster or telescopic cleaning pole
• Soft and medium-bristled brushes
• Old toothbrushes for tracks, taps and awkward corners
• Squeegee for glass/ mirrors and shower screens
• Bucket and spray bottles
• Rubber or nitrile gloves
• Protective mask if you are particularly sensitive to dust
• A stable step stool only if you are confident using one safely

If reaching a ceiling fan or climbing onto a ladder feels even slightly precarious, leave it to someone else. No sparkling fan is worth a fall.

1. Start by decluttering

Before you clean, remove what shouldn’t be there.

Go through:

• Newspapers and magazines
• Clothes you haven’t worn
• Expired cosmetics and toiletries
• Old medicines — dispose of these appropriately rather than simply passing them on
• Broken appliances
• Unused utensils
• Old containers and jars
• Expired food
• Shoes and bags
• Unwanted décor
• Forgotten objects lurking in drawers

Create four categories: keep, donate, repair and discard/recycle.

Decluttering first makes the actual cleaning considerably easier.

2. Ceilings, fans and lights

Always begin at the top because dust will fall downwards.

• Remove cobwebs from ceiling corners.
• Dust ceiling fans, including the tops of blades.
• Clean exhaust fans and ventilation grilles.
• Dust pendant lights and lampshades.
• Wipe switches and switchboards with a barely damp cloth — never spray liquid directly onto electrical fittings.
• Clean accessible light fixtures after switching off the electricity and allowing bulbs to cool.

Avoid standing on beds, chairs or stools that were never designed to be ladders.

3. Walls, doors and windows

These are often forgotten during everyday cleaning.

• Dust walls before attempting wet cleaning.
• Spot-clean fingerprints and marks using a product suitable for your paint finish.
• Wipe doors, handles and frames.
• Vacuum window tracks before washing them.
• Clean window glass with a microfibre cloth and squeegee.
• Dust grills and mosquito screens.
• Wash or vacuum curtains according to their care labels.
• Vacuum blinds and wipe washable ones.
• Clean balcony and sliding-door tracks thoroughly.

Never lean out of a high-rise window to clean the exterior glass. That is a professional job.

4. Living and dining areas

Move what you safely can rather than cleaning only around it.

• Vacuum behind and beneath sofas.
• Vacuum sofa cushions, seams and crevices.
• Shampoo upholstery only if the manufacturer’s instructions permit it.
• Vacuum rugs on both sides.
• Have valuable wool or silk carpets professionally cleaned.
• Dust books individually rather than simply wiping the shelf edge.
• Clean photo frames, clocks and decorative objects.
• Dust the backs of televisions and electronics carefully.
• Wipe remote controls and frequently touched surfaces.( I recommend using a Savlon wipe to disinfect these)
• Clean dining chairs, including underneath the seats.
• Wipe table legs and bases.
• Polish wooden furniture only with products intended for that finish.

5. The kitchen — the big job

This is usually where grease, food residue and forgotten clutter accumulate.

Cabinets and storage

Empty one cupboard at a time.

• Discard expired foods.
• Check grains and pulses for insects.
• Vacuum crumbs from shelves.
• Wipe shelves and allow them to dry completely before replacing food.
• Wash storage containers when necessary.
• Wipe cabinet doors, handles and hinges.
• Clean the tops of cabinets where oily dust collects.

Appliances

Give some attention to:

• Refrigerator shelves, drawers, seals and handles
• Microwave interior and exterior
• Oven 
• Mixer and food processor
• Toaster
• Kettle
• Air fryer
• Dishwasher, if you have one
• Chimney filters according to manufacturer instructions
• Exhaust fan

Never spray cleaner directly into electrical appliances, switches or sockets.

Sink and worktops

Clean the sink, drain area, taps, backsplash, tiles and countertop. Pay special attention to the junction between the countertop and wall, where grime can accumulate.

Keep food-contact surfaces simple: detergent/soap and water followed by thorough rinsing is often sufficient.

6. Bathrooms

Start with dry dust and hair before introducing water.

Clean:

• Ceiling/exhaust vent
• Tiles and grout
• Shower area
• Glass screens
• Taps and fittings
• Basin
• Mirror
• Toilet — including hinges, seat, exterior and surrounding floor
• Drains
• Shelves
• Soap dishes
• Buckets and mugs
• Bathroom mats

Hard-water deposits may need a suitable descaling product, but first check that it is safe for your taps, stone and tile surfaces.

And remember: a bathroom does not need to smell overwhelmingly of chemicals to be hygienically clean.

7. Bedrooms and wardrobes

This is a good opportunity to turn the mattress and wardrobe into part of the annual clean.

• Strip the bed completely.
• Wash bed linen, mattress protectors and washable pillows according to their care instructions.
• Vacuum the mattress, particularly seams and edges.
• Vacuum beneath the bed.
• Dust the headboard.
• Clean bedside tables and drawers.
• Empty wardrobes section by section.
• Wipe shelves before replacing clothes.
• Air cupboards well before closing them.
• Check for dampness, mould or insect activity.
• Wash or dry-clean heavy quilts and blankets before storing them.

Avoid spraying perfume or strong disinfectant onto mattresses. A clean, thoroughly dry mattress is preferable to one saturated with fragrance.

8. Floors, skirting boards and forgotten corners

Floors come towards the end because everything you have cleaned above them has been shedding dust.

Vacuum first, then mop.

Don’t forget:

• Skirting boards
• Corners
• Under furniture
• Behind doors
• Beneath rugs
• Stair edges
• Balcony floors
• Entrance areas

Marble, natural stone, wood, laminate and vitrified tile have different cleaning requirements. One powerful acidic cleaner is not suitable for every floor.

9. Balcony, utility area and entrance

Festival cleaning shouldn’t stop at the front door.

• Wash doormats.
• Clean the entrance door and nameplate.
• Dust shoe racks.
• Remove dead leaves from planters.
• Clean plant trays.
• Check drains for blockages.
• Wash balcony furniture.
• Clean utility shelves.
• Dust washing-machine surfaces and clean accessible filters according to instructions.
• Remove accumulated cardboard and packaging.

Standing water in plant saucers, buckets or trays should also be emptied — especially in mosquito season.

10. Don’t forget the small things

These are touched constantly but easily overlooked:

• Door handles
• Drawer handles
• Remote controls
• Telephone handsets 
• Switches
• Railings
• Fridge handles
• Appliance controls
• Computer keyboards and mice
• Reusable shopping bags
• Dustbins

Regular cleaning with soap/detergent and water is sufficient for most household surfaces. Routine disinfection of an entire home is generally unnecessary unless somebody is ill or particularly vulnerable; cleaning itself removes most germs from surfaces.

What should you clean with?

For everyday dirt: A mild detergent or pH-neutral multipurpose cleaner is usually enough.

For glass: Use a dedicated glass cleaner or a mild solution recommended for the surface, followed by a clean microfibre cloth or squeegee. Slightly damp, scrunched up newspaper works well to remove smudges.

For grease: Use a kitchen degreaser formulated for the surface rather than endlessly scrubbing with an abrasive pad.

For limescale: Use an appropriate descaler, but check compatibility first — acidic products can damage certain natural stones and finishes.

For disinfection: Use an appropriately labelled disinfectant only where genuinely needed and follow the label’s contact time. Cleaning should come first because dirt can interfere with disinfectants.

And don’t assume that “natural” automatically means harmless or effective. Even familiar household substances are chemicals, and homemade mixtures do not necessarily perform as well as properly formulated cleaners.

The golden safety rule: never play chemist

Never mix bleach with another cleaner.

In particular, don’t combine bleach with ammonia or acidic cleaners. Dangerous gases can be released. If you use bleach, follow the manufacturer’s dilution instructions, ventilate the room, wear appropriate protection and keep it away from children and pets.

Also avoid the popular temptation to believe that more product = cleaner. It usually doesn’t. Follow the amount specified on the label.

If strong fragrances irritate your nose, eyes or breathing, choose fragrance-free or lower-fragrance products where possible and ventilate well. Programmes such as the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Safer Choice initiative also evaluate products for ingredients considered safer for human health and the environment.

A senior-friendly way to do it

Deep cleaning can become surprisingly strenuous. Rather than declaring Sunday “clean the entire house day”, spread it out:

Day 1: Declutter
Day 2: Bedroom and wardrobes
Day 3: Living and dining rooms
Day 4: Kitchen
Day 5: Bathrooms
Day 6: Windows, balcony and utility area
Day 7: Floors, entrance and finishing touches

Work for 30–45 minutes, rest, hydrate and continue only if you feel comfortable. Avoid prolonged bending and twisting, lifting heavy furniture or carrying overloaded buckets.

And delegate the risky jobs: high windows, ceiling fans, heavy furniture, exterior glass, intensive floor scrubbing and heavy-duty bathroom descaling are excellent candidates for professional help.

 Too Much to Tackle? Call in the Pros

A professional deep clean can be worth considering before the festive season, particularly if you have a large home, find prolonged bending or climbing difficult, or simply don’t want to spend several exhausting days doing it yourself.

Professional home cleaning in India — what might it cost?

Prices vary considerably according to your city, size of home, furnished or unfurnished status, level of cleaning required and add-on services. Festival-season demand can also affect availability and pricing.

These are indicative ranges rather than fixed national rates. Prices and customer ratings change frequently and may rise during the festive season. Readers, please check the provider’s current rate and recent reviews in your own city before booking.

Before you say yes to a quote

Don’t compare cleaners purely on the headline price. Ask whether the package includes:

• Ceiling fans and light fittings
• Windows, grills and tracks
• Kitchen cabinets — inside as well as outside
• Chimney and exhaust-fan degreasing
• Refrigerator, microwave and oven interiors
• Bathroom descaling
• Balcony and utility areas
• Sofa and upholstery shampooing
• Mattress cleaning
• Carpet cleaning
• Moving furniture
• Machine scrubbing of floors
• Cleaning materials and professional equipment

Also ask whether GST and add-on charges are included in the quoted price.

Check the rating — but read the reviews too

A 4.8-star rating can look reassuring, but the number alone doesn’t tell you everything. Look at how many people have reviewed the service, read the most recent reviews and pay particular attention to comments about punctuality, breakages, hidden charges and the thoroughness of the cleaning.

For independent local companies, ask whether workers are verified and what happens if something is accidentally damaged.

Senior tip: Don’t pay someone to do only the easy jobs. If you are bringing in professionals, prioritise the physically demanding work — high fans, windows, bathrooms, kitchen grease, heavy furniture, mattresses and machine floor scrubbing — and save the lighter decluttering and organising for yourself.

Finally, don’t clean away the joy

The purpose of festive cleaning isn’t to turn your home into a showroom. Or to stress yourself out.

It is to remove what has accumulated, rediscover what you value and make your surroundings comfortable for the season ahead.

A slightly imperfect home filled with people, flowers, diyas, food, conversation — and perhaps a few paw prints — is still a beautifully clean home.

Clean enough to feel lighter. Safe enough to feel comfortable. Then stop cleaning and start celebrating.