Pre-Holiday Deep Clean Checklist for Shenandoah Valley Homes

The holidays are coming, which means guests are coming, which means you're looking around your house wondering when the baseboards got that dusty. You're not alone. Every October we see a wave of deep clean bookings from Valley homeowners getting ready for Thanksgiving and the holidays.

Here's the actual checklist our teams use for pre-holiday deep cleans. You can tackle it yourself over a weekend, or hand it to us and come home to a house that's ready.

Kitchen

• Pull appliances out from the wall and clean behind and underneath
• Deep clean the oven interior (not just a wipe-down)
• Clean the range hood and filter
• Wipe down all cabinet fronts and handles
• Sanitize the inside of the microwave
• Clean the inside of the refrigerator and discard expired items
• Scrub the sink and polish the faucet
• Mop the floor, including under the kitchen table and chairs

Bathrooms

• Scrub tile and grout in shower/tub area
• Clean and sanitize toilet interior and exterior, including the base
• Wipe down the medicine cabinet and vanity drawers
• Wash or replace shower curtain and liner
• Clean mirrors, light fixtures, and exhaust fan cover
• Restock guest towels

Guest Bedroom

• Wash all bedding, including mattress protector
• Dust ceiling fan blades and light fixtures
• Vacuum under the bed and behind furniture
• Wipe down nightstand, dresser, and lamp surfaces
• Empty and wipe the closet if guests will use it

Living Areas

• Dust all ceiling fans, vents, and high shelves
• Vacuum upholstered furniture, including under cushions
• Wipe all baseboards and door frames
• Clean all glass surfaces, mirrors, and picture frames
• Vacuum and mop all floors, including edges and corners

Don't Forget

• Entry area: clean the front door, sweep the porch, shake out the welcome mat
• Light switches and door handles throughout the house
• Windows in the main living areas (guests notice streaks in afternoon light)

If this list looks like a lot, that's because a real deep clean is a lot. Most of our pre-holiday customers book us for the deep clean and then move to a recurring maintenance schedule so the house stays there through the rest of winter.