Christmas Cleaning Checklist Perth | Week-by-Week Plan

Christmas has a funny way of sneaking up on us. One minute it's the October school holidays, and the next you've got family arriving in two days, the oven hasn't been touched since last Christmas, and you're wiping skirting boards at 11pm on Christmas Eve.

Here's something I've learnt from cleaning Perth homes (and from a few recent play dates at my place): nothing motivates a clean quite like knowing people are coming over. The trick at Christmas is to use that motivation early, instead of all at once in the final week.

So I've broken the big jobs into a simple week-by-week countdown. Each week has one main focus that takes an hour or two. Work through them in order and by the time December rolls around, the hard work is done. The final week is just about keeping things tidy (and enjoying yourself!).

Running late? If you're reading this in December, skip down to "2 weeks out", or book a pre-Christmas clean and let us take the big jobs off your list.

Before you start: your natural cleaning kit

You don't need harsh chemicals for any of this. Here's what we use:

Microfibre cloths: a few for wet cleaning and a few for dry
A plant-based multi-purpose spray
Bicarb soda: for scrubbing ovens and grout, and freshening mattresses
White vinegar diluted with water: brilliant on glass and hard water marks, but never use it on natural stone, and don't mix it with bicarb (here's why)
Castile soap or a gentle dish liquid
An old toothbrush for tracks, seals and grout
Essential oils like lemon, tea tree or wild orange for a fresh scent

Want to make your own sprays? Our guide to natural cleaning recipes has you covered. Or if you'd rather grab and go, the dōTERRA Consciously Clean Bundle has a surface spray, dish liquid and laundry powder in one.

10 weeks out (mid-October): Declutter and book

Christmas means presents, and presents mean more stuff. Clearing out now means you're not hunting for space for new toys on Boxing Day.

Sort the toy box and bookshelves, and donate what's been outgrown (op shops get very busy in December, so drop off now)
Clear out the linen press, the "everything" cupboard and the spare room that's quietly become a storage room
Open the Christmas decorations box: what's broken, what's missing and what never gets used?
Book your pre-Christmas clean. If you'd like professional help before the big day, this is the week to lock in a date. The weeks just before Christmas are always in high demand.

Need a decluttering game plan? Our spring cleaning checklist walks you through it room by room.

9 weeks out: The outdoor entertaining area

Christmas in Perth happens outside. If you're hosting, there's a good chance your guests will spend more time on the patio than in the lounge room.

Sweep and hose the patio, alfresco area and paths
Wash outdoor furniture with warm water, a few drops of castile soap and a soft brush, then rinse and let it dry in the sun
Wash outdoor cushion covers and throws
Clean the BBQ: heat it up to loosen the grease, scrape the grill and hotplate while warm, then wipe it down once it's cool
Brush cobwebs off the eaves, outdoor lights and fans
Clean the flyscreens. You'll be glad you did once the summer flies arrive.

8 weeks out: Windows, tracks and screens

Summer light shows every smear, so this is a good week for glass.

Vacuum window and sliding door tracks, then scrub them with an old toothbrush and a spray of multi-purpose cleaner
Clean the inside of windows and glass doors with diluted vinegar or a glass spray, and buff with a dry microfibre cloth for a streak-free finish
Wipe window sills, and dust or wash blinds and curtains
Wipe the little handprints off the glass sliding door (they'll be back by Boxing Day, but still)

7 weeks out: The guest room and linen

Wash spare sheets, pillowcases, doonas and mattress protectors
Freshen the guest mattress: vacuum it, sprinkle it with bicarb soda, leave it for an hour, then vacuum again
Clear the guest room of anything that has crept in to be "stored"
Wash a set of guest towels and keep them aside
Put together a little guest basket: a spare toothbrush and toothpaste, a phone charger and (it's Perth in summer) sunscreen

6 weeks out: Bathrooms

Scrub grout with a paste of bicarb and water and a stiff brush, then rinse
Remove water spots from the shower screen with diluted vinegar, then squeegee it dry
Descale the shower head by soaking it in a bag of diluted white vinegar. Check your tapware first, as some finishes (like matte black or brushed brass) shouldn't be soaked.
Dust the exhaust fan cover
Wash bath mats and shower curtains, and replace tired toothbrushes
Clear the vanity so guests have room for their things

5 weeks out: The kitchen deep clean

The kitchen works the hardest at Christmas, so give it a head start.

Clean the oven: spread a paste of bicarb and water over the inside, leave it overnight, then wipe it out with a damp cloth and a scraper. Our natural kitchen deep clean guide has the full method.
Soak the rangehood filters in hot water with a squirt of dish liquid
Wipe the inside of cupboards and drawers
Wash the platters, serving bowls and "good" glasses that have been sitting in the cupboard all year
Descale the kettle and run an empty hot cycle in the dishwasher

4 weeks out (late November): Fridge and freezer

You'll need every bit of fridge space for Christmas, so start eating down the freezer now.

Plan a few "freezer dinners" to use up what's in there
Empty the fridge one shelf at a time, toss anything expired and wipe the shelves with warm soapy water
Clean the fridge seals with an old toothbrush and warm soapy water
Pop an open container of bicarb soda at the back to absorb odours
Wipe the top of the fridge (nobody ever does, and it's always dusty)

3 weeks out (early December): Living areas, floors and decorations

Most of us put the tree up in early December, so clean first, then decorate.

Dust from high to low: ceiling fans (you'll need them!), light fittings, the tops of frames and shelves
Vacuum the couch, under the cushions and underneath furniture
Spot clean rugs and upholstery
Mop the hard floors
Then bring out the decorations, giving each one a quick dust as it comes out of the box

For tips on keeping everything organised once the decorations are up, see our guide to effortless holiday home organisation.

2 weeks out: Entry, bins and first impressions

Sweep the front porch and wash the doormat
Wipe down the front door, the door handle and the porch light (bugs love it in summer)
Clean your bins: rinse them with hot soapy water, let them dry in the sun and sprinkle a little bicarb in the bottom. Christmas bins in the Perth heat are no joke.
Check your local council's bin collection dates over Christmas and New Year
WA public schools finish on Thursday 17 December, so tick off any bigger jobs before then. The house fills up quickly once everyone is home!

Christmas week: Maintenance mode

The big jobs are done. Now it's just about keeping on top of things.

Do a 15-minute reset each night: benches clear, dishwasher on, cushions back and a quick sweep
Empty the dishwasher every morning so dishes can go straight in during the day
Keep the ants away: wipe up crumbs and sticky spills straight away, and wipe any ant trails with a vinegar-and-water spray to remove the scent trail they follow
Keep a little stain kit handy: dish liquid, bicarb soda, a white cloth and cold water

Christmas Eve: The 30-minute reset

Clear and wipe the kitchen benches
Give the bathroom sinks, mirrors and toilets a quick wipe
Put out fresh hand towels
Empty all the bins (Christmas Day creates a lot of rubbish!)
Empty the dishwasher so it's ready to go
Vacuum the main living area
Plan to open the windows early on Christmas morning, before the heat kicks in
Then put your feet up. You've earned it.

Boxing Day: The clean-up

Red wine: blot it (don't rub!), then dab with cold water and a little dish liquid
Gravy and grease: work a drop of dish liquid into the stain gently, then rinse
Candle wax: let it harden (an ice cube helps), scrape gently, then place brown paper over any residue and press with a warm iron

You'll find more ideas in our guide to removing tough stains naturally.

Would you rather hand it over?

No judgement here. We're cleaners, and we still love having someone else do it! If you'd like a professional, natural clean before Christmas, we're taking pre-Christmas bookings now across most of Perth metro, North and South of the River.

Book your pre-Christmas clean or call us on (08) 6629 4494
Know someone who would love the gift of time? Our cleaning gift vouchers are valid for 3 years and make a beautiful Christmas present.
And if someone you love is doing it tough this year, nominate them for a free clean.

Christmas cleaning FAQs

When should I book a pre-Christmas clean in Perth?

As early as you can, ideally by early November. The fortnight before Christmas is always busy, so those dates go quickly.

How far before Christmas should I deep clean?

Do the big jobs (oven, windows, bathrooms and carpets) three to five weeks out. That leaves the final week for light tidying instead of scrubbing.

What should I clean first before guests arrive?

Focus on what guests actually use: the entry, the guest bathroom, the kitchen benches, the guest bed and the main living area. Rooms with the door shut can wait!

Can you get your home Christmas-ready without harsh chemicals?

Absolutely. Microfibre cloths, bicarb soda, diluted white vinegar (on the right surfaces), castile soap and plant-based sprays handle almost every job, and they're gentler on kids, pets and anyone with sensitivities.