12 Days of Christmas for Household Happiness

Christmas is only days away, so you’ve probably been preparing for a while now. Gifts may be wrapped, lights hung, and trees decorated, but what about the rest of your home?

If you truly want to enjoy the holidays, a clean, organized home is a must. Over the next 12 days, focus on each of the following tasks (one task per day) so you can have a restful, happy Christmas.

1st Day: Clean the Oven and Scrub the Stovetop

The kitchen is the heart of the home, which makes it the perfect place to start your mission. You’ll enjoy cooking Christmas treats much more when you use a shiny, sparkling stove. First, use your oven’s self-cleaning feature to remove any burnt-on messes. Wipe out the ashes with a damp towel. Alternatively, you can use a vinegar and baking soda mixture. Leave a thick paste of this mixture on the oven surface for several hours to loosen debris. Wipe it away with a damp towel. You can use the same method to clean your stovetop, as well.

2nd Day: Leave Baking Soda in the Fridge and Clean Out Leftovers

Today, you’re going to clean all the yucky leftovers out of your fridge. First, throw out disposable containers and old food items. Next, fill the sink with warm, soapy water. Remove storage containers and dispose of their contents. Then place the containers in the soapy water to soak while you wipe down the refrigerator shelves. Make sure you hit all the crevices and drawers. If your shelves get sticky, use a shelf liner or placemat on each shelf for easy wipe-downs later. Finally, place a new box of baking soda in the fridge to soak up residual odors.

3rd Day: Empty Coat Closets and Dry Clean Musty Coats

You’ll likely have lots of guests over the holiday season, so now is the best time to clean out your coat closets. Remove anything that doesn’t belong and donate unused coats to a local shelter. If your coats or jackets smell musty from storage, this is the perfect time to have them dry cleaned for this winter season.

4th Day: Dust the Ceiling Fans and Lamp Shades

You can perform this task quickly with a couple of tips:

1. Place an old, white sock on your hand and dampen with cleaner or plain water. Use this hand to wipe down ceiling fan blades quickly. If your fans are very dusty, you can use a pillowcase instead. Wrap the pillow case around the blade, then wipe away dust so it’s contained within the pillowcase.

2. A sticky lint roller quickly removes dust from fabric lamp shades. A barely damp washcloth also works well for this task.

5th Day: Unclutter the Countertops and Dust the Counter Shelving

Remove everything from your countertops. Stow any small appliances under the cabinets if you only use them occasionally. Put away other items that don’t belong on the countertops. Wipe the entire counter surface with an all-purpose cleaner and a towel or sponge.

Place only your most-used kitchen items back on the counter. The goal is to keep the counter as clear as possible. This gives you more space for meal prep, and it also makes your kitchen feel brighter and more organized.

6th Day: Place Laundry Dryer Sheets in the Bottom of Trash Cans

If your home smells musty, freshen it up with dryer sheets. Just place one or two of your favorite scent at the bottom of each trash can. The sheets help keep the musty smell of garbage away.

7th Day: Launder the Sheets and Towels

For today’s task, simply launder all the sheets and towels. Use a good fabric softener or dryer sheet to make them smell fresh for days to come. You can use a little linen spray when you place them back on the beds. You’ll love the smell of fresh linens, and your guests will too.

8th Day: Dust the Baseboards and Windowsills

You can use any basic cleaner (even plain water) to wipe down your baseboards and windowsills. If it’s been a while since you last dusted, it might be best to use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to loosen excess dust. After you vacuum, wipe the surface with a towel to remove stains or stubborn dirt.

9th Day: Brighten Up Faucets and Fixtures With Window Cleaner

On the ninth day, wipe down your faucets and other plumbing fixtures with a bit of window cleaner. This simple solution makes metal look shiny and clean. If you have hard water buildup on fixtures, use a little white vinegar to loosen and remove the stains.

10th Day: Shine Your Shoes and Press Your Party Suits and Dresses

It’s time to prep your clothes for holiday parties! Use a little shoeshine to make your shoes look brand new. Afterwards, you can press your party clothes so suits and dresses look crisp and fresh for Christmas events. Hang them on hooks (not in the closet) to keep them wrinkle-free.

11th Day: Vacuum the Home From Top to Bottom

Now that you’ve taken care of all the other tasks, it’s time to finish up your list by vacuuming your home. Make sure you hit all the nooks and crannies, including stairs and corners. Finish up the task by running the hose attachment over upholstery such as sofas and chairs.

12th Day: Sit Back and Enjoy Your Clean and Organized Home!

The last day is the day of rest, so it’s time to relax and admire all your hard work. Prop your feet up and watch a Christmas movie with the family; after all, you earned it!