Holiday Cleaning in Orlando: A Before and After Party Checklist
Hosting Thanksgiving or a December get-together? Here is your holiday cleaning plan: what to clean before guests arrive, how to reset the house the day after, and why it pays to book your date early.
Holiday cleaning is really two jobs: getting the house ready for people to see it, and getting it back to normal once they leave. Planning both before the invitations go out makes the whole season easier.
From Thanksgiving through New Year, a lot of homes in Orlando, Apopka, Altamonte Springs and Lake Mary fill up with family, neighbors and out-of-town guests. The kitchen works harder than any other time of year, the guest bathroom gets used all day, and the front entry sees more shoes than usual.
Guests do not inspect your baseboards. They notice the bathroom, the kitchen, the entry and the table where they eat. That is where your time, or ours, should go first.
1 Book Holiday Cleaning Early
The days right before Thanksgiving and the second half of December are the first dates to fill on our calendar. Everyone wants the house clean on the same few days. If you already know your hosting date, ask for a quote as soon as you can and pick a cleaning day one or two days before the event.
That gap matters. A clean done the morning of a party leaves no room for a delivery that runs late or a last-minute grocery run that ends with flour on the floor. One or two days ahead gives you a clean house with a little breathing room.
Planning tip for after the party
Book the after-party reset at the same time as the before visit. If your guests stay through the weekend, schedule it for the first weekday after they leave. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, so send your dates during the week.
2 Holiday Cleaning Before Guests Arrive: The Checklist
This is the order we would work in if you only had time for the rooms guests actually use.
| Area | What to clean | What guests notice |
|---|---|---|
| Guest bathroom | Toilet, sink, mirror, faucet, floor, trash emptied, fresh towels out | Toilet base, mirror spots, hair on the floor |
| Kitchen | Counters, backsplash, sink, stovetop, cabinet handles, outside of appliances | Sticky handles, a crowded counter, the sink |
| Entry and porch | Front door, light switches, entry floor, porch swept | Cobwebs by the door and the first few feet of floor |
| Dining area | Table, chairs, light fixture dusted, floor under the table | A dusty chandelier over the food |
| Living room | Dusting, ceiling fan, couch vacuumed, floors | Pet hair on the couch, dust on fan blades |
If the house has not had a professional clean in two months or more, a deep cleaning before hosting is the better choice. It adds baseboards, cabinet fronts, light fixtures and tile buildup, the detail work that shows up in bright holiday lighting.
3 After the Party: The Reset
The night of the party, do only what cannot wait. The rest can be handled the next day or by our team.
Put food away the same night
Leftovers into the fridge before bed. FoodSafety.gov has clear guidance on how long cooked food can safely sit out.
Run and empty the dishwasher
Our team does not hand-wash dishes, but we will load an empty dishwasher. Empty it before we arrive and we can fill it with what is left.
Bag the trash
Collect bottles, wrapping paper and paper plates so the team can start on surfaces right away.
Let us do the rest
Kitchen counters and stovetop, sticky spots on floors, bathrooms, the dining table and the entry, back to how they looked before the guests came.
The party is the fun part. Nobody wants to spend the next morning scrubbing roasting pans and sticky floors, so plan the reset before the first guest rings the bell.
Total Cleaning Services team
Hosting this season? Save your cleaning date now.
Tell us the size of the home and your party date. We usually reply the same day with a clear price for the before visit, the after visit, or both.
4 Which Service to Book
Special occasion cleaning
Before or after a party, a holiday or a family visit. See our Special Occasion Cleaning page.
Deep cleaning
For a home that has gone two months or more without a professional clean, before the first guest walks in.
Regular clients
Already on a regular cleaning plan? Ask to move your visit closer to the party, or add one after it.
Out-of-town guests
Family staying a week? Book a clean before they arrive and a reset after they head home.
5 Holiday Cleaning FAQ
How far ahead should I book for Thanksgiving or December?
As soon as you know your date. The days right before Thanksgiving and the second half of December fill first. Ask for a quote and we usually reply the same day.
Can you clean the oven before I cook?
Yes. Inside the oven is a +$50 add-on. Inside the fridge is also +$50, which helps when you need room for a turkey and side dishes.
Do I need to be home?
No. Leave secure access, like a lockbox or garage keypad code, logged with us before cleaning day. A lockout is charged 50% of the service.
What if my plans change?
Give us 24 business hours of notice to cancel or reschedule. Late cancellations are charged 50%. See all our cleaning FAQs.
Hello, we are Total Cleaning Services.
Mariana Rocha grew up watching her mother clean homes in Brazil and built Total Cleaning Services on the same idea: treat every home like it is your own. Today our trained, background-checked team cleans homes and offices across Central Florida.
Hosting this year? We will give you a clear price and hold a date before the holiday rush.
Serving Orlando, Apopka, Lake Mary, Winter Garden, Oviedo and all of Central Florida.
