How Do I Clean My Home Before Holiday Guests Arrive?
Aug 30, 2026 / Laura Bolt
To prepare your home for holiday guests, start by decluttering seasonal items, cleaning high-traffic rooms, and creating a simple schedule for final touch-ups. If you need more room for décor, furniture, or household items while you host, a Public Storage unit can help you clear space at home for seasonal decor and guests.
Holiday hosting often means making room for decorations, cooking supplies, extra seating, and overnight guests. Starting early gives you time to organize one space at a time instead of trying to tackle every task at once.
The Basics
- Begin by packing away seasonal items you will not use during the holidays.
- Focus cleaning time on the spaces that will be used most: entryway, kitchen, living room, bathrooms, guest rooms
- Schedule short cleaning touch-ups in the days before guests arrive.
- Consider a storage unit for household items that take up space but aren’t needed during the holiday season.
- Use labeled bins to organize holiday décor and simplify next year’s setup.
Clear Out Seasonal Clutter First
Before deep cleaning, walk through each room and gather items that will not be part of your holiday routine. Items like summer sports equipment, warm-weather patio items, and spring décor can take up useful space in closets, garages, and living areas and are not usually needed during seasonal celebrations.
Use a laundry basket or storage bin to collect items as you move through the home. Then sort them into simple groups:
- Keep nearby: Items you use regularly.
- Pack away: Out-of-season household items and décor.
- Donate: Items in good shape but no longer needed.
- Dispose/recycle: Broken, worn-out, or unwanted items.
- Sell: Higher-value items that are in good shape but no longer needed.
Clear bins and detailed labels make it easier to find holiday items when you are ready to decorate. Creating a designated holiday-storage area can also keep lights, ornaments, serving supplies, and wrapping materials together.
(Tip: Small storage units like 5’ x 5’s or 5’ x 10’s, can help you store out-of-season items while you’re not using them.)
Need more holiday storage ideas? We have more tips on our blog.
Make Extra Room with a Storage Unit
When closets and garage shelves are full, a storage unit can provide an off-site place for items you are not currently using. A small unit, such as a 5′ x 5′ or 5′ x 10′, may be useful for boxes of seasonal décor and other household items.
Public Storage offers month-to-month rentals, and customers can complete a storage rental online in minutes.
Deep Clean the Rooms Guests Will Use Most
Once surfaces and floors are clear, focus your cleaning plan on high-traffic areas. The entryway, kitchen, and living room are often central to holiday gatherings.
| Area | What to Clean | Simple Holiday Prep Idea |
| Entryway | Sweep floors, clear surfaces, put away items | Clear space in the entryway coat closet for guests’ coats and bags |
| Kitchen | Wipe counters, appliance exteriors, cabinets, refrigerator, and oven | Make plenty of room for holiday cooking and serving supplies, especially in the refrigerator! |
| Living room | Dust surfaces, vacuum rugs, tidy furniture | Create welcoming, comfortable seating for conversation |
| Bathroom | Clean sinks, toilets, tubs, cabinets, mirrors, and floors | Put out clean towels and refresh everyday supplies |
| Guest room | Dust, vacuum, wipe lamps and nightstands | Clear a dresser or tabletop for guests’ belongings* |
| Patio or porch | Clear pathways and clean outdoor furniture | Check that outdoor lighting is working |
Another thing to add to your schedule? Checking out our tips for your most organized holiday yet.
*And find more tips for decluttering your spare room for holiday guests on our blog.
If a full-home cleaning session feels overwhelming, use 5- to 15-minute blocks to make steady progress. Tidy one countertop, one closet shelf, or one room at a time. Small actions can add up quickly.
Use a Holiday Cleaning Schedule
A simple calendar helps you stay organized as the holiday season ramps up. Add cleaning tasks alongside reminders for cards, travel, gatherings, and gift shopping.
| Timing | Suggested Tasks |
| Three to four weeks before | Declutter common areas, pack away seasonal items, organize décor |
| Two weeks before | Deep clean the kitchen, living room, and bathrooms |
| One week before | Prepare guest spaces, organize the coat closet, tidy outdoor areas |
| Two to three days before | Vacuum, mop, wipe surfaces, and complete bathroom touch-ups |
| Day of the gathering | Clear counters, straighten seating areas, and set out entertaining supplies |
Planning ahead can help you avoid a last-minute rush and leave more time for enjoying the season, decorating, and hosting.
Prepare Guest Spaces for Overnight Visits
For overnight visitors, concentrate on the bathroom and bedroom. In the bathroom, clean the main fixtures, wash bathmats, and tidy cabinets and drawers. In the guest room, dust under the bed, clean lamps, and refresh bedding.
The front coat closet is another often-overlooked space. Removing household overflow and out-of-season items can make it more functional when guests arrive.
If the guest room doubles as storage space during the year, moving boxes or extra furniture to a storage unit before the holidays can help restore it to a more welcoming setup.
Read our full guide to declutter your spare room for holiday guests
Keep Outdoor Entertaining Areas Tidy
If you plan to gather outdoors, give your patio, porch, or yard a quick refresh. Clear pathways, clean patio furniture, and check exterior lighting before guests arrive. Packing away out-of-season outdoor items can create more usable space for seating, decorations, or activities. At Public Storage, more than 45% of properties offer drive-up access units, which can be convenient when moving larger household or unruly items like patio furniture or holiday decor in and out.
Organize Before Buying Holiday Gifts
Holiday gifts can add more items to closets, bathrooms, and bedrooms. Before you start shopping, try to organize the space you store your holiday gifts.
Also, take a quick inventory of which gifts you already have. This can help you choose gifts more intentionally and avoid buying more than is needed.
After the holidays, try a “one in, one out” approach for gifts your family received along with everyday items: when something new comes into your home, choose an older item to put away, get rid of or donate, or pass along. This simple habit can help maintain a tidier home throughout the year.
FAQ
When should I start cleaning for the holiday season?
Start cleaning your home three to four weeks before hosting, if possible. Begin with decluttering and organizing, then clean high-traffic areas closer to your gathering.
What should I clean first before holiday guests arrive?
Start cleaning for the holiday season with the entryway, kitchen, living room, bathroom, and guest room. These are the spaces guests are most likely to see and use.
How can I make more room for holiday décor and guests?
Pack away out-of-season household items, use labeled bins, and create one designated area for holiday supplies. A storage unit is useful to make extra room at home while those items are not in use.
What storage unit size is useful for seasonal items?
A storage unit can help you declutter rooms that guests will use by giving you space to pack away out-of-season décor, extra household items, and seasonal gear. This can free up closet space, space in spare rooms that will be occupied by guests, or living areas before holiday gatherings. A 5′ x 5′ unit may work well for smaller seasonal-storage needs, and a 5’ x 10’ is a good size if you have a great deal of items to store temporarily.
Can I rent a Public Storage unit just for the holiday season?
Yes, all Public Storage rentals are month-to-month, and unit inventory searches and rentals can be completed online in minutes with no credit card required.
What size storage unit is best for holiday decorations?
The right unit size depends on how many bins, boxes, and household items you plan to store. For holiday décor and a limited number of seasonal items, consider starting with a 5′ x 5′ or 5′ x 10′ storage unit. Find the size you need using our size guide.
Does Public Storage offer climate-controlled storage for seasonal items?
Yes, more than 90% of Public Storage properties offer climate-controlled units. Availability varies by location, so check your nearby facility when selecting a unit.
