The ultimate eight-week cleaning schedule to get your home ready before Christmas

As wonderful and magical as Christmas can be, it's also undeniably a bit of a stress.

Forking out cash that you just don't have on presents, feeling like you're feeding the 5,000 come lunchtime, and let's not even get started on the family tension rearing its ugly head.

But, the one thing you can do to keep stress to a minimum this festive season is be prepared, and that includes cleaning.

Now, experts are suggesting creating a cleaning schedule eight weeks before Christmas to help you get your home in tip-top shape for the big day.

Here's a full breakdown:

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Week one

The first week is all about the deep clean. Even the tidiest of homes can do with a deep cleaning from time to time and it's the perfect way start your Christmas cleaning rota.

To avoid getting overwhelmed by the task at hand, break it down and focus on a specific room each day: the living room on Monday, kitchen on Tuesday, etc.

Tasks to get done this week include cleaning and sanitising surfaces, vacuuming and cleaning carpets, floors and curtains, and washing linens.

Week two

Here, your focus should shift onto decluttering and organising your space, once again looking at specific rooms each day.

Declutter and tidy all storage areas and living spaces, donating or discarding any items you no longer need and disposing of expired food items in the kitchen.

You may also want to look at rearranging your rooms to make space for any guests you'll be having over the festive period and create a better flow for Christmas decor.

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Week three

Now, the focus shifts to pre-holiday cleaning.

These are the Christmas-specific cleaning tasks that you typically don't need to worry about the rest of the year.

As well as everyday cleaning, such as dusting and polishing, you'll want to complete tasks such as cleaning out your fridge and freezer to make space for Christmas groceries, make sure you have enough clean towels and toiletries for guests and, if you're having visitors to stay, ensure guest bedrooms are clean and ready.

Week four

This is when the fun starts — decorating.

Start decking the halls and trimming the tree ready for the big day. Also, dedicate a day to decorating the exterior of your home if that's your thing.

Weeks five to eight

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This part is all about maintenance.

Continue with your regular cleaning routine, focusing on frequently used spaces, restock supplies as needed and ensure you're on top of your Christmas shopping, gift wrapping and other holiday planning tasks to prevent additional stress as 25 December gets closer.

Overall, the key takeaways are get organised, be consistent and break down your Christmas cleaning into manageable chunks so you don't get overwhelmed.

And, with Santa's arrival looming, you better watch out, you better not cry and you better get started quick!