6 Tips for Cleaning Around Your Holiday Decor, According to Cleaning Pros

For many of us, decorating for the holidays is essential for making those core holiday memories. Unfortunately, extra items sitting around the home means more surface area for dust to settle.

What’s more, it’s difficult to keep up with your regular cleaning routine due to decorations taking up space (not to mention less time to clean because of the additional activities celebrating upcoming holidays!). 

Take note of these tips from cleaning experts about how to clean around your holiday decor and keep dirt and grime at bay this holiday season.

Clean Your House Before Decorating

“Do a deep clean before you decorate,” Mock says. Starting with a deep clean gives you a clean baseline to start from so surfaces don’t become too dirty as guests and decorations add to the natural accumulation of dirt and grime. 

What’s involved in a deep clean? “A deep clean goes beyond surface cleaning … and should remove grime, bacteria, mold, and dirt from hidden areas, such as the refrigerator or floor,” Mock says. 

Mock also recommends dusting decorations before setting them out (yep, even your artificial Christmas tree) to reduce the collection of dust and grime while your home is decorated for the holidays. 

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Dust Frequently Around Ornaments, Wreaths, and Knick-Knacks

“Holiday decorations can gather dust quickly so it’s important to frequently dust decorations with a damp rag or microfiber duster,” Mock says. Use a slightly damp microfiber cloth to dust around decorations and wipe down surfaces. 

For extremely delicate items, such as ornaments or porcelain knick-knacks, a feather duster works well too. Brown also recommends a cool hairdryer or a light spray of compressed air to remove dust if the items are tiny and fragile.  

In addition to dusting holiday decor, Brown says not to forget the typical dust collectors while you clean. Additional guests and decorations in your home increase dust levels everywhere.

“Don’t forget to focus on dust hotspots such as ceiling fans, vents, and windowsills,” Brown says. “They will attract more dust from holiday lights.” 

Freshen Up Fabric Items in the Dryer

Bossart says fabric decor items are often overlooked, but can quickly accumulate dust.

“Decorative pillows, fabric garlands, and even tree skirts can collect dust quickly, so giving them a light refresh helps keep holiday decorations looking vibrant and clean,” Bossart says. 

To get rid of the dust in pillows, stockings, and other fabric decor, Brown recommends placing items in the dryer on the cool or air fluff setting. Freshen up fabric items at minimum before setting them out and putting them away in storage, but once a month is ideal. 

Spray Greenery With Hairspray 

Hairspray has multiple surprising benefits for keeping holiday decor fresh. First, Brown recommends using hairspray to keep dust at bay on artificial greenery, such as garlands and wreaths.

“For artificial greenery, spray lightly with hairspray before setting up,” Brown says. “The hairspray will repel dust from settling on the leaves.”

You can also use hairspray on real greenery items, like wreaths, to help them last longer. The hairspray acts like glue to hold the needles on the wreath and seals in the wreath’s moisture. This will prevent needles from falling off the wreath and keep it greener and fresher longer. 

Vacuum Tree Skirts and Pine Needle Hotspots

While there is nothing quite like the smell and look of a real Christmas tree, it’s a messy holiday decoration. Mock recommends vacuuming the areas where pine needles may fall at least weekly.

“Tree skirts can often get messy with fallen pine needles, pet hair, and dust so make sure to vacuum your tree skirt,” Mock says. “Holiday rugs and doormats can also gather dirt quickly so make sure to give them a vacuum weekly.” 

Don’t Forget Candles

Candles are a popular decoration and are often seen throughout homes during the holiday season, but these items can also collect dust quickly.

“Candles can gather dust and lose their shine,” Mock says. “Wipe them down with a damp rag.” 

Clean your candles as part of your weekly cleaning and dusting schedule. To prevent dust buildup when not in use, tuck candles in a pouch or box before storing them.