Pre-Thanksgiving Cleaning Checklist: Your Whole-Home Reset (40 Days ’Til Christmas)

This post is part of the 100 Days ’til Christmas Challenge — one small step each day to make the holiday season less stressful and a lot more fun.

I don’t know about you, but the days leading up to Thanksgiving always seem to sneak up out of nowhere. One minute I’m thinking I have plenty of time, and the next minute I’m juggling grocery lists, kids’ schedules, and figuring out who’s bringing pies. And somewhere in that mix, I always realize the house could use a little love before the holiday week begins.

So instead of waiting until we’re elbow-deep in the turkey brine, let’s try to get ahead of the game this weekend. And if we don’t cross everything off? Honestly… it’s all going to work out fine anyway. Thanksgiving still shows up, and everyone still eats.

Today happens to be 40 days ’til Christmas, but the real reason we’re doing this is because it’s two Saturdays before Thanksgiving—which is the perfect cleaning window before things get busy.

Why This Weekend Helps So Much

This little pocket of time is ideal because:

• You’re close enough to Thanksgiving that cleaning won’t get undone immediately
• You’re far enough away that you can take your time
• It makes next week’s grocery run, meal prep, and family chaos so much smoother
• And honestly? Cooking in a clean-ish kitchen just feels better

Even if you’re not hosting, having the main spaces refreshed makes everything else less stressful.

Do a Simple 10-Minute Walkthrough

Before you grab anything from under the sink, do this quick reset step.

Walk room-to-room with your phone or a notepad and notice:

• Which rooms will actually matter next week?
• Where do you feel your shoulders drop when things are tidy?
• Where are the spots you’ll need clear for cooking, hosting, or just functioning as a human?

Common priority areas this time of year:

• Kitchen
• Living room
• Guest bathroom
• Dining room
• Entryway

Circle your top 3–5 spaces.
Those are the focus for this week. The rest can wait until… January. Or next spring. Or never. That’s fine too.

Whole-House Cleaning Inspiration List

Before you build your plan for the week, here’s a simple overview of what people often include on a whole-home cleaning list this time of year. Use this as inspiration to make your own customized plan — you absolutely do not need to tackle everything.

Kitchen Inspiration

• Wipe counters and surfaces
• Clear cluttered zones
• Check fridge and toss old items
• Wipe down stove and appliance fronts
• Tidy pantry shelves you’ll actually use

Bathrooms Inspiration

• Wipe sinks and mirrors
• Clean toilets
• Swap hand towels
• Restock toiletries
• Quick floor sweep

Living Areas Inspiration

• Pick up clutter
• Fluff pillows and blankets
• Dust main surfaces
• Wipe high-traffic spots

Bedrooms Inspiration

• Tidy nightstands
• Quick reset of surfaces
• Change linens if hosting
• Light vacuum or sweep

Entryway Inspiration

• Clear the drop zone
• Make room for coats and bags
• Shake out mats or give them a quick vacuum

If you want the full, organized, printable version I use (with checkboxes and room-by-room listings), you can sign up to get it. But if a notebook feels easier today, go for it.

Create Your Weekly Pre-Thanksgiving Cleaning Plan

For this part, you can:

• Use the Weekly Cleaning Plan printable (available when you sign up), or
• Jot your plan down in a notebook — simple works just as well

Keep this easy on yourself:

• Base your plan on your walkthrough
• Choose 10–30 minute tasks
• Spread things out or batch them all on the weekend
• Start with guest-facing areas and the parts of the kitchen you’ll actually need next week

This is about creating breathing room, not adding stress.

A Simple Suggested Cleaning Flow

If you like having a little structure to guide your week, here’s an easy rhythm you can follow. Nothing strict — just a light framework you can adjust based on your schedule and what your home actually needs.

• Monday: Kitchen surfaces + fridge prep
• Tuesday: Bathrooms (especially the one guests will use)
• Wednesday: Bedrooms + quick resets
• Thursday: Dining room + table tidy
• Friday: Entryway + floors
• Weekend: Anything leftover or bonus projects

Realistic Tips to Keep This Calm

• Only clean the rooms people will actually see
• Focus on clutter first—fastest win
• Clean the fridge shelves you’ll need
• Skip projects that require new supplies
• Tidy one space at a time
• “Good enough” really is good enough

We’re aiming for ease, not a magazine spread.

Want the Cleaning Printables?

If you’d like the Master Whole-House Cleaning List and Weekly Cleaning Plan already formatted and ready to go, you can sign up in the form below and get access to all the printables for the 100 Days ’Til Christmas challenge.

Today’s To-Do List

• Print or set up your Master Cleaning List
• Print or set up your Weekly Cleaning Plan
• Walk through your home and pick your top priority rooms
• Create your personalized pre-Thanksgiving cleaning schedule

This Week’s To-Do List

• Follow your cleaning plan
• Focus on guest-facing rooms first
• Do one small task each day
• Keep counters as clear as possible
• Prep the fridge for Thanksgiving groceries