Year-End Cleaning Checklist
Pick your home type and cleaning style and the list below updates automatically.
Progress is saved on your device - handy for splitting jobs with family.
Based on Japanese New Year customs - may differ elsewhere.
Choose your conditions
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Clean top to bottom, back to front
Dust falls downward, so start with lights and the tops of shelves and finish with the floor. Working from the back of a room toward the door means you never re-dirty a cleaned area. Also, set anything that needs soaking (range-hood fan, stove grates) to soak first so you can work elsewhere while it sits.
Grime has a chemistry to it: kitchen grease is beaten by alkaline cleaners (sesquicarbonate, baking soda) and bathroom limescale by acidic cleaners (citric acid). Order and technique are covered in Year-End Cleaning: How-To. Fit the whole thing into your schedule with the Year-End Prep Countdown.
Frequently asked questions
Where should the big clean start?
Set anything that needs soaking (range-hood fan, stove grates) to soak first, then start cleaning from high places while it sits. Save floors and the entrance for last.
Can the whole clean be done in one day?
Doing everything thoroughly rarely fits in a day. Split it over several days by room, or use the quick style to focus on the water areas and the entrance.
Is my progress saved?
Yes, automatically, in your browser (localStorage). Nothing is sent to a server, and your state is restored when you return.
How can the family split the work?
Use the Share button to send the list as text. Assign areas, then check off rooms as they are done so everyone can see the progress at a glance.
Why clean at year-end in Japan?
It comes from "susuharai" on December 13, cleansing the home to welcome the year deity. The meaning of a fresh start for the new year is the same today.