Three Things That Deserve Your Attention More Than Deep Cleaning This Week

It’s December 17th.

Christmas is 8 days away. You’ve got shopping to finish, food to plan, gifts to wrap, people to see, things to organize. Your brain is running on a constant loop of everything that needs doing.

And somewhere on that mental list? Deep cleaning the house.

The bathrooms need scrubbing. The floors are looking rough. The kitchen could use a proper going-over. The windows are smudged. The oven… well, let’s not even talk about the oven.

You know it all needs doing. And you’re probably thinking you should tackle it this week, before everyone arrives or before Christmas chaos really hits.

But here’s what we want to tell you: Not this week.

This week, deep cleaning can wait. And that’s not us trying to talk ourselves out of work – it’s us giving you permission to prioritize differently right now.

Because there are three things that deserve your attention more than scrubbing grout this week. And we promise, the cleaning will still be there when you’re ready for it.

We know. Rest feels impossible right now. There’s too much to do. Too many people depending on you. Too many things that won’t get done if you don’t do them.

But here’s the truth: you’re running on fumes.

The lead-up to Christmas is exhausting. The mental load alone is massive – keeping track of who needs what, when things need to happen, what’s been done and what’s still pending. Add the physical work of shopping, cooking, organizing, and yes, cleaning, and you’re already depleted.

And Christmas hasn’t even happened yet.

If you burn yourself out this week trying to get everything perfect – including a spotless home — you won’t actually enjoy Christmas Day. You’ll be too exhausted to be present. Too drained to feel anything but relief when it’s over.

So this week? Rest takes priority.

What that looks like:

• Go to bed earlier than you think you should
• Say no to one thing (even if people are disappointed)
• Sit down for 20 minutes without doing anything “productive”
• Let the laundry sit for an extra day
• Order takeaway instead of cooking from scratch
• Skip the deep clean and do surface-level tidy instead

Your home doesn’t need to be perfect. But you do need to be okay.

And you won’t be okay if you spend this week in a cleaning frenzy on top of everything else you’re managing.

Christmas is about people. That’s the whole point, isn’t it?

But so often, we get so caught up in preparing for people that we forget to actually be with them.

We’re scrubbing toilets while our kids are playing in the next room. We’re organizing cupboards instead of sitting with our partner. We’re stress-cleaning instead of calling a friend we’ve been meaning to catch up with.

This week, connection matters more than a clean house.The people you love won’t remember whether your bathroom tiles were gleaming. But they will remember whether you were present. Whether you laughed with them. Whether you made time to just be together before the holidays pulled everyone in different directions.

What that looks like:

• Putting your phone down and having an actual conversation
• Playing a game with your kids instead of folding laundry
• Going for a walk with your partner instead of reorganizing the pantry
• Meeting a friend for coffee even though you “should” be home cleaning
• Sitting on the couch together watching something silly instead of scrubbing the kitchen

Your relationships need you more than your floors do.

And honestly? The people who love you would rather have your attention than your spotless benchtops.

There’s something about this week – the week before Christmas – that only happens once a year.

The anticipation. The lights. The slower pace (even if it doesn’t feel slow). The feeling in the air. The excitement kids have. The traditions you’re about to step into.

If you spend this week in a cleaning panic, you’ll miss it.

You’ll be physically there, but mentally you’ll be running through your to-do list. Noticing what’s not done. Stressing about what still needs attention. Feeling guilty about sitting still.

And before you know it, Christmas will be over. And you’ll realize you weren’t actually there for any of it.

This week, being present matters more than being productive.

What that looks like:

• Noticing the small moments instead of rushing through them
• Actually tasting your coffee instead of gulping it down while mentally planning your day
• Watching your kids’ faces light up instead of thinking about what needs cleaning
• Letting yourself feel excited instead of anxious
• Choosing “good enough” so you can be fully here

The cleaning can wait. This week can’t.

You won’t get these exact days back. But the dust? That’ll still be there tomorrow.

We hear you. You’re probably thinking, “That’s all well and good, but people are coming over. My house is a disaster. I can’t just ignore it.”

And you’re right – you can’t ignore it completely. But here’s the shift: you don’t need to deep clean. You need to surface clean.

There’s a massive difference.

Deep cleaning = scrubbing grout, cleaning inside cupboards, washing walls, detailing every corner

Surface cleaning = wiping benches, quick vacuum, tidy bathroom, making it look presentable

One takes 6 hours. The other takes 45 minutes.

This week, surface clean is enough.

Do a quick tidy. Wipe down the obvious spots. Make the main areas presentable. But don’t spend your entire weekend on your hands and knees scrubbing.

Because here’s the secret: your guests won’t notice the difference.

They won’t look behind your taps or check if your skirting boards are dust-free. They’ll notice whether you seem stressed. Whether you’re present. Whether the vibe in your home feels warm or frantic.

A perfectly clean house with an exhausted, stressed host? Not fun for anyone.

A “good enough” clean house with a host who’s actually enjoying themselves? That’s where the magic happens.

Here’s the thing: we’re not saying your home doesn’t deserve a proper deep clean. It absolutely does.

We’re just saying it doesn’t need to happen this week.

Save your energy for the things that actually matter right now. And when Christmas is over, when the guests have gone home, when you’re ready to reset – that’s when we come in.

Let’s recap, because we know your brain is full right now:

1. Rest: You need energy for Christmas. Don’t burn out before it even starts.

2. Connection: The people you love need you more than your house needs scrubbing.

3. Presence: This week only happens once. Don’t miss it because you’re too busy cleaning.

The deep clean can wait. These three things can’t.

If you’re already thinking ahead (because of course you are), here’s your plan:

Now: Do a quick surface clean. Good enough is perfect.

Christmas week: Enjoy yourself. Let the mess happen. You’ll deal with it later.

Early January: Book a proper deep clean. We’ll reset your home while you rest.Result: You actually enjoyed the holidays AND you start the year in a clean home. Win-win.

We know you feel guilty when things aren’t spotless. We know you worry what people will think. We know you’ve been conditioned to believe that a good host = a perfectly clean home.

But we’re here to tell you: it’s okay to let the deep cleaning wait.

Your worth isn’t tied to your skirting boards. Your value as a host isn’t measured by how gleaming your bathroom is. And the people who truly care about you? They just want you to be okay.

So this week, prioritize rest, connection, and presence.

And let us worry about the cleaning in January.

We’ve got you. 💚

Ready to book your January reset clean?

Lock in your spot now before our schedule fills up. Call us on (03) 8765 2312 or get in touch with us today →.

Your post-Christmas self will thank you.