Whether you're hosting family at home or visiting relatives, getting the house ready for the New Year is crucial. Entering the New Year with litter in the house is considered bad luck in Chinese New Year customs.

Spring cleaning or da sao chu is the busiest time of the year especially when preparing for the holiday season. As the Chinese say, the way to bring fortune into your home is by cleaning out the bad luck.

Moreover, as we welcome the Year of the Tiger, we want to make sure you have your cleaning schedule all planned out before the Lunar New Year.

1. Organise a cleaning schedule

We can't achieve everything in a single day because even with our greatest efforts. It's best to maintain a healthy pace to avoid exhaustion.  Allocate two to three days for each portion of the house, with a minimum of two to three hours every day.

For example, you may begin with the most frequently used areas of the house, such as the living room and restrooms, and focus solely on those areas over the holiday season.

2. Dress up for the occasion

This is something many people ignore, yet it is more essential than it sounds. Dressing up has a psychological impact on us, as it may shape our moods for various events. On the day of cleaning, put on something comfy.

Remember to wear an apron to protect yourself from the dust.

3. Declutter your home

When everything is tidy, cleaning your house is easy since you don't have to manoeuvre around any needless stuff on the floor. Furthermore, you want to avoid the potential risks of stumbling over them and injuring yourself.

Before you proceed, take a walk around the house. Tidying up the surrounding areas will help speed up your cleaning process.

Broken items should be discarded in case you forget about them later. Consider putting away unnecessary items to prevent cluttering your home.

4. Complete ongoing or pending home improvements

If you've been putting off fixing items like a leaking pipe, half painted wall, or even a malfunctioning door lock, now is the perfect time to do it. When such activities as drilling and the small particles that come with it are continuous, your home may become a mess. So, before you start spring cleaning, double-check that everything is in order.

5. Sanitise every area

As there have been various cases of Covid-19 during festive seasons, especially when families have get-togethers, you want to make sure that you provide a safe and clean environment for your family and friends.

Once you’ve settled all your cleaning routines, sanitise every area of your home. Even the places that you least expect your family members to explore. Keep you and your family safe during these festive times.

While it may look like there's a lot to be done as you approach the Lunar New Year, don't allow the worry to keep you from spending quality time with your loved ones.