Diwali falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026, with Dhanteras two days earlier on Friday, 6 November, according to the 2026 holiday list of the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai. That leaves about two weeks to get the home ready for lamps, rangoli and guests. This Diwali cleaning checklist gives you a simple timeline, a room by room list for UAE flats and villas, typical prices if you book a team, and a short clean up plan for the day after.
For most families, the easiest approach is to finish the heavy cleaning before Dhanteras. Declutter in the last week of October, book a deep home cleaning for the first days of November, and keep the festival week itself to light dusting, the puja area and guest rooms. A professional deep clean typically costs AED 300 to 800 for an apartment in Sharjah or Ajman.
When to start your Diwali cleaning in 2026
Many families aim to finish cleaning before Dhanteras, so the house is ready to welcome Lakshmi on Diwali night. With Dhanteras on a Friday this year, the weekend of 31 October and 1 November is a good time for the big jobs, and a booked deep clean between 1 and 4 November leaves a buffer if anything needs a second look.
| When | What to do | Who usually does it |
|---|---|---|
| Last week of October | Declutter wardrobes, kitchen cupboards, storage and the balcony; set aside items to donate | You and your family |
| By 25 October | Fix your deep clean date and list priority rooms and extras | You, then a quote |
| 1 to 4 November | Deep clean the kitchen, bathrooms, living room and bedrooms; wash curtains and cushion covers | Cleaning team or you |
| 5 to 6 November (Dhanteras) | Puja area, entrance and door, polish brass and silver, final dust | You |
| 7 to 8 November | Rangoli, lamps and quick resets before guests arrive | You |
| 9 or 10 November | Clean up wax, oil, rangoli colour and sweet crumbs | You, or a one off clean |
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Diwali cleaning checklist, room by room
Work from top to bottom in every room: ceiling fans, AC grilles, light fittings and high shelves first, then surfaces, then floors. Dust that falls lands on areas you have not cleaned yet. If dust keeps coming back in your flat, our guide to reducing dust at home in the UAE covers the habits that help.
Entrance and front door
- Wipe the door, frame, handle and nameplate, and clean the doormat or replace it.
- Sweep and mop the entrance, where the rangoli and the first lamps will go.
- Clear shoe racks and wipe them inside.
Puja area
- Remove old flowers, ash and wax, and dust the shelf or mandir carefully.
- Polish brass, copper and silver items with a suitable cleaner, then dry them well.
- Wash the cloths and mats used under idols and lamps.
Kitchen: ready for sweets and guests
- Empty the fridge, throw out anything past its date, and wipe shelves and door seals.
- Degrease the hob, oven, extractor hood and filter, which will work hard for festival cooking.
- Wipe cupboard fronts and handles, clean inside the cupboards you emptied, and wash the tiles behind the hob.
The kitchen is usually the longest single job. Our kitchen deep cleaning guide lists each zone a team covers.
Living room and guest areas
- Vacuum sofas and under cushions, and wash cushion covers and throws.
- Take down and wash or steam curtains, and wipe window tracks and sills.
- Dust frames, decor and electronics, and wipe switches and sockets where you will plug in lights.
Bathrooms
- Descale taps, shower screens and tiles, and scrub grout.
- Put out fresh towels and a spare hand towel for the guest bathroom.
Hard water in the UAE leaves limescale quickly. Our bathroom limescale removal guide explains how to keep it down between cleans.
Bedrooms and balcony
- Wash bedding for guest rooms and clear space in wardrobes for visitors.
- Sweep the balcony, wipe railings and glass, and check that any lamps sit away from curtains and dry plants.
Lamps, candles and fire safety
Clean surfaces matter most where there will be a flame. The US National Fire Protection Association’s candle safety advice is to keep candles at least 12 inches (about 30 cm) from anything that can burn, and it notes that many home candle fires start when a candle is left unattended. Place diyas on a stable, heat resistant tray, keep them away from curtains, and keep children and pets clear of the entrance once the lamps are lit. Lamps and incense also add smoke indoors, and the US Environmental Protection Agency’s indoor air quality advice lists better ventilation as one of the main ways to improve indoor air, so open a window for a while after the puja.
How much does a pre Diwali deep clean cost?
These are typical prices from our cleaning price calculator. Ajman uses the Sharjah rates, and the final price is confirmed with your quote.
| Home | Typical duration | Typical price, Sharjah and Ajman | Typical price, Dubai |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 3 to 4 hours | AED 300 to 450 | AED 400 to 550 |
| 1 bedroom | 4 to 5 hours | AED 400 to 550 | AED 450 to 650 |
| 2 to 3 bedrooms | 5 to 7 hours | AED 550 to 800 | AED 600 to 900 |
| Townhouse | 6 to 8 hours | AED 500 to 900 | AED 700 to 1,000 |
| Villa | Full day | AED 700 to 1,500 | AED 900 to 1,800 |
Our guide to how long a deep clean takes explains what moves a home to the top of its range. Extras such as inside the fridge, ironing or changing bed linen can be requested at an extra cost, confirmed at booking. For Dubai homes, the deep cleaning cost in Dubai guide has more detail.
After Diwali: the clean up
The day after brings wax drips, oil marks from diyas, rangoli colour in the grout and crumbs from sweets. Let wax harden, then lift it gently with a plastic scraper before wiping the area. Sweep dry rangoli powder before mopping, because water can spread the colour into grout. If the festival also ran into damp corners or a steamy kitchen, the US Environmental Protection Agency’s guide to mould and moisture notes that controlling moisture is the key to controlling mould.
If you hosted a big gathering, a one off clean resets the living areas, guest bathroom and kitchen in a single visit. Families who celebrated Ramadan or Eid at home will recognise the same pattern from our Ramadan deep cleaning checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Why do we clean before Diwali?
Cleaning before Diwali is a long tradition linked to welcoming Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, into a clean and well lit home. In practice it is also the natural moment for a yearly reset before guests arrive. In the UAE it lands just as the weather cools, so it is a good time to tackle dust and AC grilles too.
How do you clean your house for Diwali?
Declutter first, then clean each room from top to bottom: fans and AC grilles, then surfaces, then floors. Finish the heavy work, such as the kitchen and bathrooms, before Dhanteras and keep the last two days for the puja area and the entrance. The room by room list above, and our kitchen deep cleaning guide, cover what to include.
When should you start Diwali cleaning?
Start decluttering about two weeks before Diwali and book any professional deep clean for the week before Dhanteras. For 2026 that means decluttering in the last week of October and a deep clean between 1 and 4 November. Booking early matters because weekend slots fill up before festivals.
What should be on a Diwali cleaning checklist?
Include the entrance and front door, the puja area, the kitchen and fridge, the living room, curtains and cushion covers, bathrooms, guest bedrooms and the balcony. Add brass and silver polishing and a plan for the clean up after Diwali. Our move in cleaning checklist uses a similar room by room format if you want a printable reference.
How much does a deep clean cost before Diwali in the UAE?
A deep clean typically costs AED 300 to 800 for an apartment in Sharjah or Ajman and AED 400 to 900 in Dubai, with townhouses and villas higher. Prices are set per visit by home size, and extras are confirmed at booking. Check your home size on our cleaning price calculator for a typical figure.
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