5 Quick Ways to Prep Your Home and Wardrobe Just in Time for Diwali

Ten days, five jobs

Every year the plan is to start the Diwali cleaning a month early, and every year it is suddenly the last week of October. If that's where you are, don't try to do everything. Lakshmi Puja is on Sunday, 8 November 2026, Dhanteras on Friday, 6 November, and the week runs on through Govardhan Puja (10 November) to Bhai Dooj (11 November). The five jobs below are ordered so that the ones the festival actually needs come first, and the ones that only make it nicer come last. Finish the first three and you are ready for the puja.

1. A focused clean, not a spring clean (days 1–4)

Traditionally the home is cleaned before Diwali because Lakshmi is believed to enter only a clean, lit and welcoming house. That cleaning is about the places she "passes through", not every cupboard.

• Clear the clutter first, room by room, with three bags: keep, give away, throw. Broken items, dead batteries, old newspapers and expired medicines go out before Dhanteras.
• Clean top to bottom: fans and cobwebs, then shelves, then floors last, so you don't clean the floor twice.
• Prioritise the main entrance, the room where the puja will be, the kitchen and the place where you keep money or jewellery (the tijori or almirah).
• Wash curtains and cushion covers one day, iron them the next. They change how a room feels more than anything else you can do quickly.

For which days are considered right for sweeping and mopping, and what to do with the old broom, see our guide to Diwali cleaning customs.

2. A quick living-room refresh (day 5)

You don't need new furniture. Three small changes do most of the work:

• Swap the cushion covers to festival colours: marigold, magenta, emerald, gold. One set, rotated every Diwali, lasts years.
• Move one piece of furniture to open the room for guests and to give a clear path to the mandir or the puja corner.
• Layer the light: string lights behind a sheer curtain, a couple of lanterns on side tables, and diyas only where they are safely away from fabric.
• Add living green: a tulsi, a money plant or a palm in a brass pot brings the room to life and outlasts cut flowers.

3. The entrance and the home mandir (day 6)

These two places carry the most meaning on Lakshmi Puja night.

• Entrance: wash the threshold, hang a fresh toran of marigold and mango leaves, keep a space clear for rangoli, and put out the diyas that will be lit on the evening of Dhanteras and Diwali. Our main gate guide covers where each goes.
• Mandir: take out the idols and pictures, clean the shelf, wash and dry the brass with care, and replace faded cloth. Check for any chipped or broken idols. Our home mandir guide explains what to do with them.
• Puja samagri: make a list a few days ahead (diyas, wicks, oil or ghee, roli, rice, flowers, kheel-batashe, a new Lakshmi–Ganesha if you replace yours each year) so nothing is bought in a panic on the day.

4. A festive table (day 7)

If guests are coming, set the table the evening before, not the afternoon of.

• A plain cream or white cloth with a brocade or block-printed runner down the middle.
• A low flower arrangement (marigolds and gerberas) so people can see each other across the table.
• Brass or steel thalis instead of disposable plates; they look richer and there's no waste.
• Tea-lights in small glass votives rather than open diyas on a table where sleeves and dupattas will pass.
• A small bowl of mishri or dry fruits at each end for guests to help themselves.

5. A wardrobe plan for the five days (day 8)

Instead of shopping for each day, lay out one outfit per occasion from what you already own, then fill only the gaps.

• Try everything on now, not on the morning of the puja. Note what needs ironing, stitching or dry cleaning, and get it done this week.
• Keep a small kit ready: safety pins, a sewing kit, fabric tape, and a stole in case the evening turns cool.
• Avoid loose synthetic fabrics and trailing dupattas around diyas. Silk and cotton are safer near flames.

A ten-day checklist

• 29 Oct – 1 Nov: declutter, clean top to bottom, send curtains to wash.
• 2 Nov: living room refresh, cushion covers, lights.
• 3 Nov: entrance and mandir; make the puja samagri list.
• 4 Nov: festive table linen ready; fix the guest menu.
• 5 Nov: wardrobe laid out, ironing done.
• 6 Nov (Dhanteras): shopping, Yama Deepam in the evening.
• 7 Nov: rangoli, toran, sweets.
• 8 Nov: Lakshmi Puja.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the house cleaned before Diwali?

Lakshmi is believed to visit homes that are clean, lit and welcoming on the night of Diwali. Practically, it also marks the end of the monsoon, when dampness, insects and dust collect.

When should Diwali cleaning be finished in 2026?

Ideally before Dhanteras on Friday, 6 November 2026, so that new purchases come into a clean home and the last two days are free for decorating and cooking.

Which parts of the house are most important to clean?

The main entrance, the room for the puja and the home mandir, the kitchen, and the place where money and jewellery are kept.

What colours are auspicious to wear on Lakshmi Puja?

Red, maroon, pink, yellow and gold are the colours most associated with Lakshmi and the festival. Many families avoid black on the day.

Is it necessary to wear new clothes on Diwali?

Wearing new clothes on Lakshmi Puja is a long-standing custom, but it is not a requirement. A clean, festive outfit you already own is perfectly fine.

How can I decorate safely with diyas?

Keep diyas on metal or clay trays, away from curtains, cushions and dupattas. Use glass votives on tables, never leave lamps unattended near children, and keep a bucket of water or sand nearby.