Guide · 3 min read
Diwali Cleaning Checklist 2026: Prepare Your Home and Mandir for Lakshmi Puja
By the ANAGHA team, New Delhi · Updated
Quick answer
In 2026, Dhanteras falls on Friday 6 November and Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) on Sunday 8 November. Start a week or two ahead: declutter first, then clean room by room from top to bottom, and leave the mandir for last, ideally the day before Dhanteras. Polish the pooja items, clean the mandir with a gentle cleaner, hang a toran at the door and draw a rangoli to welcome Lakshmi.
Diwali 2026 dates
- Dhanteras: Friday 6 November
- Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi): Saturday 7 November
- Diwali and Lakshmi Puja: Sunday 8 November
- Govardhan Puja: Monday 9 November
- Bhai Dooj: Tuesday 10 November
Some calendars place Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj a day later, and the Lakshmi Puja muhurat depends on your city, so check your local temple or a panchang for your time zone.
Why families clean before Diwali
In Hindu tradition, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, visits homes that are clean, bright and welcoming on Diwali night. Families clear out the old, repair and clean, light diyas, hang torans and draw rangoli at the entrance. For families abroad, it's also how children learn the festival.
Two weeks before: declutter
- Donate clothes, toys and things you no longer use.
- Throw out broken items, old papers, expired food and medicines.
- Fix or replace anything broken: lights, handles, taps.
One week before: room by room
- Kitchen: degrease the stove and range hood, clean the fridge, wipe the cabinets.
- Living room: dust fans and light fittings, wash curtains and cushion covers.
- Bedrooms: change bedding, sort wardrobes.
- Bathrooms: descale taps and showers, wash the mats.
- Entrance: wash the doormat and clean the front door and nameplate. The entrance is where Lakshmi is welcomed.
Two days before Dhanteras: the mandir
- 1Clear the mandir and dust it from top to bottom.
- 2Wipe all surfaces with a gentle cleaner sprayed onto a cloth (see our mandir cleaning guide).
- 3Polish brass and silver pooja items (see our brass and silver guide).
- 4Wash the asans and chunris, and set out fresh clothes for the deities if your family does so.
- 5Stock fresh diyas, cotton wicks, ghee or oil, and flowers for Lakshmi Puja.
Diwali cleaning essentials
- Microfiber cloths and soft brushes
- Mild soap and baking soda
- Lemon, salt or tamarind for brass (not for marble)
- A gentle mandir cleaner such as ANAGHA Shuddhi
- New diyas and wicks, rangoli colors, a toran or marigold garlands
On Diwali: welcome Lakshmi
- Hang a toran of marigolds and mango leaves on the main door.
- Draw a rangoli at the entrance.
- Light diyas at the door, the windows and the mandir.
- Perform Lakshmi Puja at your local muhurat.
- In apartments, use LED diyas near curtains and check your building's rules on open flames.
Questions
When is Diwali 2026 in the USA, UK and Canada?
Sunday 8 November 2026, with Dhanteras on Friday 6 November. The exact Lakshmi Puja time depends on your city, so check a local panchang or temple calendar.
Why do people clean their homes before Diwali?
Tradition holds that Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, visits homes that are clean, bright and welcoming on Diwali night, so families clean, declutter and decorate in the days before.
When should I start Diwali cleaning?
A week or two before Dhanteras. Declutter first, clean room by room, and clean the mandir last so it's fresh for Lakshmi Puja.
What should I clean first for Diwali?
Declutter first, then clean each room from the ceiling down, and finish with the entrance and the mandir.
Made for the space where you pray
Shuddhi शुद्धि
$49
For your mandir, pooja ghar and prayer corner
Sandalwood, camphor and Ganga Jal in a gentle mist for the place where your day begins with prayer.
360 ml · Shop now →
The Duo
$69
For Punjabi and mixed households, and a thoughtful festival gift
Shuddhi and Sewa together. The gift for parents, in-laws and every home with both a mandir and a gurdwara.
2 × 360 ml · Shop now →