Deepavali decorations look best in a home that is already clean, and in Singapore that means starting earlier than most families expect. Lamps, kolam, fresh flowers and strings of lights all show up dust, grease and mould that went unnoticed the rest of the year. This checklist covers what to clean and when, how to decorate safely, how to prepare for guests, and how to plan your helper’s workload and rest.

The date moves each year, so check the Ministry of Manpower’s public holiday list for this year’s date. For 2027, MOM’s list of public holidays puts Deepavali on Thursday, 28 October.

The checklist runs as a countdown, from four weeks out to the days after. Use it to spread the work, so the final week is about cooking, flowers and family rather than scrubbing the kitchen at midnight. We also cover fire safety, because lamps, extension leads and festive cooking all add risk in a small flat.

Four weeks out: plan the work before you start

A month ahead, write a list and decide who does what. Festive cleaning goes wrong when everything is left to one person in the final week.

Walk through each room. Note what needs a deep clean (kitchen hood, curtains, sofa, fans) and what needs fixing. Femme5 does not do repairs, so book any handyman or electrician work separately and early.
Check your decorations. Throw away any light strings with frayed or damaged wires.
Split the tasks. Decide what family members will do, what your helper will do, and what, if anything, you will book a cleaner for.
Talk to your helper about her rest days. Agree them now, before the calendar fills up.

If you already keep a household cleaning schedule, look at which monthly and yearly jobs are due and pull them forward into this window.

Two to three weeks out: the Deepavali cleaning checklist

This is the heavy-cleaning window. Deepavali cleaning is a tradition in many homes, and it makes practical sense in Singapore’s humidity, where mould grows in corners that are rarely moved. Work from top to bottom and from the back of the home to the front, so you are not walking dust into rooms you have already finished.

Living and dining areas

Dust ceiling fans, light fittings and the tops of cabinets first, then wipe down walls and switches.
Wash or steam curtains. Check the care label first, and allow plenty of drying time, because heavy curtains can take a long time to dry in humid weather. Our guide on how to clean curtains covers the different fabrics.
Vacuum and spot-clean the sofa, testing any cleaner on a hidden area.
Polish any brass or metal items you plan to use for prayers or display.

The kitchen

The kitchen will work hardest, so give it the most attention. Degrease the cooker hood and its filters, clean the hob and burners with the gas turned off and the hob cool, and clear out the fridge to make space for festive cooking.

A safety note on cleaning products: never mix bleach with ammonia or with acidic cleaners, because the combination releases toxic gases. Open windows or run a fan when using strong products, wear gloves, and test any product on a hidden spot before using it on a large surface.

Bedrooms and the prayer area

Change bed linen and clear a guest room if relatives are staying. Clean the prayer altar or shelf in the way your family prefers, and keep it clear of anything flammable before lamps are lit.

The corridor and entrance

Wipe the main door, gate and shoe rack. In HDB blocks, the SCDF’s fire safety guidelines for residential estates require a clear escape passage of at least 1.2m along the common corridor. Keep that in mind before placing plants, a kolam or extra shoe racks outside your door.

One week out: Deepavali decorations, set up safely

Lights and electrical safety

SCDF’s festive fire safety tips are straightforward and apply just as well to Deepavali. Inspect decorative lights and replace any with frayed or worn wires. Do not overload electrical sockets. Do not run wires or extension cords under carpets. Turn decorative lights off before leaving the house.

Use a stable step ladder rather than a chair, with a second person holding it. Never ask anyone, including your helper, to lean out of a window to hang lights outside. Under MOM rules, a helper may only clean the outside of a window if the window has a grille that is locked throughout and an adult supervises, and employers who breach this face a fine of up to $10,000, up to 12 months’ jail, or both. Treat hanging outside decorations with the same caution.

Oil lamps and candles

Lighting lamps is at the heart of the festival for many families. SCDF advises keeping lit candles away from combustibles such as curtains, and keeping lighted materials away from children. In practice:

Place each lamp in a stable holder on a heat-resistant surface such as a metal tray or tiled ledge.
Keep lamps well away from curtains, garlands, paper decorations and the edges of shelves.
Keep them out of reach of children and pets.
Take care with loose clothing such as saris and dupattas near open flames.
Never leave lamps burning in an empty room or overnight, and put them out before you go to bed.

Kolam and rangoli

Some coloured powders can stain porous tiles and grout, so test a small patch first or lay your kolam on a mat or board.

Flowers and water

Fresh flowers and garlands are a lovely touch, but standing water breeds mosquitoes. NEA’s Mozzie Wipeout steps include changing the water in vases and lifting and emptying flowerpot plates. Change vase water every couple of days through the festival.

The last few days: food, guests and hosting

Hosting often means large pots of curry and trays of sweets and savouries, so food safety matters more than usual.

The Singapore Food Agency’s guidance on temperature control in cooked food explains that 5°C to 60°C is the “temperature danger zone” where bacteria grow best. It advises refrigerating cooked food quickly at 4°C or lower, holding hot food at 60°C or higher if it is not being eaten right away, and dividing large batches into smaller portions in shallow containers so they cool quickly.

Clear the fridge early so there is room for prepared food.
Cook in stages. Snacks that keep, such as murukku, can be made earlier and stored in airtight containers once fully cool. Leave gravies and rice dishes closer to the day.
Never leave cooking unattended. This is one of SCDF’s core festive tips. If oil in a wok catches fire, SCDF’s Civil Defence Emergency Handbook advises smothering it with a wet cloth rather than pouring water in, because water makes an oil fire spread. Turn off the gas if you can do so safely, and call 995 if the fire is not quickly out.
Think about lighter options. HealthHub’s tips on eating healthy during Deepavali suggest steaming, baking or air-frying treats instead of deep-frying, and using whole-wheat flour in place of refined white flour.

The day before, set up a clear area for shoes, extra serving spoons, rubbish bags in the kitchen, and a play space for children away from lamps.

Planning your helper’s workload and rest over Deepavali

Festive weeks are when a helper’s hours stretch furthest. A fair plan protects her, and protects you from breaching MOM rules.

Rest days still apply

Your helper is entitled to one rest day a week, on a day you both agree. Under MOM’s rest day and well-being rules, at least one rest day a month cannot be compensated away with pay, even if she offers. If she agrees to work any of her other rest days, you must pay at least one day’s salary for each one, worked out as her monthly salary divided by 26, on top of her salary. Our guide to maid rest day and off day rules explains the details.

Public holidays are a matter for your contract

Helpers are not covered by the Employment Act, so Deepavali is not an automatic paid holiday for her. It depends on your contract and what you agree. If she celebrates the festival herself, giving her the day is a generous gesture.

Keep her work at your home

MOM’s guidance that your migrant domestic worker must not work for your business is clear that cleaning a parent’s home or another property is not allowed, even occasionally and even with extra pay. She also cannot help with any festive food business you run from home. Illegal deployment can bring a fine of up to $10,000 and a bar on employing helpers.

Spread the load

Do the heavy cleaning weeks ahead so the final days are lighter.
After a late night of hosting, allow a later start or a lighter day.
Include her in the celebration if she would like to be.

If you need extra hands for a deep clean, booking part-time help is the compliant way to add capacity without overloading your own helper.

After Deepavali: clearing up

Lamps. Let lamps cool completely before moving them. Blot oil drips with paper towels, then wash with warm water and dish soap so the floor is not slippery.
Kolam. Sweep or vacuum dry powder before you mop. Wetting the powder first can spread the colour and push it into grout.
Lights. Coil lights loosely and store them somewhere dry.
Tape and stickers. Remove tape from walls and glass slowly. Our guide on how to remove sticker residue covers glass, tiles and painted walls.
Kitchen. Degrease the hob and hood again after the heavy cooking, and clear out leftovers. SFA’s general advice is to reheat food thoroughly and eat reheated food soon.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I start cleaning for Deepavali?

Start planning about four weeks before and do the heavy cleaning two to three weeks before, leaving the final week for decorating and cooking. Check MOM’s public holiday list for this year’s date and aim to finish deep cleaning about two weeks before it. In 2027 Deepavali falls on Thursday, 28 October, so that year aim to finish by mid-October.

Is it safe to leave oil lamps burning overnight?

No. Never leave lamps burning in an empty room or while everyone is asleep. Keep them in stable holders on heat-resistant surfaces, away from curtains and children, and put them out before bed.

Can I ask my helper to work on Deepavali?

Helpers are not covered by the Employment Act, so public holiday arrangements depend on your contract and mutual agreement. Her weekly rest day rules still apply, including at least one rest day a month that cannot be compensated away, and any other rest day she agrees to work must be paid at least one day’s salary.

Can my helper help my parents clean their home before Deepavali?

No. A helper may only do domestic work at the address declared to MOM, and MOM says cleaning a parent’s home is not allowed even occasionally and with extra pay. Book a part-time cleaner for their home instead.

How do I clean kolam powder off tiles?

Sweep or vacuum the dry powder first, then mop with plain water or a mild detergent. If colour has stained the grout, test any cleaner on a hidden spot before using it, and never mix bleach with ammonia or acidic products.

Conclusion

A calm Deepavali is mostly a matter of timing. Plan a month out, clean two to three weeks before, decorate safely in the final week, and keep fire and food safety in mind when the home is full of lamps and guests.

Just as important, agree your helper’s workload and rest days before the busy weeks begin, so she can enjoy the season too.

A pre-Deepavali deep clean is a big job. If you would rather leave it to us, see our home cleaning services or deep cleaning, or get in touch with the Femme5 team for a quote.

The Femme5 Team
Home cleaning team, Femme5 Agency
Femme5 provides part-time home cleaning, deep cleaning and post-renovation cleaning for HDB flats, condominiums and landed homes across Singapore.

Femme5 Cleaning Team

Written by the home cleaning team at Femme5 Agency Pte Ltd, which provides part-time home cleaning, deep cleaning and post-renovation cleaning across Singapore.

Deepavali Preparation Checklist: Cleaning, Decorating and Hosting Without the Stress