How to Clean Your House After the Holidays
Now that holidays are done, it's time to clean out the house. Here are our cleaning tips for dealing with the mess.
Holidays are a great time to spend with your family and friends, but when they’re done, you’re often left with a messy house and the aftermath of your visitors. Now it’s the perfect time to get your home back in order. Cleaning up after the holidays can be daunting, but it’s an ideal time to start the new year with a clean slate. Here are some of our favorite cleaning tips for after the holidays.
Put away the decorations
While your Christmas tree and wreaths add lots of cheer to your home, they also have a specific purpose. Once the holidays are done, their work is done too. Put your tree ornaments away, remove the Christmas cards and stow away any items that you plan to reuse next year. Make sure you store things in organized boxes and label everything for easy access.
The same applies to your tree. Put away your artificial tree and check with your municipality about curb tree collection if you have a real one. Removing your tree can get messy, so have a broom and dustpan handy for a quick cleanup.
Set up a donation box
Whether you got new stuff and want to get rid of the old things you no longer need, or you’re not happy with your gifts, consider donating them to someone else. There is no shame in decluttering your home and getting rid of things that no longer bring you joy or serve a purpose. You might be tempted to stash things away, but if you’re keeping things just for the sake of doing so, it’s probably a sign that they need to go.
Tackle the fridge
Your fridge can get full very quickly, especially with leftovers. It’s easy to forget a dish that somehow made its way to the back of your fridge. Get rid of anything that has gone bad, and make a meal plan for any leftover food you still plan on eating. Give your fridge a good cleaning and ensure nothing is hiding in the back of the freezer.
To make sure you’ve cleaned your fridge of all the spills and drips, wipe the shelves with a warm cloth. You might also want to remove everything from the refrigerator and freezer before cleaning it with a good disinfectant.
Scrub the stove and oven
After you’ve cleaned your fridge, it’s time to clean the stove and oven. After lots of cooking over the holidays, it’s a good idea to clean it. To remove baked-on food scraps, use a steam cleaner for easy removal. If your stove comes with a self-cleaning option, make sure you remove everything from the stove before turning it on. Also, clean the stovetop and the range hood.
Clean house
Your carpets and floors also need a good cleaning, especially if you have had many people over the holidays. Vacuuming will eliminate any hidden food or scrap that might have been overlooked and dust and dirt carried in. Give your floors a good cleaning with a proper floor cleaner to remove stains and bacteria. Dust the shelves, wipe and disinfect all surfaces and air out the house. If you have a steam mop, now is a great time to take it for a spin and freshen up your home.
Laundry
Cleaning up after your guests also extends to laundry. Clean towels, bedsheets and blankets, then put away all the extras. While you’re at it, throw your own sheets in the wash - after all, there is nothing more relaxing than going to bed with clean bedsheets. Plus, fresh laundry always smells so good!
Bathrooms
Bathrooms, especially if you have more than one, often get frequent mileage when you have visitors. Toilets, sinks, countertops and floors are frequently used surfaces in any bathroom. Give them a good cleaning with a disinfectant, and watch them sparkle again. Don’t forget also to clean your showers and tubs. You might also want to wipe your mirrors to eliminate splatters and stains.
Hire a professional
While cleaning your house after visitors is a great way to bring it back to normal, it can also be daunting. While you can make clean up a family event, let’s be honest, everyone might be feeling a bit exhausted. Why not hire a pro to do it for you? Think of it as a Christmas gift for your and your family. Trust us, you’ll be happy you did!
Conclusion
Sometimes getting ready for the holidays can be stressful and exhausting. Think of cleaning up as a way of getting rid of that stress and putting yourself in a different mindset. Whether you decide to clean the house yourself, with family or by hiring a professional, you’ll start the new year with a clean house and lots of positivity. After all, a clan and organized home can make anyone feel relaxed and happy. Happy cleaning.