Back to Normal: A Guide to Cleaning Up After the Holidays

When the much-awaited holidays are over, next comes the bittersweet part of cleaning up.

Holidays can do a number on your house, and it requires thoroughcleaning before life returns to normal. While it can bring a feeling of relief to restore your house to its original form and reclaim your space, cleaning up can be challenging.

Regardless of how you feel about this, it is a task that must be tackled and in good time- before you become busy in your normal routine. This post offers helpful tips on how to manage cleaning after the holidays are over so that the end results are highly gratifying.

Decluttering around the house

First and foremost, you must declutter your house to get rid of everything that is crowding the place and organize what is left behind.

Holidays are accompanied by quite a bit of mess, especially when you have guests over. So, do not be alarmed by the amount of mess you see when you take a good look around.

If there was an exchange of presents, sort through your gifts! Consider which ones you may want to keep and which items you may want to donate or re-gift to someone. If the packing material is reusable, do not discard it in the trash. Instead, store it properly so that you can reuse it. It is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective practice.

Also, sort through the waste to see what can be recycled. This may include bottles, cans, glasses, plastic bags, etc. Request for a pickup from the recycling center in your area, if the facility is available, or arrange to have the items dropped at the place.

Taking down the decorations

The next step is to take down the decorations. Decorating the house, especially for Christmas, can be quite fun and exciting. However, it is difficult to maintain the same level of enthusiasm when taking down the décor. Regardless, it must be done!

In many households, it is a common practice not to take down the decorations right after the holidays. Depending on how you prefer to do it, set a date when you will take down the décor in your house and act on it. It is important not to postpone the task for too long.

Storing the decoration safely

It may seem like a tempting idea to throw away all the decorations in the attic or a box and put them away. However, if you plan to use these items next year, storing them properly will save you a lot of time and hassle. If not, you will be spending a good part of your time untangling the Christmas lights or trying to find a certain item.

Instead, consider proper solutions for keeping the holiday decorations nicely packed. You can get proper bags or boxes for Christmas ornament storage, which keeps them safe and organized. So, the next time you open the boxes, you will be glad to find them all intact and in one place.

Cleaning the kitchen

The next area you may want to tackle is the kitchen and the pantry. This is particularly important if a lot of cooking is done during the holidays. Afterward, your kitchen will require a deep cleaning.

If your fridge is overflowing with leftovers, start from there. Take out items from the fridge and sort them to clear out space. Freeze what you can, single out food for immediate consumption, and throw away the food that has gone stale.

Next, inspect your appliances and do a thorough cleaning. Appliance cleaning tends to get overlooked when you are more focused on cooking during the holidays. Also, wipe down the countertops. Since these are high-touch surfaces, it may be a good idea to disinfect them after a thorough cleaning.

Cleaning the house

With the décor put away and the kitchen sorted, it is time to do a post-holiday house cleaning session. Start with the floors and remove the crumbs, dirt, and dust with a vacuum cleaner. Now clean the furniture and mop your floors. In no time, the house will be sparkling clean.

Final note

Holidays are fun and exciting, but you need to get your house ready before and after. It can be exhausting, but it also offers you the chance to deep clean your house and get it ready for the remaining winter season.

Once you are done with the cleaning and the house has been restored to its pre-holiday form, you can relax. Sit down with a cup of coffee and scroll through the holiday pictures. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done on the house and making wonderful memories during the holidays.