Here’s How to Clean Up After the Holidays

Putting your home back in order after the holidays can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be that way. The right storage solutions can make your Yuletide teardown go a lot smoother. Once complete, the right cleaning products can make your post-Christmas refresh go a lot quicker. Here’s some tips to help get you started.

Christmas Storage

Investing in item-specific Christmas storage not only better protects the contents, it also makes things easier to put away after the holidays, and easier to break out next year.

Christmas Tree Storage

Christmas trees are tough to store. You can keep the box it came in, but cardboard breaks down over time and, depending on the size of your storage space, may be too bulky. A Christmas tree storage bag helps ensure your tree is protected when tucked away, so it stays in good shape and lasts longer. Plus, a Christmas tree bag is more portable, making it easier to move around pre- and post-holidays.

Christmas Lights Storage

Christmas lights can also be tricky to store, as recoiling the strings can lead to knots, broken bulbs, and even damage to the wiring. A Christmas light storage bag complete with dividers will eliminate tangles, keep your lights twinkling, and help prevent electrical shorts next year.

Christmas Ornament Organizer

Your original ornament boxes can get lost or damaged. Even in the best of shape they don’t provide a lot of protection for your delicate ornaments. A Christmas ornament organizer offers a safe, cost-effective solution. A dedicated ornament storage bag will protect your fragile tree trimmings and keep all your ornaments together in one place.

Inflatable Christmas Decorations Storage

Everyone loves inflatable Christmas decorations, but if not stored properly these outdoor décor items can get punctured, dirty, or damaged. Inflatable Christmas decoration storage bags are safe and secure and make the decorations easy to transport.

Christmas Wreath Storage

Wreaths are also notoriously difficult to store. They’re awkwardly shaped and any decorations wound into the wreath are easily damaged. A wreath storage bag will protect your wreath safe, spruced up, and ready to hang come next season.

Gift Wrap Storage

Exposed gift wrap often emerges from storage torn, creased or otherwise worse for wear. A gift wrap storage bag offers dedicated compartments for your paper rolls, bows, ribbons, tape and scissors.

Post Holiday Deep Clean

Hosting holiday gatherings brings so much good cheer to your home, but it can also add stains, spots, scuffs and spills. A post-holiday deep clean will help restore your home after the holiday chaos. Here’s some quick tips to get you cleaning:

Floors & Carpets

A good floor cleaner will quickly and effectively remove spills and stains, and restore the lustre of your wood, tile or laminate floors. You can also use floor wax or floor polish to add extra sheen. Use carpet stain remover to spot treat stains and carpet deodorizers to freshen up the fabric.

Upholstery

After holiday parties and dinners, you may also notice extra stains on your couches, chairs and other upholstery. The right fabric and upholstery cleaners will help remove deep stains, and fabric deodorizer can refresh your rooms with fresh post-holiday scents.

Fridge & Freezer

Big holiday dinners require extra groceries and almost always yield lots of leftovers, so it’s a good idea to clean out the fridge and freezer at season’s end. Throw out any expired or forgotten foods, and use an all-purpose kitchen cleaner or diluted dish soap to clean surfaces, racks and drawers. You can then reorganize the groceries left for easy access.

Oven, Cooktop & Range Hood

Holiday dinners also take a toll on your oven. Use a dedicated oven cleaner to remove burnt on splatters, and a cooktop cleaner to rub out stubborn spills from the cooktop. If your range hood is caked in grease, an all-purpose cleaning spray will get the job done right.

Dishwasher

Just like your oven, your dishwasher probably saw a lot of action over the holidays. Run a dishwasher cleaner to disinfect the appliance and remove any gunk. You can also use a cloth or sponge and all-purpose cleaner to clean the door, racks and hard-to-reach areas.

Give Your Kitchen & Bathrooms Special Attention

Your kitchen and bathrooms are the most heavily trafficked areas of your home. After holiday gatherings, these essential rooms will need extra attention:

• Use disinfectant bathroom and kitchen cleaner to remove dirt and bacteria from counters and other surfaces 

• Bath and shower cleaners will refresh your bathroom after overnight guests (don’t forget to tackle the shower curtains too!) 

• If your kitchen or bathroom sinks have clogs, use drain cleaners to remove debris 

• Scrub your toilets with toilet bowl cleaner and use bathroom cleaner on the areas around the toilet for a thorough clean 

• Mop up floors with floor cleaner for a sparkling finish 

• Refill soap dispensers with hand or dish soap as needed

Real Tree Solutions

While beautiful and aromatic, real Christmas trees also pose unique challenges when it comes to holiday clean-up. Here’s a few tips to keep your home free of sap and pine needles.

• Dish soap creates a slippery surface to remove sticky sap from clothing, rugs and upholstery (spot test first to avoid damaging delicate fabrics) 

• Wrap your tree up in a tarp to avoid getting pine needles everywhere 

• Keep a vacuum or lint roller nearby to pick up any needles that escape 

• Double check city guidelines before setting your tree out on the curb to ensure it is disposed of properly

Set Up a Home Donation Box

If you received any new gifts that replace old but serviceable items, consider donating those items to charity. It embodies the holiday spirit of giving, clears out clutter, and frees up storage space in your home.

While the post-holiday tear down and clean-up may not be as fun as the set-up, it doesn’t have to be stressful. Choosing the right Christmas storage containers and having a cleaning checklist can help make the process almost seamless.