The holiday season’s over, and It’s time for some post-holiday cleaning. But are you ready to remove all the holiday clutter from your residence?
People are under the impression that just putting everything away after Christmas means their homes have been cleaned. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. While this blog doesn’t promise that it’ll help you clean up all the holiday mess in just 15 minutes, the tips mentioned below will help you make your humble abode spotless in a less time-consuming manner.
How to do a post-holiday cleanup?
Christmas is over, and it’s time to bring down the holly-jolly decorations. But how can you clean the holiday mess without ruining your house and taking hours off your busy schedule? If this task seems impossible, chop up the cleanup schedule into small steps. Remember that you can always hire professional cleaners to get the job done correctly. But it can be more fun to do it yourself. So, here are some tips for cleaning your abode after the holidays are over:
Declutter and store externally
The first stage in a post-Christmas cleanup session involves decluttering. Gather all the stuff nobody needs right now, i.e., decorative items too large to fit even in the attic, and store them in some safe place. The people of Houston can sometimes be overzealous with their early Christmas décor. If you fall in the same category of people, choose any of the local self-storage options available. The storage units Houston provides locals in downtown and the suburbs are safe, roomy, and climate-controlled.
Determine what to keep
Storing holiday decorations can be troublesome if you don’t know what to keep or discard. Try to sort out these decorations by making an inventory of items you’d like to keep for the very year. You have an entire year to find replacements, so you don’t need to part with anything you think you may need next Christmas just yet. For the stuff you know you won’t reuse, donate it or throw it away.
Collect and recycle cards
Start collecting holiday cards and recycle them. A Christmas card can easily be recycled, so there’s no need to throw these things away just now. Try to go through them and pick some cute cards you can resend in the future. That’s how you can recycle them into gift tags, i.e., by cutting some images and suspending them with strings. The rest can go in a recycling bin.
Don’t forget to vacuum
There’s nothing more unpleasant than finding sharp objects endangering your safety. So, thoroughly vacuum the place after the holiday season ends and make your home as safe as possible. Use an extension to reach faraway places easily. Vacuuming can also help you eliminate unpleasant odors in the house.
Clean all the rugs
Since rugs easily build up dirt stains, cleaning them can be worrisome for some homeowners. A simple solution involves letting them sit outside in the sunlight. Don’t pick a rainy day; make sure it’s cloudy outside, and gently shake these rugs before leaving them hanging on the patio for some time. If they’re really dirty, consider getting them professionally washed.
Clean the guest bedroom
After the guests have left, it’s time to tackle the mess they’ve left behind. Prepare some hot water; a capful of vinegar in it is recommended. Now, wash the bedsheets in this water and vacuum-clean the mattress while the sheets are soaking. Also, clean the blinds, windows, and other things your guests may have left unkempt. Disinfect the place to eliminate all germs. Also, use an air freshener.
Store all the food
Use this post-holiday cleanup session as an excuse to stock your pantry. However, discard all rotten edibles first before replacing leftovers. Ensure extended storage by storing these edibles in a freezer. You can use water mixed with vinegar to clean the insides of your appliances after all the cooking and baking you’ve done.
Remove those wine stains
A party isn’t a party unless a guest spills red wine and makes a mess on your carpet! Getting rid of red wine stains can be a nuisance, particularly when you don’t know how to do it right. But a scarlet blemish can be removed by making a peroxide-detergent mixture in a spray bottle. First, use a damp sponge to soak as much wine as possible. Then spray the detergent on the area and wait 5 to 10 minutes. Now, use a piece of cloth and start rubbing gently on the stain. The stains will come off like magic. And if it doesn’t help, you might try taking help from carpet cleaners.
Disinfect all kitchen appliances
Cleaning the kitchen involves disinfecting your ovens, dishes, blenders, mixtures, dishwaters, and the under-the-sink area. Don’t forget to disinfect cabinets and drawers to ensure these places are spotless. Now, your house is ready to welcome another batch of rowdy guests for the upcoming holidays.
Call deep cleaning experts
A survey suggests that 51% of Americans are stressed “beyond belief” by the prospect of cleaning their houses before the holidays. Imagine the dread felt by them for a post-holiday cleaning. You can call some deep-cleaning professionals to get the job right. Professional house cleaners have the equipment to make your home spotless again.
Conclusion
Every post-holiday deep-cleaning session can be tiresome when not managed properly. So, management should be your topmost priority when tidying up all that holiday clutter. After that, declutter the place and rent self-storage units nearby to dump all the extra stuff you can use later. Vacuum the house thoroughly and deep clean all area rugs. Collect and recycle holiday cards and either store or donate the leftover food. A thorough disinfection campaign for the kitchen is essential. Call buddies to help you take down the Christmas tree. Don’t forget about the guest bedroom. If you’re still tired, call some professionals. They will do the job, no questions asked, and make your place neat, tidy, and ready for spring.