Now that the guests have gone home, the presents have been unwrapped, and the decorations have been taken down, it is time to bid adieu to the holiday spirit and fall back into routine. But doing so is not going to be easy if you have holiday reminders strewn all over the place!
If post-holiday chaos has finally hit your home, and you have no idea where and how to begin organizing and cleaning your home, you’ve come to the right place! Here are some useful tips on getting your home in order.
Think Ahead
Don’t get started on stuffing gift wrappers, ribbons, tapes, lights, and ornaments into storage boxes mindlessly. Think ahead and sort items before putting them away so that you don’t have to deal with that part towards the end of the year.
- Wind string lights and garlands around a piece of cardboard and then store in bins or boxes. String lights can also be wound onto wooden hangers.
- Sort ornaments according to type or color and place in storage containers lined with bubble wrap or tissue. Use clear plastic boxes so you can see what’s inside or label boxes appropriately before stowing them away.
- Gather all your crafting supplies and sort them by type. Get rid of some old postcards and greeting cards if you’ve found new ones to display or use for crafts. Doing so will lessen clutter and help you save time the next holiday season.
Go through the Gifts
You were probably happy to receive all your gifts, but take some time to consider if you really need them. If you have one too many items of the same kind, do away with the old or repack the item you received and pass on to someone else. Gifts of lesser value can also be combined with other items to create gift baskets.
Make sure you don’t make a faux pas by giving away items to the person who gifted them to you in the first place. Maintain a little diary and write down what each member of your family received from whom to keep tabs on your gifts easily.
Store Right
Once you pack all your holiday stuff into bins and boxes, don’t leave them lying about the house. Since none of the items will be of use until the next holiday season, you can take the liberty of shoving the bins and boxes at the back of cabinets, high up, or low down. Don’t worry about accessibility; save the easily reachable spaces to store everyday use items.
Expand your storage space with these ideas:
- If you have a bed on legs, you can use the space underneath it to store boxes. Raise bed height by fixing bed risers to the legs so as to accommodate storage boxes that are taller by an inch or two.
- Increase storage space in the attic or garage by adding shelves and racks. If you’ve already done that, install a sliding storage system near the ceiling.
- If you’re planning to buy new furniture, make sure you invest in pieces that can serve as storage spaces too.
Clean It All
The partying and merrymaking sure has taken a toll on your home. Here are some great tips to start with:
- Check carpets, drapes, and upholstered furniture carefully for stains. Clean stains according to fabric care instructions. As a general rule, refrain from rubbing stains vigorously; always spot clean them with a plain damp cloth.
- Identify the type of stain before you treat it- dirt stains should be dusted with a cloth first or they could settle in the fabric, food stains can be cleaned with a solution of mild soap and water, and stains from bodily fluids can be cleaned using enzymatic cleaners.
- If you have a hardwood floor, it might not look as beautiful right now. Refinishing the floor can be an option, but an easy way to remove scuff marks is to rub some non-gel toothpaste onto the marks using a soft rag. To remove scratches, take three parts of olive oil and one part of vinegar, mix, and apply onto scratches with a soft cloth.
- Remove stains and fingerprints from glass surfaces and mirrors using a solution of vinegar and water. Spray onto surfaces and wipe clean with a soft cloth.
- Stainless steel and metal surfaces like knobs, handles, and faucets can be made to shine as new by wiping clean with a multi-surface cleaning solution.
- Remove dining table water stains by rubbing mineral oil onto them. If you find that your tablecloth has candle wax on it, remove as much as you can gently. To remove the stain, set your iron on a low heat setting, cover the stain on both sides with a piece of paper or cloth, and iron over the stain. This will cause the wax to melt and get absorbed by the paper or cloth. Repeat as necessary.
Conclusion
Entering a new year means starting afresh. But if you have clutter from last year around, your energy levels are bound to drop quickly! So get started on getting your home in order with the home organization ideas and cleaning tips mentioned here. Saying goodbye to chaos and clutter is sure to make getting back to routine easier for you!
