How To Clean Your Home After The Holidays
The holiday season is always a busy affair, especially before and during. Between getting the house ready and doing some last-minute shopping, it’s safe to say that spreading the holiday cheer is no joke. Once everything’s said and done, all that’s left is fatigue and a dwindling ‘holiday spirit’ as soon as you see what remains from the holiday season—a messy house.
Even though you’re exhausted, clean-up still falls into your hands unless your budget allows you to hire Same-Day Rubbish Removal and other similar services to spruce up your home. If not, then it’s easy to understand why you’d feel overwhelmed. Because as perfect as it would’ve been to end the holidays with a ‘bang,’ facing the aftermath is a daunting task. But to make it more manageable, here are some tips to get you started:
- Focus On High-Traffic Areas
High-traffic areas are typically where people frequent the most; the more people coming in, the denser the traffic. The living room and dining area are the best examples of these areas. Because people gather there, they’re likely to leave all kinds of dirt behind, like stains or debris. They can be found anywhere in the area, even in places you least expect to see them. Check underneath chairs and tables, and feel between couch cushions to see if anything’s hiding there.
Dealing with the debris is much easier since all you need to do is vacuum it up or sweep it off. If some involve bigger pieces, such as crumpled paper, pick them up and throw them away. However, stains require a little more effort, but it still depends on what kind of stain it is.
For example, some partygoers often end up getting one too many drinks, causing them to spill all over the carpet. While you can always turn to cleaning agents to remove these stains immediately, consider trying out chemical-free solutions that are often do-it-yourself mixtures tried and proven by many homeowners. As long as you look up the appropriate cleaning solution, those stains littered all over high-traffic areas will be taken care of in no time.
- Go Through Your Gifts
Even though it’s the thought that counts, some gifts you’ve received over the holidays might not be worth keeping. Sadly, there are multiple reasons why that’s the case; perhaps the gift didn’t resonate with you as the giver expected, or maybe you already have other gifts that are exactly like it. Whatever the case, they’ll be cluttering up your home. Since you’re trying to clean your home, adding more clutter is the last thing you want to happen.
Granted, it’d be rude to simply return the gift to the giver, and it’s a waste to throw it away without using it. Instead, donate your unwanted gifts to charity. After all, the spirit of giving won’t disappear just because the holiday season is over.
- Examine Decorations
Although your holiday decorations look fantastic, it’s time to put them away now that the holidays are over. However, it’s easier said than done, considering how much hassle it is to store them. But before you do that, see if they’re still in good condition. Check to see if all their lights still work or if any of them is already falling apart after too much use.
Assess if they can still make it to the next season. After all, they have to wait for months again before you decide to put them up. It means they’ll be staying in storage longer than the time you’re using them. That’s why you must ask yourself why you desire to keep them. Do you have a sentimental attachment to them? If that’s the case, are you providing appropriate safety measures to keep them intact throughout the year?
- Clear Out The Kitchen
Your kitchen is one of the places affected by the holiday season the most. After all, you can enjoy the holidays without serving a feast to celebrate. However, while you’re enjoying your cooking, your kitchen has been pushed to its limits to keep up with you.
First things first, clean up your sink. Admittedly, just imagining how many dishes and containers you have to wash already sounds troublesome. But leaving them there for too long will only attract all kinds of pests and bacteria.
Once done, don’t forget to clean your sink afterward. Ensure there’s no trace of any leftovers from the garbage disposal or the drain. Use the rinds of citrus fruits to remove odors. Unclog the drain by pouring hot water after dumping a half cup of baking soda and vinegar and letting them sit for around five minutes.
With the sink taken care of, proceed to your cooking area. Clean up any stains left behind on the stovetop or in the microwave. However, it might sound impossible to achieve when your oven is stained. But all you need to do is remove the oven racks before applying a paste made from baking soda and warm water. Spread it all over while avoiding the heating elements and the oven door.
After letting it sit for 12 hours, wipe off the solution with a damp cloth. Since there will be residue left behind, spray it with a bottle of water-and-vinegar solution. Ensure that only a small amount of vinegar is in the bottle. Once you’ve got everything, give it another wipe-down. Repeat the process until the oven looks as good as new.
Takeaway
Looking forward to the holiday season is always full of anticipation. But once it passes, all that’s left is an exhaustion that can be felt down to your bones. Sadly, there’s more work to handle in the aftermath, especially with how messy your home got. On the bright side, knowing where to start already puts you on the right track toward getting your house looking as good as new.