Your Post-Holiday Cleanup Checklist

The winter holidays have a way of taking over the home. There are endless string lights, real and artificial trees, and various other decorations displayed throughout the house. Once the holidays end, however, you must pack away all these adornments and deep clean specific areas so your home can return to normal.

To clean and organize your home after the holidays, carefully pack all your holiday decorations and dispose of dead trees and wreaths. Clean your kitchen and organize your pantry to ensure no holiday foods and ingredients have expired. Wash glass, mirrors, and baseboards, and thoroughly clean your floors. Get rid of all post-holiday clutter, rearrange your furniture, and find ways to bring new and refreshing smells into the home.

Your home can look like an out-of-sorts disaster after the holidays, especially if you hosted a lot of gatherings. The state of disarray can be overwhelming, and you might find yourself at a loss as to how to get your home back to its original state. The best way to get your home back in order is to cross things off a list one at a time. Below is an effective post-holiday cleanup checklist to help you get your home back to normal quickly and effectively.

All The Ways To Clean And Organize Once The Holidays End

1. Take Down And Store Holiday Lights

If you hung holiday lights this winter, you must take them down promptly. Some municipalities have rules about when outdoor lights can be displayed. Even if there isn’t a rule, you never want to be the only person in your neighborhood who still has lights in the trees and on the house in February.

Choose a mild day with no rain, snow or wind, and slowly remove the lights. Take your time, so you stay safe and don’t damage the lights.

2. Go Through Your Fridge And Pantry

Holiday remnants are often hidden within your refrigerator and pantry. Holiday-specific ingredients can linger a long time and expire due to lack of use. After all the holiday parties are over, go through your fridge and pantry.

Do your best to utilize and consume holiday products, like eggnog, hot chocolate, and Christmas-themed baked items. Once you have used all you can, get rid of anything that will go bad. This is also a fantastic time to organize your fridge and pantry so you can start the new year with healthy habits.

3. Remove The Tree And Clean The Surrounding Area

One of the biggest tasks you must accomplish after the holidays is getting rid of your real Christmas tree or packing away your artificial tree. It can take hours to put away an artificial tree, and real trees may require multiple people and complex maneuvering to remove.

Plan a day shortly after the holidays to get rid of your Christmas tree. Once you get rid of the tree, it’s much easier to clean and reorder your home, which is why this is one of the first tasks you should complete on your post-holiday cleanup list.

4. Deep Clean High-Traffic Areas

The holidays can create a lot of mess in the home, especially if you have frequent guests. Once the holidays wrap up, you should immediately focus on your highest-trafficked areas in the home and give them a deep clean.

Hallways, the dining room, and other areas with high foot traffic should receive special attention. By deep cleaning the busiest areas in the home, you can quickly revitalize and rejuvenate your space.

5. Carefully Pack And Store Ornaments And Decor

Packing up Christmas ornaments is a lot less fun than hanging them, but it’s an essential part of holiday clean-up. Many ornaments are fragile, and they often have sentimental value. Take your time and pack them carefully.

Use tissue or bubble wrap to secure fragile ornaments, and place them in secure totes that will keep them safe until you unpack them next December. 

6. Remove Holiday Clutter 

After the holidays, there’s a good chance you have more stuff than before the season began. If you received a lot of clothing and other material gifts, take some time to go through your belongings and get rid of items you don’t use.

If you have old, tacky holiday decorations, get rid of them to free up some storage space.

7. Rearrange Furniture As Needed

The holiday season often involves furniture rearranging. Whether you need to make space for your tree and other decorations, or you want to open up certain rooms to accommodate more guests, your house may look jumbled after Christmas.

Once you remove the tree and other large decorations, you should return all your furniture to where you like it best. Before you move your furniture, however, remember to sweep, vacuum, and mop the floors where you plan to relocate your furnishings.

8. Clean Guest Rooms And Bathrooms

Guest rooms and bathrooms get used more frequently during the winter, as families and friends gather for the major holidays. Once your guests have left, it is time to get your guest bedrooms and bathrooms back in order.

Wash all the bedding and linen to ensure your guest room is ready for future visitors. Deep clean all your bathrooms to prevent mold and mildew buildup. Wash towels and rugs, and replace your shower curtains as needed.

9. Wash And Dry All Holiday Linen

Once the new year arrives, it’s time to say goodbye to all your holiday-themed linens, tablecloths, and tea towels. Wash all your holiday linens and ensure they are completely dry before folding and storing them for the year.

To keep these items smelling fresh while in storage, consider adding fragrant sachets or dryer sheets so they don’t have a stale aroma when you remove them.

10. Bring New Smells Into The Home

The holidays are filled with smells, from fresh pine needles to warm baking spices. Once this festive season comes to a close, however, it’s a good idea to add some new smells to your home.

Consider switching up your aromas to something lighter and refreshing. Citrus smells like lemon and orange are great, as are lavender and peppermint. These lively fragrances will promote a clean and calm atmosphere in the home, which is ideal for the new year.

11. Organize And Refresh The Kitchen

In addition to going through your fridge and pantry, you need to reorganize your kitchen and all its appliances once you've finished preparing all your holiday meals. Small appliances like standing mixers and crock pots can be stowed away to create more counter space in the kitchen.

You should also store large platters, seasonal plates, and cookie sheets, since you will likely be using them less in the coming months.

12. Sweep, Vacuum, And Mop Floors

Once you have put away all your decorations and gotten rid of your tree, wreaths, and garland, there is a strong possibility your floors will be littered with holiday remnants. Sweep, vacuum, and then mop your floors once everything is put away. This will get your floors looking new again and prevent you from tracking the holiday mess throughout the rest of the home.

13. Wipe Mirrors And Glass

Mirrors and glass tend to get dirty during the holidays, especially when you hang decorations on or near the windows. Once you’ve removed all decorations and have your rooms in order, take some time to thoroughly wipe all your windows and mirrors.

Wiping your windows and mirrors not only makes your home look cleaner, but it’s also a great way to let more light into your home in the winter.

14. Wipe Baseboards 

Wiping the baseboards is no one’s favorite chore. It can be a real pain in the back, but it’s something you need to do from time to time. After the holidays, there’s a good chance your baseboards are dirty. 

Wiping your baseboards will not only make your house look cleaner, but it’s a great way to start the new year with healthy cleaning habits.

Wrapping Up Your Post-Holiday Checklist

Cleaning up after the holidays is a drag, but it’s something everyone who decorated and entertained in December must face. To ensure you don’t miss a step, use our checklist above. Most importantly, you must promptly remove holiday lights and your Christmas tree. Take time to organize your kitchen, paying particular attention to your fridge and pantry. 

Store all your ornaments and decorations carefully, and wash and dry all your holiday linen. Sweep, vacuum, and mop your floors, and tidy up your guest bedrooms and bathrooms once your holiday company has left.

Related Guides:

• Dos And Don’ts When Getting Rid Of A Christmas Tree
• Tips For Packaging And Storing Holiday Leftovers
• Special Touches To Help Holiday Guests Feel At Home