Now that the holiday season is mostly behind us, it’s time to get things back in order. From reorganizing items that get shifted around, to cleaning items you may have missed before the busy season, now is the time for a fresh start for the new year. Focus on these four rooms to clean after the holiday season and you’ll be ready for whatever the new year has in store for you and your home.
Kitchen
The kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in the home and the holidays are no exception. Now that the big meals have been cooked and the conversations have come to a close, it’s time to get your kitchen back to working order for the rest of the year. Be sure to focus your cleaning efforts on these areas:
Fridge and Freezer
Take the time to thoroughly clean both the inside and the outside of your fridge and freezer. Go through the contents and throw away any leftovers that won’t get eaten in the near future. Reorganize your shelves so that there’s room for everything you normally store in there. It doesn’t hurt to give your shelves a wipe down while you’re in there. When it comes to the front of your fridge, be sure to clean the outside to remove any fingerprints that might be lurking.
Stove and Oven
After a month of baking cookies, turkeys, and all the fixings, your oven desperately needs to be cleaned. Give both your oven and stovetop a good scrubbing to remove any caked on grease and grime. If you want to go the extra mile, pull the entire unit away from the wall and sweep away any bits of food that might have fallen down the sides.
If the thought of spending the rest of your holiday vacation cleaning your kitchen doesn’t thrill you, you can always hire a pro to do it for you. You can hire a cleaning company to come by for a one-time cleaning or set something up regularly.
Bathroom
We know you gave your bathroom a thorough cleaning before your guests arrived, but what about after? Now that all your guests have gone home, it’s time to get your bathroom back to normal and ready for your regular routine.
Sink and Toilet
With so many guests using and touching these items, it’s important to clean off any lingering germs or fingerprints. If your guests only used one designated guest bathroom, you can focus most of your cleaning time there. If your guests used multiple bathrooms, you’ve got a bit more work ahead of you.
Cupboards and Countertops
Sometimes our countertops can become cluttered. When unexpected guests stop by, those countertop items are often shoved under the sink to be hidden out of sight. If you’re guilty of shoving one mess on top of another, take some time to clean out your cupboards and organize your countertops properly.
If you feel like cleaning your bathroom even less than you do your kitchen, you can always hire some help. Enlist a cleaning company for a one-time cleaning where they can focus their efforts on both your kitchen and bathroom. Put your feet up and relax while the pros take care of the rest for you.
Living Room
As you continue to get your house back to normal, the next stop is the living room. From spilt drinks on the couch to cookie crumbs crunched into carpets, a lot of damage can be done to a living room over the holidays. Be sure to clean these items as you go through yours:
Carpets
Whether you have wall-to-wall carpeting or a nice accent rug, your carpets should be cleaned after hosting events. Think of all the people who have walked through your home, not only this season but all year long. If you hosted a large party, it’s very likely there will be one or two new mystery stains. If you haven’t had a chance to yet this year, book a visit from a carpet cleaning company. They will be able to get your carpets looking their best and smelling fresh.
Curtains & Furniture
Remember to clean your curtains and upholstered furniture. Certain fabrics can easily retain smells and odours. If you’re taking the time to have your carpets cleaned, consider the other fabrics in your living room. Curtains are often left neglected when it comes to cleaning. In fact, many people may not realize they can be cleaned. The same goes for your couch. Hire an upholstery cleaner to take care of all the fabrics in your home to get any remaining holiday party scents out of them.
Storage Spaces
While you may want to leave your holiday decorations up all year long, they will eventually need to be put away somewhere. From your basement to your attic to under the bed, anywhere you use as a storage space should be organized and cleaned out before everything is put away.
Decorations and Seasonal Items
This year, instead of shoving everything back into half-broken boxes, take the time to evaluate your items. Do you have a string of lights that no longer work? Instead of keeping and mixing them up with the rest of the working lights, throw them away. There’s no point in keeping broken or unusable items. Plus, only keeping the items you actually use will make things easier next year when you go to set everything up. If your current storage solutions could use some help, you can always hire a professional organizer to help make the best use of your space.
New Gifts
Out with the old and in with the new is a great rule to keep in mind after the holidays. There’s no point in keeping two of the same thing, especially when one is old or broken. Go through your home and round up the old items that have been replaced. If they’re still in fairly good condition, you can donate them or pass them along to friends who could use them. If they’re beyond repair and you just want them out, consider a junk removal company to help clear the clutter.
Now that you know what you have to clean, the only thing left to do is get started. Roll up your sleeves and put in some elbow grease, or get some help from a pro. Either way, you’ll feel better knowing your home is cleaned and organized for the new year.
Newsletter image courtesy of Slice Weston.
