Once Christmas has been and gone and you’re left
Motivate yourself
First things first, you need to actually find the motivation to have a good sort out and clean. What better way to do this than by putting on an inspiring playlist? You can also get help from family members by creating to-do lists and to make things a little more exciting – put a timer on for each task and see who can get their jobs finished first.
Another great tip to bear in mind before you take all of the decorations down is to take a picture of the layout so that you can easily recreate the look the following year.
Recycle and Donate
Christmas offers the perfect opportunity to recycle unwanted items not only so you have more space, but also to help others in need. As you may have received many new presents, aim to donate one old item for every new item you have received, to a local charity. This way you’re not only making room for your new gifts, but you’re also giving away your old ones to a worthy cause.
If you have a real Christmas tree don’t worry about having to dispose of it yourself, many places offer a free tree collection if you have purchased the tree from them, saving you time, hassle and stress! You can also recycle your tree for composting, be sure to check local garden centres and websites.
Fridges are often full to the brim over the festive period, so when it comes to having a good clear out, ensure you get rid of any items you are unlikely to use and give them to someone in need. You could donate a food parcel to a homeless person or a food bank meaning it won’t go to waste.
Choose Clever Storage Solutions
Finding a suitable place to store your Christmas decorations can be a bit of a nightmare, especially if you’re particularly limited on space, however little tips and tricks can certainly help. Use multifunctional items that can double up as storage such as suitcases that you rarely use, and store these under your bed with decorations in.
Also keep any gift bags and tissue paper using them to store baubles in until you can reuse the bags the following year. Another great idea is to keep shoeboxes and gift boxes from any presents you have received, and use them as extra storage instead of throwing them out.
Get the Place Gleaming!
Last but not least, you need to give everywhere a good clean; here are some key things to focus on:
- Like most ovens at Christmas, yours will probably be well overdue a clean. Make sure to take all baking trays and shelving out so you can give it a thorough scrub removing any grease and grime
- Get rid of any Christmas scented candles or air fresheners and replace them with clean, fresh scents
- Wave goodbye to the Christmas-themed bedding and put some fresh sheets on
- Make sure to vacuum and then vacuum again! Decorations gather a lot of dust (and glitter)
- Take the sofa apart and vacuum everywhere, pop the cushion covers in the wash and then replace
- Move all furniture to clean under it – you’ll be surprised what you may find hiding behind cupboards after Christmas!
- Tackle any tough Christmas stains on clothing or furniture immediately
Author Bio: Thomas Cleaning are a domestic and commercial cleaning company with over 26 years of experience, based in Chipping Norton. They offer a range of highly professional cleaning services catering to offices, schools, surgeries, personal homes and more.
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