8 Expert Tips for Cleaning Up After the Holidays

Cleaning Up After the Holidays with Lug Away

Holiday cleanup doesn’t have to be rocket science. You can go in all sorts of different directions with this sort of work, but we’ll give you the perfect places to get started. Cleaning up after the holidays is something we’re very used to here at Lug Away. We are a local junk removal company that does cleaning as a day job—and we’d love to share some pointers with you. Here are eight tips for how to clean up your act after the holidays!

1) Remove the Christmas Tree

Now that Christmas is well past over, if your Christmas tree is still taking up space in your living room, it’s time to take action. Whether it’s a real tree or an artificial one, it’s worn out its welcome because December is long behind us!

If it’s a real tree, get some friends or family to help you take it to the curb. If it’s an artificial tree, disassemble it and put it back in its box if you can. And, of course, if any of this work seems like too much for you to handle alone, don’t forget that professional junk removal companies like Lug Away are ready to help you.

2) Remove Other Decorations

If the Christmas tree is going, then it stands to reason that the rest of the holiday decorations should hit the road as well. These include the wreaths hanging on your doors, the stockings dangling by the fireplace, the holly, the mistletoe, and everything else, too.

Most of these can be stored in cardboard boxes or plastic bins, then stored until the next year comes. However, if there are any decorations that you’d like to get rid of for good, take them to a local donation site or let a local junk removal business donate them for you.

3) Put Away the Fancy Dishes

When you were hosting family and friends for holiday dinners, you used the finest china you had. However, that time is over, and it’s time to put the fancy plates away. After making sure they’ve been washed thoroughly, carefully store them in your porcelain cabinet, pantry, or wherever it is they belong. Just be sure not to drop any in the process. That’s only going to make cleaning up after the holidays all the more frustrating!

4) Clean Out the Kitchen

An important part of cleaning up after the holidays is doing something with all those leftovers. If you still have remnants of your New Year’s refreshments hanging around in the kitchen, then it’s likely that they belong in the trash. Check those expiration dates and even do some “sniff tests” if necessary. If you don’t think you’re going to eat it, toss it! Empty out the refrigerator while you’re at it so you can wipe down the shelves and surfaces.

5) Dust, Vacuum, and Mop

You’ve been spending a lot of time indoors walking around in warm socks. Don’t make it so those socks are catching dust every time you pass through the house. Instead, take some time to dust the floorboards, vacuum up crumbs, and mop the floors as well. That way, you can stride through your home with confidence and without all the filth.

6) Wash the Sheets

It’s good to wash your sheets every once in a while, especially if you’ve been spending most of your days off huddled in the warmth of your bedroom. Take some time to send those quilts, pillowcases, and blankets through your washer and dryer. You’ll be glad you did at the end of the day when you slide into a freshly made bed.

It’s great for your skin, too, as you’ll eliminate any oil and skin flakes that have been accumulating in your bedsheets over time. If it sounds gross, that’s because it is, so take action now!

7) Make Those Bathrooms Spotless

A lot of guests used your bathrooms during the holidays. Combine that with the hectic nature of the new year rolling in, and it’s easy to lose track of chores such as cleaning the bathrooms. However, now might be the best time to do it. So grab your toilet brush, a roll of paper towels, and all the cleaners and disinfectants you might need. Scrub the toilet—inside and out—and make sure there are no unsightly stains. Don’t forget to wipe down the mirror, clean the sink counter, and even wash the shower liner.

8) Reconsider Your Storage Spaces

Holidays bring about gifts, and gifts bring about new belongings in your home. As the new ones take center stage, the old ones wind up in storage. As a result, you may wind up with a severe shortage of storage space. What should you do with all those old, unwanted things? How will you ever make sense of your basement or attic again?

For some, the answer is DIY junk removal. For others, professional junk removal companies such as Lug Away as the solution. In either situation, determine what needs to go and what can stay. Then, you can get rid of the clutter, whether it’s you or a team of experts that handles that part of the work.