That magical time of year, filled with twinkling lights, family and friends, endless desserts, and exchanging of gifts, not only creates an avalanche of wrapping paper and packaging, but the inevitable accumulation of more ‘stuff’ to find a home for.
Now the festive dust has settled, and you’re left surveying a house that looks like it hosted a reindeer rave, it might be a good time to embrace the new year by giving your home the post-holiday refresh it deserves. Let’s dive into some simple yet effective steps to declutter, clean, and bring that sparkle back to your sanctuary.
Step 1: Dive into the Declutter
The holidays tend to bring an influx of new things—gifts, gadgets, and a suspiciously large number of mugs. Take this opportunity to declutter your home by adopting a simple mantra: If you don’t love it or use it, it goes.
- Start Small: Declutter one area at a time and start with something small, like your closet or kitchen counter, to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Better to throw yourself wholeheartedly into one area than be too ambitions, run out of time, and run out of steam.
- Adopt the mantra of William Morris: The best benchmark to declutter – ask yourself, “Is this object either useful or beautiful?” If it isn’t, let it go guilt-free.
- Set a Timer: Break it down and dedicate 30-60 minutes a day to decluttering. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish in short bursts, and you won’t wear yourself out and give up.
Step 2: Deep Clean Like You Mean It
Once you’ve smashed the declutter, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get cleaning. Think of it as giving your home a spa day. You might want to wait until you’ve decluttered the whole house, or clean after each room is cleared, though it’s a good time-saver to clean inside cupboards as you declutter.
And why not get the whole family involved too? They surely contributed to the holiday hurricane. Turn it into a game or a competition and see how quickly you power through.
- Dust and Shine: Wipe down surfaces, vacuum corners, and dust off those spots you’ve been pretending not to see (yes, we’re looking at you, ceiling fan blades). Move appliances furniture and get into all those hidden corners, remove cushions from furniture to capture dust and who-knows-what from every nook and cranny, and take the rugs outside for a good beating.
- Deep Clean the Kitchen: This deserves its own point, as now is the perfect time to take apart your oven and fridge and banish any holiday remnants to leave them fresh and fragrant for the coming year.
- Freshen Fabrics: Wash your curtains, pillow covers and throw blankets to banish any lingering holiday crumbs and smells. Open all the windows and let the refreshing air flow through your whole home.
- Tackle the Floors: Sweep, vacuum, and mop your way to gleaming floors. For carpets, consider a deep-cleaning session. For natural floors treat them to a little wax, oil, or whatever is recommended for your particular surface.
Step 3: Bring in the Freshness
Now that the clutter is gone and the grime is eliminated, it’s time to breathe new life into your home.
- Add Greenery: Bring in some low-maintenance houseplants to add a touch of nature and purify the air. Snake plants, spider plants and mother-in-law’s tongue varieties are great options for even the least green-thumbed among us.
- Misitfy: Invest in diffusers that use natural essential oils for a toxic-free, gentle fragrance.
- Rearrange and Refresh: Move furniture around to give your space a new look. Sometimes even small changes, like a new throw pillow or rug, can make a big difference.
Step 4: Maintain the Magic
Now that your home is back to its sparkling self, keep the momentum going with these quick tips:
- Adopt the One-In-One-Out Rule: For every new item you bring in, let go of an old one.
- Daily Mini-Cleans: Spend just 10-15 minutes tidying up each day to prevent messes from piling up.
- Instil the Airplane Rule: It’s amazing how everyone follows the airline’s suggestion to wipe down the sink bowl after using it and make sure it’s presentable for the next passenger. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone extended that courtesy to the members of their own family? With everyone engaged in this practice, the bathroom will stay looking pristine every day.
- Celebrate Small Wins: Finished cleaning out a drawer? Take a moment to enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done, and celebrate with a short rest, a cup of tea, or whatever takes your fancy.
- Daily Reset: At the end of each day, do a quick sweep of surfaces to keep clutter from creeping back in.
- Deploy the Dustbuster: It takes just a minute or two to vacuum up crumbs as they appear and relieves you of the more daunting task of a full-house clean.
As the holiday glow fades and the new year unfolds, a clean and refreshed home will set the stage for whatever 2025 has in store. So, grab that broom, put on your favourite playlist, and get to it. Who knows? You might even find yourself enjoying the process.
And if you need a little help from the cleaning fairies – you know who to call…
Happy decluttering!