Putting up decorations is always fun and exciting in anticipation of the festive season. Everyone is in good spirits and can easily get into the spirit of the occasion, with Christmas songs playing, maybe some mulled wine steeping on the stove, and a mince pie or two, adding to the enjoyment.
Taking down the decorations, not so much.
But if you approach the task from the perspective of refreshing your home for a fresh new year, and involve the whole family, it will make the task less arduous.
The first thing to consider is yourself, putting up the decorations next year, and with that in mind, clean your decorations as you go and pack them in an orderly and organised fashion, to give yourself an easier time of it next Christmas. Pay particular attention to tree lights, which can easily get into a messy tangle. A good idea is to wrap them around sheets of cardboard, which you should have in good measure from all the packages you had delivered.
Take the opportunity to declutter
Let’s assume your family was nice rather than naughty last year and your household has likely had an influx of brand new ‘stuff’.
There is obviously a limit to how much stuff you can use, wear or store, so put your ruthless cap on and declutter your home room-by-room, before you start cleaning the whole place top to bottom.
Even before Christmas, we’d like to bet you purchased a load of new kitchenware, crockery, linens, etc., so don’t hang onto all the old versions of the same.
Once your home is clutter-free and well-organised, you can really see the wood for the trees and will have a much easier time cleaning.
We’re not going to dwell on how to give your home a deep clean, as you’ll find various blogs on the subject on our website already, but we’ll just touch on two important appliances that will need some post-Christmas TLC.
Treat your oven to a spa
Your oven probably took quite a beating over Christmas, so it really deserves a thorough clean. Remove all the trays and shelves from your oven and soak them in a basin of hot, soapy water. Whilst they soak, sweep away any debris from the bottom of your oven and give the inside and door of your oven a clean. You can use a branded cleaning solution specifically designed for ovens, but we prefer a chemical-free solution of baking soda and white vinegar. Once your oven is sparkling clean, you can remove your trays and shelves from the soapy water, scrub them with a scouring pad, give them a thorough rinse, and put them back in your oven, ready to use.
For the inside of the oven door, avoid anything abrasive, which will scratch the glass. Spray on a solution of white vinegar and hot water and leave to soak for a while. Then wipe lightly and use a glass scraper to shift that baked-on grime. Then add a little soap to your water/vinegar solution and clean with a soft cloth before drying.
Pamper your fridge
Like the oven, your fridge has probably taken a lot over the holidays and been packed to the gills with more food than it can comfortably take. When fridges are over-stocked it’s easy to forget what might lurk in the depths, and odours can build up. Now is a great time to empty your fridge completely and give it a de-clutter as well.
Toss out any expired food and those leftovers you’ve been holding onto that you’re never going to eat.
Then remove all shelves, drawers, and storage containers and clean them all with warm, soapy water. A solution of baking soda, lemon juice, and water, will freshen the insides of the fridge, using a soft cloth. Then rinse with warm water and wipe dry before replacing your shelves etc.
Now you have a clean slate to organise your shelves and drawers to make everything easily accessible again. Just hear your fridge take a huge sigh of relief.
Now your home is ready for all that the new year will bring and remember – having a clean and well-organised home, also gives you a clean and organised mind.
As always, if you need a little help, you can contact us and book a SOAPSTAR for a full, deep clean.