Sigh. The holidays are over.
Christmas decorations need to go back in closets, the tree should come down and the hardwood in the living room is begging to be rid of glitter.
Spare room linens and extra towels need to be washed – and it might take days to reclaim your kitchen. Let’s talk through a few basic points to walk through this process and start the year off on the best note possible.
Christmas Décor
Organization is paramount. Labeled boxes or tubs are the best way to go. Take hangers or clasps off of items when/if realistic. Wind up or spool any ribbon or garland. Secure with tape or in a zip-top bag. Package any breakables in newspaper or a blanket – something that will cushion them.
In an effort to be more sustainable, you can also recycle used packaging material from your mail: bubble wrap, paper, etc. When possible, save and utilize existing spools and packaging for light strands versus the traditional over-under the arm maneuver. This will save your sanity the following year when you go to unpack them – and it will also be safer for the individual bulbs and fuses.
When it comes to outdoor decorations, secure things like wreaths in trash liners. Larger decorations can be disassembled and deflated and stored in tubs or their original packaging. Make sure that anything that has been exposed to the elements has been washed and cleaned as needed and is devoid of any moisture. Mold is not your friend.
A closet will work nicely if you lack attic or garage access. Make sure to prioritize heavier items for the base layer of your storage area and stack from there. Oddly shaped items that don’t fit easily into a tub or box can be stacked together. You can often save space by stacking items inside of each other or turning items upside down and placing them over something else.
Again, use padding or packaging material as needed – especially if you won’t be accessing this space until next Christmas season.
This article courtesy of CNN has some great storage suggestions.
Living Space
Barring any destructive messes, this part of the home should just need refreshing. This article from Reader’s Digest outlines some ways to clean and freshen up your couch (https://tinyurl.com/4ver839b). This article from This Old House discusses some pointers for cleaning laminate flooring; this article from the team at Better Homes & Gardens offers some tips for cleaning hardwood and bringing back that beautiful shine.
The Kitchen
Beyond the obvious of cleaning up counter space, straightening cabinet storage and washing the dishes, cleaning the kitchen gets a little subjective to one’s kitchen setup and your personal preferences for the space.
You could load up on your favorite cleaners on the next trip to the store, but you’re here because you value a more sustainable, gentler approach (and we’re all about the DIY here at Country Culture). Check out this article and several great cleaner recipes that are sure to leave your kitchen area sparkling!
As always, utilize care with working with any cleaner, both store-bought and home crafted and work in an area with lots of ventilation.
You can check out some other great tips and tricks for cleaning and resetting your home here.
Now, kick back, enjoy a drink and soak in the fresh scents of your clean space and all of the possibilities of a new beginning.
