So, how were the holidays? Maybe, not a lot of family members and relatives came to visit, but the family must have celebrated Christmas and the New Year in a unique way. Perhaps, you prepared your own food, baked cookies and cake with the kids, concocted your special drink, and decorated the house to make it look merrier and brighter. Surely, when you look back on those few days, you wish they didn’t have to come to an end—that the festivities just went on and on. Instead, how does the word ‘decluttering’ sound like?
Unfortunately, time cannot be paused. And after the festivities come the time to clean up the mess, put back the decorations, wash the dishes, and clean the kitchen. Just thinking about all these can make you want to not do anything at all. If you have the same feeling, then we’ve got some tips for you to help you declutter your house after the holidays.
House decluttering tips after the holidays
Ready? Follow these tips and get your house prepped up for the coming year.
1. Start with cleaning out the fridge
The excitement of the holidays must have led you to buy a little too many stuff for the family. And if you check your fridge, you will realise that there are still a lot of leftovers and unused food items that need to be cooked or disposed if already expired. The best thing to do is to go through each and every food item first and throw out those that cannot be used anymore. From pastries and leftover dishes to spices, dips, and condiments, they need to go.
Afterwards, move on to check every container or bottle in the kitchen. If they aren’t of use anymore, throw them out or recycle them to make space in your fridge.
2. Continue decluttering the rest of the kitchen
Empty strawberry jam bottles, peanut butter containers, and boxes can either be thrown away or recycled. The bottles and containers can be used to store sugar, milk, and coffee. You can use the boxes to hold together the items that you need to throw out while still doing the rest of the cleaning.
Check your pantry for whatever items you might have forgotten that are still there, especially those that you bought a month ago and were just stored to the far back of the cabinet. Go through them, check their expiry dates, and transfer them to a place where you can easily see them.
3. Proceed to the living room
It’s normal for a house with small children to be topsy turvy most of the time. So, don’t get mad when you see that and more because it’s only been days after the holidays.
Do the following recommendations to clean up the living room faster:
- Pick up the kids’ toys first and place them in a storage box. The bigger the box, the fewer you’ll need, and the easier it is to store them.
- Next, go for the Christmas decorations. Undo the tree, wall decors, lights, and every other piece of decoration. Segregate them in different boxes and label each box with its content to easily locate them for the next holidays. Then, store these boxes in one place to avoid misplacing any decoration.
- Change the curtains and throw pillow covers. A change in theme or colour can help set the mood for the start of the year. I remember my mum always changed the colour theme of our living room—she had rainbows for summer, red and green for the holidays, and blue for the rest of the year. These created feelings and memories for us that it became easier for us to transition through the seasons.
4. Check the kids’ bedroom
From the common area, proceed to check the private ones, starting with your kids’ bedroom. However, don’t do anything just yet except scan (with your eyes) what can be done to improve the place. This is important, especially if you already have teenagers because you remember how that period of your life felt when your mum rummaged through your room, right? When you’re done, suggest and recommend tips to your child when you get the chance.
On the other hand, if you have toddlers, you know what needs to be done best.
5. Finish by decluttering your bedroom
Well done! You’re almost through cleaning and decluttering. Next up is your bedroom. Start with your clothes and check which ones you don’t use anymore. Don’t hold on to items that only have sentimental value to you. If you’re no longer using them, take them out. Think of it as making space for new ones, right? Do the same with the rest of your things.
You can either donate these items or make some money out of them by selling them on ebay or online. That way, they don’t totally become losses. Whatever you get from selling them, you can use to buy new ones if necessary.
As for your husband’s stuff, follow the rule you have with your kids. Privacy is essential. You can suggest what you think is best done, but give him the freedom to decide.
There you go. I hope I was able to help you declutter for a good start to the new year. Always remember though that while it’s important to declutter your house, it’s equally important to declutter yourself from bad thoughts and habits as well as negativity. The new year is also one of the best times to better yourself and learn a new skill.
Happy New Year!
