Christmas Clean Up

Where to begin? The Christmas festivities have taken place, and now it’s time to get the house back in order. These Christmas clean up tips will help get you started.

Clear a path. Start with the floor.

After opening presents, sharing meals, and taking the packaging off of all those new toys, there’s bound to be a mess all over the floor. First, tackle that mountain of wrapping paper, boxes and bows. Then, bust out the vacuum to get those little scraps and pieces of glitter. You don’t want to leave behind any small pieces that your pets or little ones might find.

If you’re like us, there is always SO much wrapping paper going straight to the trash can. Before you throw that pretty paper away, consider reducing the waste and reusing some (or all) of it! This article has some great ideas: 19 Clever Ways To Use Leftover Wrapping Paper.

Check for stains.

Accidents happen and stains are inevitable. A sprinkle ground into the carpet. A mug of cocoa knocked over on the floor. Whatever it may be, the sooner you work on those stains, the better. The longer they set, the more difficult they will be to remove. Before you head to the store for carpet cleaner, start with a little soap and water. Use a spray bottle to apply a mixture of warm water and mild dishwashing liquid. Blot the spot with a paper towel and continue spraying and blotting until the stain is gone. Rinse with clear water and blot again. Fluff the spot and give it some time to dry. If you need something a little stronger, try a mixture of vinegar, water, and a gentle, non-bleach detergent.

Put away your Christmas decorations. 

There’s something magical about decorating your home for Christmas, but somehow that magic wears off when the time comes to put it all away. Here’s a video from Simply Preet bringing you Christmas clean up hacks that will help make the process smoother this year and in years to come!

Looking for places to store those rolls of Christmas wrapping paper and ribbon until next year? Here are 14 Ways to Organize Your Wrapping Paper and Gift Bags from HGTV.

Take down the tree.

Put away the artificial tree.

Before you wrestle that artificial tree back into the box, check out these Christmas clean up tips to make the process a little easier!

• Check for burnt out bulbs. You’ll kick yourself next year when it’s time to get the tree out again and you have entire branches that aren’t lit. If you need more bulbs, now is a great time to buy them since all of the holiday supplies and decor are on sale!
• Make sure everything is unplugged. Before you start pulling pieces apart, be sure you have unplugged the tree from the wall and any cords within the tree. It would be a bummer to accidentally yank a cord and damage a plug.
• Purchase a larger storage container. We all know that getting a tree into the box it came in is a nightmare. It never fits quite right and you have to squish it as flat as possible. Undoing all of your hard work fluffing. Use a container that’s a little bit larger to save yourself some work this year and next when it’s time to get it out again.

Repurpose your real Christmas tree!

• Find a Christmas Tree drop off. Help the community.
• The most common use for your tree is to make mulch or compost out of it. Whether it’s with the wood chips or needles, mulch is a great way to keep your yard trees healthy and moist during the cold winter season. Pine needles are full of nutrients that enhance the PH of your soil if its more alkaline and allow your soil to breathe without becoming dense and compacted.
• Fish feeder – When trees are submerged in water they become a thriving reserve for fish to congregate in. The weight of the tree acts as an anchor, and as time passes algae starts to form on the tree, feeding fish while protecting them from predators. Check with local officials and see if you can drop your tree in a nearby lake or pond.
• Firewood – spread the ashes on your garden. Wood ash contains potassium and lime (among other nutrients), which help plants thrive, or mix the ashes into a compost. The ashes are also useful in keeping insects away.
• Use green needles as air fresheners year round.

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