Post-Holiday Purge: Decluttering Tips for a Fresh Start

For most of us, holidays are a time to indulge in access. It is a time when people enjoy too much food, a lot of drinks and share many presents. With so much going on, you may not even get the time to catch your breath- let alone clean or declutter the house.

However, once the holiday is over, it is time to declutter and organize the space and get it ready for the rest of the season. So, before you give into your post-holiday blues, start decluttering the house and do the much-needed post-holiday cleaning.

Wondering where to start? Read this post for some great decluttering tips so you can have a fresh start on New Year’s.

Getting rid of the garbage

Christmas is a time for exchanging presents. This means a lot of packaging and wrapping material around the house. There may also be a lot of clutter around the house that needs to be tossed out. Keep a recycle bag ready and put all the relevant material inside. This may include plastic bottles, cups, plates, paper, etc.

Also, separate the items that must go in the trash and discard them so your space is all cleared out. Once the garbage has been taken care of and the recycling material is also sorted, you can get to declutter the rest of the house.

Taking care of the holiday decorations

If you decorate the house for Christmas, the next thing you must tackle is the decorations. Do not just stuff the garlands or ornaments in a box to put them away- first, assess your stash. Gather all your décor items and see how many you can use next year. If there are broken elements or items you will not be using, toss them.

Store the rest of the items in storage boxes according to their categories for better organization. You can also label the boxes to make them convenient for future use. Similarly, you can get a Christmas tree storage bag to ensure your tree stays intact and can be used next year as well.

Clearing out kids' room

Got kids in the house? Their room may be one of the most cluttered spaces in the house. If you were entertaining guests over the holidays or your kids spent a lot of time indoors, chances are you can no longer see the floor in their room. Get the kids to partake in cleaning their space. Categorize the toys- separate the toys they will not be using anymore, discard the broken ones, and take out those they want to donate.

If you are planning to donate toys, remember to give them a good wash beforehand. Put all the rest away neatly in their places.

Putting away holiday outfits

Many individuals have a dedicated wardrobe for the holidays. If you have one too, organizing the wardrobe must be the next task on the list. If you have kept outfits that you plan to use during the holidays but have not used in a while, it is time to donate them or give them away.

However, if the clothes are in good condition, you can always consider selling them. Repeat this practice for the rest of the family’s wardrobe as well.

Organizing the kitchen

Holidays are also a time when you may be putting your cooking and baking skills to the test. If the kitchen space is occupied by baking pans and accessories or cooking pots, it may be a good time to organize and declutter.

Sort through your collection and take out items you have not used and do not plan to use in the future, either. You can then either donate or sell them as per your preference.

When in the kitchen, also clear out your fridge. If there is a lot of leftover food, consider what you can use, freeze, or even donate if there is a lot. There may be some stale items to be discarded that were neglected during the holiday rush.

Final Thoughts

These are just some of the areas in the house that may need decluttering once the holiday season is over. You may need to address other aspects of housekeeping depending on your living dynamics.

For instance, many people find it necessary to sort through their winter wardrobe and gear, sports goods and bed and bathroom linen as well. It all depends on which areas in your house you consider to be in a state of disorder.

The post-holiday purge may be a taxing but much-needed task to get a fresh start. Once the house is clean, organized and rid of clutter, you may feel all ready to take on the next year. Good luck!