Hey Friends, are you a clean up on boxing day kind of person or do you let your decorations linger a little while longer into January or more? Well, today I am sharing some of my tips and favorite finds to help you get on your way to cleaning up after the holidays.
I typically have it all packed up and in the attic a day or 2 after Christmas but this year I needed a little bit more motivation to get going on the process.
Make a list of Returns and Exchanges.
If there are unused items that you don’t need or things you need to exchange, make a list and put receipts in an envelope. This makes it easy to find when you are ready to return. Most retailers are generous with their returns and exchange policies during the holidays and typically give extended windows for customers who change their minds. Make sure to note important dates.
Organizing Christmas Décor
Christmas Trees:
For live trees and other greenery, there are several ways to dispose of these. Some cities have a designated day to haul them away. There are also farms or organizations that take old trees for several uses. Here in town, we have a farm that has partnered with a great organization called Canes for Veterans. They make walking sticks from the trunks of old Christmas trees and the farm uses the greens for livestock feed.
For Faux trees, store in a tree bag. A lot of retailers provide storage bags with a tree purchase. You can also purchase them separately as well.
Ornaments:
Discard any broken ornaments. There are a variety of storage boxes in different sizes to store ornaments. Wrap delicate ornaments in paper or bubble wrap and group them together by color, style etc.
Garlands:
Several retailers make bags just for garlands. However, you can store them in tubs or tree bags. This preserves them from moisture and other elements.
Wreaths:
When storing wreaths, it is important for them to keep their form for the next use. Using wreath bags and/or boxes for storage is a good investment to ensure they last for a long time. I usually get the larger sizes to store more than one wreath at a time. This conserves space and also saves money.
If you prefer to have your wreaths stored in a hanging position, I discovered this hack that provides a great solution.
Supplies you need are hangers, zip ties, coat rack and trash bags.
Use a zip or banister tie to hang your wreath to hanger
Attach the tie to a hanger and hang on the rack.
Cover with a trash bag and tie at the bottom. This preserves from dust and moisture. I had some clear dry cleaning bags in my closet and used those.
This is a great way to preserve their form as well. You can also do this for garlands.
Wrapping paper:
For wrapping paper, you decide to keep, find a box or a bag that can accommodate the length and size. You can also find several storage units for this purpose. I worked on my craft closet a couple of months back and have a gift wrapping holder for my paper which has come in really handy.
Other Decorations:
Group decorations based on size, color and similarity and store in clear tubs or boxes for future use. Wrap delicate items like breakable ornaments and bells in paper and or bubble wrap and label prior to storing.
Wrap your cords and string lights and store in a plastic tote to preserve the bulbs.
Pillows and Throws
Storing your seasonal pillows in a vacuum seal bag is a great way to keep them looking great for the next season.
Donate:
Decorations
Assess what items you do not need in your collection and donate them to local charities. There are some charities that do not accept Christmas decorations after the 25th. As such if you can determine what to donate prior to the holidays the better.
Clothes:
Kids are always growing, and it is a great time to clean out old clothes and make way for the new season. My closet is due for a purge as well and I will be going through the same process.
Toys:
The holidays usually bring more toys and cool gadgets. It is highly encouraged and recommended to go through and make space for new items by donating. I usually have the kids go through their toys prior to the holidays. We make a keep, maybe and donate pile. Then go through the maybe pile and talk about it. Typically, it ends up in the donate pile, but it is a good way to have their input in the process and create awareness around others needs during the holidays.
Decorations:
When it comes to cleaning up after the holidays, proper storage for your decorations is key to ensure they last for years to come. Appropriate storage requires you using containers and bags. Using clear tubs allows you to easily access items in the future. Discard any unusable items and donate ones that you have not used for the season or don’t plan on using in the future.
The beginning of the year is a great time to clean up your home. Hope you found my tips cleaning up after the holidays a helpful place to start. Happy cleaning.
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