Cleaning Up After the Holiday Season

…And that’s a wrap on the larger part of the winter holiday season!

You’ve had lots of fun, but the season has taken a toll on the cleanliness of your space. And now it’s time to say hasta la vista to your holiday things.

Don’t know where to start? Don’t worry, it’s simple. Here are some tips to help you on your way!

Take the Decorations Down

You don’t want to have winter holiday decorations hanging around your space on Valentine's Day. When you remove your decorations, ask yourself if you’ll need (or want) them next year. If you don’t think you will, throw ‘em away or donate them.

Make space for one or two storage containers, in which you’ll keep your decorations. Your garlands, lights, and other stringy decorations will get knotted if you put them away without securing them. Use twist or cable ties to keep them from knotting. Put your more irreplaceable decorations in paper/bubble wrap and don’t store them under the other decorations so they won’t be crushed.

Around New York City and northern New Jersey, tree removal is free until about Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 17, 2022). There may be a fee after that date, so getting your tree ready for removal before you remove the other decorations would be wise.

Leave No Trace of Holiday Get-Togethers Behind

Mop and vacuum the floors of every area in which you entertained anyone. Living rooms, bar areas, and dining rooms were probably high-traffic areas in your space. You don’t want the grime from outside to live in your space permanently. Carry a container with you for any dirty dishes that are in these areas.

Put away any games you may have played. It’s safe to assume all of your guests used your bathroom at least once, so deep clean your bathroom fully for safety reasons. Make sure you clean the guest room and wash the linens & washcloths if you had overnight guests.

Clean Your Kitchen

Clean the surfaces of your stove, oven, microwave, and even your air fryer. Food splatters accumulate easily in those appliances, and can ruin them (or your space)! Wipe the racks, walls, and glass doors of your appliances with soapy water or a vinegar solution. Pour a little baking soda and white vinegar on burnt-on food, let it sit for a bit, and wipe it off.

Clean your refrigerator, inside and out. Throw away those leftovers! You don’t want this past Thanksgiving’s gravy to stink up your fridge next holiday season. You can get rid of food spills in/on the fridge with white vinegar and water.

Don’t overlook the dishwasher! The dishwasher is an unsung hero of the holiday season. You’d expect it to stay clean, because its main purpose is sanitation. However, it’s collected food waste from all the plates you used for your holiday feasts. That food waste can cause odors — or worse — in your dishwasher.

The dishwasher will catch some food waste particles with a filter. Soak that filter in soapy water for 10 minutes to sanitize it. You’ll have to remove other fallen food particles in your dishwasher by hand. Gross, I know, but it’s the most effective way. To sanitize your dishwasher, put a cup of white vinegar in an open container in your dishwasher, and run it normally.

Remove grease/food splatters from cabinets or countertops they may have gotten on.. Your space shouldn’t feel like a grease trap. Use dish soap and water as a degreaser. You can use baking soda and water for more stubborn stains.

The holiday season is a time of merriment and appreciation. You shouldn’t spend your time stressing out about how dirty your space will be after it. We at Andy’s Quality Cleaning would love to help you keep the good feelings of the season at the forefront of your memory. Contact us today, and let’s get started!