How to Clean Your House Quickly After Christmas

Everyone despises cleaning, but everyone appreciates a clean house, especially following the Christmas holiday.

It’s the holiday party season, which means that there will be plenty of time spent with family and friends. However, for party hosts, this also means a great deal of mess to clean up after the guests leave! Give your home a new beginning in time for the new year – or perhaps just for your next party – with these simple holiday cleaning tips!

The majority of novices are unsure whether to dust or vacuum first. They’re unsure whether they should clean the kitchen first or the bathroom second.

Follow this step-by-step guide, based on years of hard-won experience, to maximize your time and quickly clean your house following Christmas gatherings and other festivities:

Quick House Cleaning Tips Following a Christmas Party

1. Vacuum the entire house, not just one room at a time

Cleaning is significantly more efficient if you focus on a single task (dusting, vacuuming, or mopping) and complete it in every room of the house, rather than cleaning the kitchen, bathrooms, and then bedrooms. This way, you won’t feel as if you’re trapped in an endless cleaning cycle, repeating the same task over and over.

2. Arrange all of your cleaning supplies in a caddy.

Whether it’s a caddy, bucket, or tote, having everything you need to clean in one convenient location makes the job much easier. You won’t have to search for tools while cleaning, and you won’t have to worry about gathering them before your next round.

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3. Eliminate clutter

Before you begin cleaning, make a point of going room to room and clearing out the clutter. Consider whether to store, toss, or donate each item as you pick it up – magazines, well-read paperbacks, worn-out sneakers.

Coordination of Christmas tree removal and curbside collection. When will your trash collection service pick up Christmas trees? Determine this so that you can deliver your tree curbside during the scheduled collection times. Cleaning up after your party will be much easier if you don’t have to worry about pine needles spreading throughout the house.

4. Vacuum and dust

Before you begin dusting, turn off all ceiling fans. Dust the tops of furniture and the undersides of shelves, as well as handrails, picture frames, knickknacks, and television screens. Tie a microfiber cloth to the end of a mop or broom for difficult-to-reach areas such as blinds and upper shelves. Before vacuuming, change the sheets in the bedrooms.

5. Holiday card collection

Decorations to Clean after Christmas inside the House

Sort the cards you received in the mail and keep track of who sent them to you. Use this as a thank-you list or as a jumping-off point for next year’s Christmas card list. Then recycle adorable cards by cutting out the images, attaching string, and using them as complimentary gift tags. Put the ones you don’t want in the recycling bin and you’ll be well on your way to cleaning up after the party.

6. Bid Farewell to Unwanted Gifts

Putting an end to unwanted gifts. While it is the thought that counts, refrain from allowing good intentions to add to the clutter in your post-holiday home. Make a clean break and return any unwanted gifts. Consider donating those gifts to a charity of your choice if it is appropriate. Cleaning up after the holidays will be much easier without those extra items.

7. Clean mirrors and glass surfaces

Wipe clean all mirrors and glass surfaces with one damp microfiber cloth followed by one dry cloth.

8. Take care of the guest bedroom

To keep the bed sheets fresh, wash them in warm or hot water with a capful of white vinegar. While the sheets are drying, use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum to thoroughly clean the mattress, paying special attention to the seams. Replace the bedding and fluff the pillows to ensure the comfort of your next guests.

9. Disinfect countertops and other hard-to-reach areas

Wipe down all hard surfaces in your home, including countertops, appliances, and cabinets, as well as doorknobs, light switches, TV remotes, and telephones. You should disinfect some of those surfaces, especially those that could potentially transmit germs to people’s fingers and faces. Combine one-fourth to a half cup of white or apple cider vinegar with a cup of water to make a nontoxic disinfection solution.

10. Concentrate on bathtubs, sinks, and toilets

Clean the kitchen sink first, followed by the bathroom sinks, tubs, and toilets. Allow a few minutes for the cleaner to work its magic on the dirt and stains. Then make your way back to the kitchen and begin scrubbing. Don’t forget to clean the microwave’s interior. Toilets should be cleaned last.

While you’re in the kitchen, you’ll also want to check the condition of your garbage disposal. If you’re unsure how to clean a garbage disposal properly, click here for some helpful do-it-yourself garbage disposal cleaning tips.

11. Sweep, followed by a mop

Clean the kitchen and bathroom floors with a broom. Begin mopping in the room’s farthest corner and work your way back toward the doorway (do not mop yourself into a corner). Rinse the mop after completing each 4-by-4-foot area.

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12. Maintain movement while vacuuming

When vacuuming, do not worry about getting into every nook and cranny just to clean the house. Simply continue moving through the house, vacuuming every carpeted room in one pass.

Certain tasks are not required to be completed on a weekly basis. These services include waxing furniture, cleaning windows, and laundering area rugs and bath mats. Examine these accessories and make your own determinations.

13. Dismantle the Christmas Decorations

Disconnecting those lights. When you do, you’ll save time the following year by wrapping strings of lights around a piece of cardboard or a paper towel tube to keep them organized and easy to unravel the following season. Additionally, this prevents you from being the neighbor who still has outdoor Christmas lights up on Valentine’s Day.

14. Don’t forget to wash your cleaning tools on a regular basis.

Maintaining your cleaning tools is an often-overlooked aspect of housekeeping. Using a dirty mop or a vacuum with a full bag is significantly less effective, and will result in you spending more time cleaning.

15. Create a group activity out of cleaning

Making cleaning a team effort is one of the most effective methods for quickly cleaning a house. Schedule a time with your family in advance and assign tasks to each member. Collaborating can make cleaning more enjoyable, and your house will be sparkling in no time.

While you’re cleaning, keep an eye out for home maintenance issues, such as a leaky sink that could result in water damage.