5 Post-Christmas Cleaning Tips

How do cleaning agencies work their magic after the manic holiday season? Here's everything you need to know to execute a thorough post-Christmas clean.

Christmas and New Year are exciting and busy times. The festive feeling can quickly fade away when you're left with the ugly aftermath: a house to clean up once all of the celebrations are over. Getting your home back into shape before you back to work and into a daily routine can be a daunting task, which is why we've shared a few cleaning tips from our domestic cleaning agency to get you going.

1. Plan Your Time and What Needs to be Done

Firstly, don't stress yourself out by trying to get everything done in one day. Plan and prioritise what needs to be cleaned and organised first. The guest bedroom you made up can be a lower priority, but cleaning the oven after Christmas can be higher.

Sometimes, the sheer scale of the cleaning job at hand feels like just too much for you to do on your own — and that's fine. Hiring an expert housekeeping agency can take the weight off of your shoulders and get your home looking spick and span once again.

Post-Holiday Cleaning Priorities:

High Priority:

• Kitchen deep clean (oven, fridge, surfaces)
• Living areas (where most gatherings occurred)
• Bathrooms (guest usage and heavy traffic)
• Entryway and hallways

Medium Priority:

• Guest bedrooms
• Dining room cleanup
• Decoration storage
• Gift organization

Low Priority:

• Basement or attic storage
• Garage cleanup
• Outdoor decorations
• Deep decluttering projects

2. Clean Under All the Furniture

Whenever you move your furniture, it's pretty incredible what you find underneath them! After Christmas and New Year, you can find anything: wrapping paper, nuts, Christmas cracker toys; the list is endless. It's important to move furniture around in your post-Christmas and New Year tidy-up for this very reason.

Runaway chocolate or nuts will start to create an odour; they can also attract unwanted visitors, like mice. It'll bug you if you can't find that special Christmas card from your friend, and it's common for things to disappear over Christmas, especially if you have a lot of people in your house. The sooner you find them, the better. They may well be hiding under that armchair…

Furniture Cleaning Checklist:

Living Room:

• Move sofas and chairs
• Vacuum under all furniture
• Check for lost items
• Clean baseboards and skirting boards
• Dust behind furniture

Dining Room:

• Move dining table and chairs
• Clean under table legs
• Check for food debris
• Vacuum and mop thoroughly
• Polish furniture surfaces

Bedrooms:

• Move beds and dressers
• Clean under all furniture
• Check for lost items
• Vacuum thoroughly
• Dust all surfaces

3. Recycling and Present Donations

Is one of your New Year's resolutions to be more environmentally friendly? Recycling in London can be easy, and you can do your bit by efficiently chucking out items gathered over the festive period. Check with your local borough council about what you can recycle and where to put it. Wrapping paper and food packaging are often excessive at Christmas, but a lot of these things can be recycled.

Take time to go through all of your presents and decide if you really need them. Keeping presents that you don't have a use for can lead to a cluttered home. Although they may have sentimental value, decluttering your home of the gifts you won't use is important. Local charity shops are always happy to receive unwanted gifts after Christmas.

Holiday Recycling Guide:

Recyclable Items:

• Wrapping paper (non-foil)
• Cardboard boxes
• Glass bottles and jars
• Plastic containers
• Food packaging
• Christmas cards

Donation Opportunities:

• Unwanted gifts
• Old decorations
• Extra serving dishes
• Holiday clothing
• Books and games
• Toys and electronics

Proper Disposal:

• Check local recycling guidelines
• Separate materials correctly
• Clean containers before recycling
• Remove any non-recyclable elements
• Use designated collection points

4. Getting Out The Tough Christmas Stains

Mulled wine, chocolate, candle wax; these delights we love at Christmas can turn into nightmares in the New Year. Stains such as wine need to be addressed immediately; if you're having problems, consult with a domestic cleaning agency.

Removing candle wax can be easy with a hairdryer. You'll need to melt the wax and wipe it away with an old cloth or paper towel. Scrub away any excess, but you may have to be careful and gentle, depending on the surface.

For chocolate and other food stains on tablecloths, cushions or clothes, be sure to put them in the washing machine and check the stain is removed before drying them, as once they've dried, the stain may be harder to remove. Different food and drink requires different attention, so take 30 seconds to look up the best way to remove the stain.

Holiday Stain Removal Guide:

Wine Stains:

• Blot immediately with paper towels
• Apply salt or baking soda
• Use white wine or club soda
• Treat with enzyme cleaner
• Wash in cold water

Chocolate Stains:

• Scrape off excess chocolate
• Rinse with cold water
• Apply pre-treatment
• Wash in warm water
• Check before drying

Candle Wax:

• Use hairdryer to melt wax
• Wipe with paper towels
• Apply ice to harden remaining wax
• Scrape gently with plastic scraper
• Clean with appropriate cleaner

Food Stains:

• Identify the stain type
• Blot, don't rub
• Use appropriate treatment
• Wash in recommended temperature
• Air dry to check results

5. Hire a Cleaning Agency in London

Has it all been too much? Are you now back at work without having even put away the Christmas decorations? Don't worry, we've all been there. Hiring a cleaning agency in London to take care of the post-Christmas chaos is common. Leaving the work to somebody else can take a load off of your plate and you'll know that your house will be looking great in no time.

When to Call the Professionals:

Time Constraints:

• Back to work immediately
• Limited weekend time
• Family commitments
• Health issues

Scale of Work:

• Large family gatherings
• Multiple rooms affected
• Heavy soiling
• Extensive decoration storage

Specialized Needs:

• Deep cleaning required
• Stain removal expertise
• Equipment and supplies
• Professional standards

Additional Post-Holiday Cleaning Tips

Organization Strategies

Decoration Storage:

• Label all boxes clearly
• Wrap delicate items carefully
• Store in dry, cool place
• Take inventory of what you have
• Plan for next year

Gift Management:

• Create a gift inventory
• Store receipts and warranties
• Organize by category
• Donate unused items
• Thank you note follow-up

Deep Cleaning Areas

Kitchen Deep Clean:

• Empty and clean all cabinets
• Clean oven thoroughly
• Defrost and clean freezer
• Clean small appliances
• Organize pantry items

Living Areas:

• Deep clean upholstery
• Clean light fixtures
• Wash windows and sills
• Clean baseboards
• Organize entertainment areas

Related Cleaning Guides

• A Professional Housekeeper's Guide to a Final Clean - Expert cleaning techniques
• 6 Ways To Know If You Hired The Best Cleaning Agency - How to choose quality services
• The Ultimate Guide to Luxury Home Cleaning - Professional standards for any home
• Seasonal Deep Cleaning Checklist - Comprehensive home maintenance

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St Anne's Housekeeping is a cleaning agency in London that can give your home that much-needed clean after Christmas and New Year. Get your free quote by calling 02036709997.

Don't let the post-holiday cleanup overwhelm you. Our professional team specializes in seasonal cleaning and can help you start the new year with a fresh, organized home.