My favorite time of year is now! It’s the season of change, wintery and lovely, wiping away the previous seasons and getting ready for new life, and it’s got me thinking about all the days of this past year. In 2023 we welcomed our first baby, so it’s reasonable to say that this past year was incredible. However, as the year comes to a close, I’m looking forward to a chance to reset, re-center, and start a new routine in the coming year.
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So, if you’re anything like me and want to use the new year to rejuvenate your space — whether it’s a simple refresh or a major overhaul — I’ve got just the thing for you, creating new routines to live life better this upcoming year!
STARTING A NEW ROUTINE IN 2024
When all the holiday festivities are complete, it’s time to tackle your year-end cleaning and organization jobs to prepare your house for the new year. In this post, we’ll discuss the essential items to include on your checklist to get your home in order. Continue reading to learn how.
CHRISTMAS CLEANING
Cleaning up after the holidays may be challenging due to pine needles embedded in the carpet and rogue ornaments hiding under the furniture.
However, when you adopt a new routine, it is much easier to accomplish your goals when it is broken down step by step. Now put on a smile, and let’s dig in to get your home back in order for the new year.
- Time to take the ornaments off the tree and pack them for next year. First, fix or discard any damaged ornaments, and wrap delicate ornaments in paper. I like to reuse tissue paper for this.
- Take down the tree and pack it away.
- Take down outdoor holiday decorations and pack them up.
- If your tree is real, locate a recycling facility or make arrangements for collection.
- Wash all holiday linens, such as pillows or tablecloths, and pack them up.
While it may be tempting to rush the chore of taking down all the holiday decorations to store them away, taking the time to thoroughly organize and gently pack holiday decorations can save you time next Christmas.
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REFRESH YOUR GUEST BEDROOMS
If you’ve had additional guests this holiday season, such as family and friends, it’s necessary to freshen your guest bedrooms so they are ready for guests in the coming year. So, freshen up the guest bedrooms and bathrooms:
- Wash all comforters, sheets, and towels—store all Christmas bedding, towels, and decor.
- Clean the guest bathrooms thoroughly.
- Take out the garbage.
- Vacuum, dust, and spot clean as needed.
- Open windows, weather permitting, and apply air fresheners to ventilate the room.
It may be tempting to skip your guest rooms; however, getting these chores out of the way sooner than later will help you feel accomplished and ensure you are ready for future guests.
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DECLUTTER YOUR HOME
Because of the influx of new items and the timing of deep cleaning, the end of the year or the beginning of January is the ideal time to start a new routine and declutter your house.
- Begin with family spaces like the living room, kitchen, or dining room.
- Sort things according to whether they should be kept, relocated, recycled, or donated.
- Arrange all items in their respective piles of relocate, recycle and donate.
- Check with your family to see if they have items they no longer use or want to donate.
- Before placing items in your donation bin, clean and sterilize them.
Set reasonable objectives for decluttering your home, so you don’t become overwhelmed. And designate storage space for any items you are keeping and storing away.
KITCHEN DEEP CLEANING
During the Christmas season, your kitchen gets a lot of use cooking and baking goodies for family and friends. So it’s a good idea to clean your kitchen appliances and cabinets thoroughly, so they are sparkling clean.
- Clean the stovetop and oven.
- Degrease, clean, and disinfect the range hood.
- Clean the microwave, coffee maker, air fryer, and other small appliances.
- Clean the kitchen cabinets.
- Throw out expired food items.
- Donate non-perishable food items that you will not use.
- Clean the refrigerator thoroughly and discard old or expired food.
Cleaning the kitchen appliances and cabinets will refresh your kitchen and give you a sense of accomplishment. A clean stove will also improve the taste of the food you cook and eliminate food drippings from smelling up your kitchen.
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TAKE UP ADDITIONAL CLEANING DUTIES
After you’ve put up all the holiday decorations and your home is neatly decluttered, it’s time to tackle any additional cleaning duties that get done less often.
- Clean the washing machine, dryer, and dishwasher.
- Wash or dry clean throw blankets, comforters, sofa coverings, and drapes.
- Replace air filters and have your HVAC system professionally serviced.
- Clean and disinfect bathroom faucets and shower heads to remove buildup.
- Clean your windows and window frames.
- Wash and disinfect all door knobs and light switches.
- Sanitize trashcans.
This list is not exhaustive, and there may be other items you should tackle. For example, if you have carpets in your home, consider having them professionally cleaned. Additionally, once the weather breaks, ensure your gutters are in good shape and have them cleared of debris.
REMEMBER THE PLANTS
Plants can care for themselves with the correct amount of sunlight and water. However, for plants to thrive, you should include them as part of your new routine because they can acquire dust and debris.
- To remove dust from the leaves of plants, gently wipe each leaf with a moist cloth.
- Pull dead stems and leaves, so your plants flourish.
- Check plants for pests and, if needed, treat them to prevent disease.
- Pots should be cleaned and disinfected.
- Pots with fractures should be repaired or replaced.
- Place plants in the proper location to receive adequate light during the winter.
Houseplants are amazing! They add beauty to your home, and plants naturally purify the air. So help them out by keeping them clean and healthy.
PREPARING FOR FLU SEASON
Colds, coughs, sniffles, and the flu are most common during the winter, which spill over into the holidays and the new year. To keep viruses and bacterial infections from spreading across your house and among family members, follow these steps:
- Sanitize light switches, door knobs, remotes, faucet knobs, and toilet handles regularly.
- Keep a stock of anti-bacterial soap available in all bathrooms.
- Disinfect all services daily so germs cannot thrive.
- Open windows, weather permitting, to allow fresh air to flow.
A cold is often inevitable, but minimizing the spread of bacteria and viruses brought in from outside by regular cleaning can help.
REVITALIZE YOUR HOME WITH A NEW ROUTINE IN THE NEW YEAR
Change can be challenging, but it can also be good for the soul. So, are you ready to jump-start the new year with a new routine? We hope this article is helpful going into 2024, and if you need help, the professional staff at Clean Heart Maids is here for all your organizing and cleaning needs! Our team is ready to take on your to-do list, so visit our website to schedule your consultation!
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