January’s Blog: Post-Holiday Clean Up Tips

Christmas and New Years have come and gone in our little town of Zelienople, and we’re left thinking about our post-holiday cleanup strategy here at The Perfect Piece. We’ve brainstormed some organizational tips, and we’d love to share them with you here and when you head into the store for a visit. The tips we’re sharing include ones we’ve found most effective in the store as well as ones customers have shared with us.

Where to Start

You’ve made what we at the store consider a brave choice: to take down your holiday decorations in a timely manner. You start by collecting the decor from your mantel, then you strip your tree of ornaments, then you take down signs– and suddenly you’re standing in the middle of your home trapped in post-holiday chaos. Rather than dive right into your clean up process, create an intentional plan to save time both while you’re putting decor away for the season and while you’re setting up again next year. Having a game plan for post-holiday cleanup is essential, and the following steps can help you stay focused:

1. Unearth your storage bins, bags, or tubs as well as any needed packing materials first. 

2. Check each storage bin to ensure no items were passed over when decorating. Chances are you won’t be using these items again next year either, and post-holiday clean up is the perfect time to part with leftover pieces.

3. Assess any additional storage container needs. Would you like a label maker for decor identification? Are you short on bins? Purchasing storage containers prior to packing up will save you time and prevent frustration. 

4. Create a step by step plan for storage before you start the full cleanup process. Do you store by room, theme, or item type? Do you have one central location for all holiday items, or are different items (outdoor inflatables, for example) kept in different spaces? 

Once you’ve addressed the steps on this list, you’re ready to make decisions on what to keep or part with for the next holiday season.

To Keep or Not to Keep

Decluttering and storing starts with setting a limit on how much decor you’ll keep first. Do you realistically have enough space for all of your seasonal decor and its corresponding storage bins and bags? Work only within the confines of that limit rather than scattering your bins between the garage, closets, attic, and underneath beds. You may want to keep everything, but the sheer volume of decor may overwhelm you year after year. Commit only to the space you have and items you use.

We have a few tips for deciding which items to keep:

• Use the joy test: Do the decor items you have bring you joy when you look at them? If you have items your heart isn’t fully set on, let them go to be loved by someone else.

• Part with worn out items: Any broken, chipped, or faded items are unlikely to hold up in storage another year. Seek similar replacements, then toss unusable decor.

• Let go of the phrase, “I’ll figure it out next year.” (We’re here to gently say you won’t.)

• Consider sentimental items last: Instead of forcing sentimental items into holiday storage, view them separately since they may be difficult to part with. Don’t feel obligated to keep items, especially if they were left in bins or didn’t bring joyful memories.

Storage Suggestions

We can’t emphasize how important holiday storage solutions are, and they are worth the same time and monetary investments as decor. Matching bins easily cue where all Christmas items are stored. Rather than solid colored bins, consider clear bins with colored handles or tops. Clear bins give you a glance into bin contents without ever having to remove a lid or root through a tub to find a specific item. Uniform bins are also much easier to stack.

When stacking bins, store heavier and sturdier bins towards the bottom and lighter bins on top or pushed to the back of storage spaces. Wreath containers and vacuum-sealed bags of textiles like tree skirts and blankets can rest on top of heavier bins to prevent damage. Light spools and reels can also be placed on top of tubs or into lighter tubs; storing lights this way will further prevent tangled cords and damage.

If you plan on labeling your bins, be as specific as possible. Vague descriptions like “Holiday” and “Christmas” don’t give a full idea of a bin’s contents, leading to frantic searches for specific items. A description like “Glass kitchenware” will likely help more than “Misc. Christmas.”

Feel free to stop by The Perfect Piece for help or to chat about your post-holiday cleanup strategy. You may just find the perfect storage container during your visit. If you have unwanted items after cleaning out this season’s decor, consider selling with us! We’re happy to guide you through the process and hopefully take some gently used holiday decor off your hands.