Quick and Easy Holiday Clean-up
List all new items entering your house.
You probably have a pretty good idea of the gifts your family members will be receiving. Make a list of all these items. Don't forget to include clothes, shoes, toys, books, electronics, household items, etc. Also consider any items you may be picking up at post-holiday clearance sales. Will you be adding to your collection of holiday decorations? Will you be stocking up on presents or clothes for later in the year? Anything new that will be "walking" thru your door will need to be on your list.
Pretend to put these items away…
Take a notepad and pen with you around the house as you pretend to put all of these new items away. What do you notice? Is the Barbie® bin already overflowing and your daughter will be getting four more? Are the hanging clothes squished together and you'll be receiving a new wardrobe (at least you hope)? What about the books on the shelves or the cds on the rack? Will you need to rearrange the furniture in your son's room to fit that new desk? Cross off anything on your list that can easily be put away. Everything else will need further attention.
Purge, purge, purge!
As you check out the closets, drawers and toy bins, take the time to purge. Organize, rearrange and get rid of anything you won't need after the holidays. Donate what is worthwhile and throw out what isn't. Try to avoid starting a pile of items to possibly sell at a garage sale. Unless you already have a designated spot for these items, they'll just create one more mess to contend with during a busy holiday schedule. Box up your donations now and put them in the car to drop off while you're running errands. This gets rid of the clutter and is a great way to get an additional tax deduction before the end of the year.
Purchase new storage containers.
Now that you've made a note of the items that can't be easily put away, make a list of any storage items you'll need to buy. Run out and purchase any necessary bins, boxes, organizers, racks, or hangers you'll need. Now would also be a good time to drop off that donation box.
Put your purchases to use.
There is one final step, but it is crucial—put your newly purchased storage containers to use now. Don't wait until the holidays. Transfer those Barbies® to the larger bin to await the arrival of their new friends. Rearrange your purged closet and make room for that new shoe rack. Replace your current ornament container with the new one to accommodate those clearance sale purchases.
After the new gifts have been unwrapped, played with, tried on, and are annoyingly scattered around the house, the last process is very simple. Just put everything away in its place; smiling all the while because everything has a place. Happy Holidays!
Jennifer Applin is a freelance writer, wife and mother of four. She spends her days cooking, cleaning and caring for little ones, and her nights writing about parenting, pregnancy, and the quest for peace (as in peace and quiet—there is such a thing, right?).