Cleaning up for the New Year
By Heather
By Heather
Yes, spring cleaning is the famous one. But what about the cleaning you do once all the holiday guests are out of your house? And you can go back to sleeping in your own bed without tripping over Uncle Bobby’s suitcase? And you can cook in your own kitchen without having to search for the whisk?
We love our families and we love the holidays, but it is so great when they all go home.
I have a few safety cleaning tips to share in honor of this very happy time of reclaiming your home!
1. Recycle your Christmas tree. Nothing says “my house is back to normal” like putting the Christmas tree on the curb for recycling pick up. Lovingly pack and wrap your special ornaments for another year and reconfigure your living areas. Did you know they do amazing things with recycled trees? Watch the video.
2. Clean your cutting boards and counters thoroughly. Cutting boards are a favorite place for bacteria to hang out. The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service recommends washing in hot, soapy water between uses and even sanitizing with 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Simply pour the bleach solution onto the board and let it sit for several minutes. Rinse with clear water and air or pat dry with clean paper towels. It is also recommended that you use one board for raw meats and a different board for vegetables if possible. {Source: USDA}
3. Clear the path to your doors. Keep the floors clear between your bedrooms and all exits so that you don’t trip or get stuck if you need to leave in a hurry. Don’t let the remnants of your guests just pile up by the door. Go on and take that air mattress back to the garage. I’ll wait here.
What other clean-up tasks do you tackle to freshen up after your holiday guests?
One Response to “Cleaning up for the New Year”
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Having holiday guests ruined my hard wood floors because I didn’t clean off the entrance right away, and the melted snow just piled up! But I thoroughly enjoyed their presence!