Post-Holiday Organizing: detox + declutter your home after the holidays

After you make it through the holidays, you'll be ready to detox, declutter, and organize your home. Your post-holiday disaster zone can be whipped into shape if you take a couple extra minutes as you are putting things away. Take the time to donate, discard and simply pare down the volume of holidays items this year, and next year you will be golden! 

I'll be sharing tips I've learned as a Professional Organizer to get your post-holiday home organized.  And because I'm cool like that, I'm sharing this free printable Post-Holiday Organizing Decluttering Checklist with all ya'll!  

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​Ready to rock your post-holiday organizing? Keep reading!

Organizing for the holidays

There are a boatload of things you need to sweat BEFORE the holidays.  Scheduling, budget +shopping, hosting, entertaining, travel, food, and family dynamics: no wonder we're already exhausted (and, honestly, a bit pissy)  in early December.  

I'm here to give you a few simple tips and tricks for getting your act organized AFTER the madness has passed.  

My advice: give it a couple of days before you jump in to taking everything down and putting it away for next year.  And seriously...have a little Bailey's Irish Cream in your coffee as you work. Working at a reasonable pace with a little drinky-poo in your tum tum makes the task waaaay more tolerable. #MyPersonalMotto

want me to just do it for you? that's cool!

Decorations

Lights: Discard strings of lights that don't work and keep on walking. End of story.  Don't fool yourself into thinking you're going to replace the bulbs.  Ain't nobody got time for that. 
Ornaments:  Save your egg cartons throughout the year and store your random ornaments in them.  Don't plop them all into a leftover popcorn tin, like some dummy I know once did. (Ahem: I'm the dummy. What a dang mess I made). 

Interior decor: time for some Tough Love, y'all. If you haven't put it up in 3 years, donate or discard it.
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There: I said it. 

I get it: some of the stuff is sentimental. There are family items, wedding gifts, and stuff you bought when your kids were babies. But you DO NOT HAVE TO KEEP IT ALL. Remember: you still love your grandma even if you donate the Precious Moments Christmas figurines she gave you for your wedding. 

​Struggling? OK, try photographing the item, developing the picture (like...on paper!), and keep the photo. (I'll give you a tip for what to do with the photos in a bit).  BOOM! Problem solved.  Let the actual items go to Goodwill or the trash can. 

Related reading:
Clutter Puts the "Rage" in Garage: 6 DIY Steps to Organize Your Garage
with free Garage Planning checklist
4 Smart Ideas for Selling Your Stuff Offline...and 1 Really Dumb One

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Cards

Cards you received this year: I truly love looking at photo holiday cards through the year. I keep mine in a pretty wooden bowl in my office and browse through them often.  A sweet friend of mine keeps hers on the coffee table in her living room: I love looking at them every time I visit her in Florida. Naturally, I make sure my family card is placed at the top of her pile, 'cuz that is how I roll. 
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Extras of the photo cards you sent out this year: Keep 5-10 and recycle the rest. I mean it...walk over to the recycle bin and put those extra cards in there.  I'm putting my money where my mouth is: I tossed out probably 100 duplicate photo cards this year. I felt a little Grinchy, but I did not need 25 extra cards from 2012.  Neither do you. 

Extra generic cards that you've picked up on clearance but haven't used: Let 'em go.  Keep what you HONESTLY think you will use, then donate the rest to Goodwill. Your donation will benefit someone else!  

Make notes in your planner about cards ordered, sent and received.  I like to note in my planner how many cards I ordered and the price each year.  It makes it easier for me when ordering the following year. It truly simplifies my post-holiday organizing. 

Suggested Reading:
3 Ways to Organize Your Life + Time with the Erin Condren Life Planner 
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How I Created a Weekly Routine That Works for Our Family 
with free Weekly Family Routine Checklist

Gifts

• Keepers: Put  gifts away in their new homes as soon as possible.  I am of the "Put it Away Right Now" camp, whereas my husband belongs to the "Let it Sit Out For Everyone to See for Weeks" ideology. I love him, but he is horribly wrong.  Put it away!
• Returns or Exchanges: tape  the receipt to the item immediately, because otherwise you're going to accidentally throw it away with all the wrapping paper.  Put your returns and exchanges in your car so you can knock it out on the fly.  Nothing worse than driving by the mall when all your returns are at home. 
• Maybe Can Live Somewhere Else: Did you get a gift with no receipt that just isn't your jam?  Maybe it can live somewhere else!  (Big Smile). Set it aside for re-gifting or gently place it into your Goodwill bin.  
• Excess Kids Gifts: Bet your kids got enough toys to last a year.  It's a blessing...and a curse, right? Listen, if they are still young enough you can get away with it, stash extra gifts away for later in year. Deploy items from the Gift Stash on rainy days, "I'm bored" days, or need-a-new-distraction days. 

Check out our Holiday Organizing Pinterest Board

Kitchen + Pantry

Food Gift containers/tins/jars, etc.: My theory is Use It or Lose It.  I'm totally guilty of hoarding cookie tins like there's no tomorrow.  But you know what? I don't bake cookies and gift them...so why on earth am I collecting tins?  Goodwill: you are welcome for all the cookie tins I just donated. 

Corporate food gifts: We receive "business" food gifts throughout the season. If you do too, I'd suggest freezing whatever you can and stashing it for later. My friends and family will attest  that I pull out frozen Christmas kringle and Cheryl's cookies all year long.  And God Bless the wonderful companies that send us Omaha Steaks!

Clean out your pantry: After you've made it through the holidays, do a down+dirty pantry clean out.  Chuck out the half-eaten bags of Christmas tree shaped pretzels, the last few pieces of peppermint bark, and the stale cookies. Get yourself ready for all the delightful kale and chia seeds you're going to eat in the new year. 

hire me to do it for you

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The house

• Convert from cardboard boxes to plastic storage tubs.  These go on sale right after the holidays, so take advantage and stock up.  REMEMBER to measure the space you have available before you buy, so you don't end up with a bunch of bins that won't fit on the shelf.  
• Label the bins: use masking tape or pretty removable labels to note what it inside each bin. DON'T write directly on the plastic in case you change the contents.  Check out the ideas for organizing your holiday stuff on ourPinterest board.
• ​Take notes for next year: jot down in your planner things that worked, things that didn't, and ideas for next year.  

Related reading: 
Assess the Mess: How to Plan out Downsizing a Home 
with free printable Room-by-Room Checklist
4 Smart Ideas for Selling Your Stuff Offline...and 1 Really Dumb One

You are ready to crush your post-holiday organizing + decluttering!

Organizing your house after the holidays is easier than you may think. Take the time to declutter items as you put them away and next year you'll have less to deal with . Donate items you don't use to charity: your cast-offs can be a blessing for someone  else. 

Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area.

Click here to download this awesome Post-Holiday Organizing Checklist.

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