These 11 tiny tidy-ups are guaranteed to instantly calm the post-Christmas chaos – and in under 5 minutes, too

I'm a lover of all things Christmas, but it can be cathartic to tidy it all away and reclaim your space after the big day. That doesn't always mean it is stress-free, however. From gifts and cards to laundry and linens, festive frivolities can take their toll on your home, and who wants to clean over Christmas?

So, to combat this, I spoke to professional cleaners and organizers to find out which tiny tasks they rely on to reset their space when time is tight, between parties, celebrations, and some much-needed rest.

Here, they share their tiny post-Christmas home-organizing ideas – to take the fuss out of festivities.

11 tiny ways to reset your home after Christmas

1. Take down Christmas cards

While Christmas card ideas make a lovely, personal way to decorate your home in the countdown to Christmas, once the day has passed they may just be creating unnecessary clutter.

Lauren Saltman, professional organizer and owner of Living.Simplified. says, 'Many of us like to keep the holiday cards up for a few weeks, but, when you're ready, it's time to take them down and put them in the recycling bin.

'Remember, these cards are temporary, and are not meant to last forever. If there is a photo you would like to keep, reach out to your friend or family member to ask for a digital copy of the photo to store on your computer.'

If you're sentimental, like me, when taking down your best holiday card displays you can use a greeting card organizer box, such as the Jot & Mark Greeting Card Organizer Box Set available at Amazon to keep any really special ones.

2. Collect trash

Trash from gifts, wrapping, food, and drinks has undoubtedly built-up over the festive period. So, Carolina Kazimierski, co-owner and president of Sophia's Cleaning Service recommends grabbing a sturdy trash bag, such as the Hefty Strong Large Trash Bags available at Amazon, and collecting it up.

She says, 'A big step here for me personally is just doing a quick clean up of any leftover gift-giving trash or remnants. In the excitement of the holiday, oftentimes things like bags, tissue paper, and wrapping paper get left around the tree, and it can help to get this tidied up.'

Then, take the time to empty your kitchen trash can, and take both outside ready for collection. Will Cotter, COO of HappyCleans advises, 'If your trash bin is overflowing, a simple hack is to take out the full bag first, and then immediately tie a new bag in place so you're not scrambling for one later.'

Then, when you have more time, you can clean your trash can with disinfectant.

3. Clear your entryway

With all the coming and going of friends and family over the holidays, it's no surprise that your entryway ideas are probably in need of a quick straighten up.

As Diana Ciechorska, general manager at Park Slope Cleaning, says, 'Putting away extra coats, shoes, and holiday decor can instantly reduce visual clutter in an entryway. Use a quick-spray disinfectant, like Lysol All-Purpose Cleaner available at Amazon, to keep things fresh and sanitary as you organize.'

If you don't already have one, Brunson Sayes, founder and cleaning expert at Breathe Maids recommends investing in a shoe organizer, which is one of the things the most organized people have in their entryways.

4. Return serving dishes to their rightful place

Christmas usually means dusting off the special dinnerware sets, but, once the turkey has been carved and Christmas pudding polished off, these should be put back in their rightful place.

Di Ter Avest, professional organizer and founder of Diisorganized, says, 'If you're anything like me, you probably pulled out your festive plates, glassware, and special serving dishes for all the holiday gatherings.

'Now's the perfect time to swap them back to your everyday set – it only takes a few minutes, and there's something so satisfying about getting back to your regular routine. I love taking a moment to wash everything and carefully put away the holiday dishes until next year.'

While putting things away, consider decluttering anything you have not used over the last year to make more space in your tablescaping storage for next year.

Dinnerware tends to be delicate or highly decorative and is therefore usually one of the things you cannot put in the dishwasher. Instead, use our expert tips for washing dishes and an effective dish soap. We recommend the bestselling Dawn Ultra Dish Soap Dishwashing Liquid available at Walmart, which leaves dishes spotless and sparkling.

5. Take down your wreath

While your Christmas wreath ideas will have been in pride of place for the festive period, as New Year's Eve celebrations approach, Sierra Barter, founder of Fairly Organize recommends swapping yours out.

She says, 'Once you're ready to move on from the big red bow and pine scent, swap your seasonal wreath with something more neutral and winter-geared, instead of holiday-themed.'

Then, store your wreath in a storage bag or bin – Barter recommends the IRIS USA 33 Quart Christmas Wreath Storage Container Box with Lid available at Amazon, which is stackable and durable to prevent your wealth from getting crushed.

6. Clear the air

After cooking a huge meal and hosting people in an enclosed space, your home's air will be in desperate need of a freshen-up, whether you need to reset after hosting a New Year's Eve party, or simply want to spruce up your space.

Even if it is cold outside, consider opening windows in winter to improve indoor air quality and freshen up common Christmas odors. Or, at the very least, use the best air purifier (such as the top-rated BlueAir Air Purifier, available at Amazon) to clear contaminants from the air and make a house smell nice.

If there's ever a time to make use of your best candles, it's now, adds cleaning expert Sayes. This will help you get in the reset mindset, and make your space feel seasonal and inviting.

He says, 'To shift the ambiance, replace holiday-scented candles with a fresh, clean scent. The Febreze Air Freshener in Linen & Sky available at Walmart is a personal favorite – it’s light and refreshing.'

7. Strip bedding and collect laundry

With guests coming and going over the holidays, it's likely that you will need to wash bed sheets.

While you may not have time to do so right now, simply stripping the beds can streamline the process, and only takes a couple of minutes.

Professional organizer Saltman says, 'If guests stayed with you, you will need to wash, fold and put away all of the extra bedding, blankets, and towels that were used during their visit.'

So, begin by stripping the beds, and, when doing so, Saltman recommends inspecting for stains, which you can treat with an effective stain remover such as the OxiClean Laundry Stain Remover Spray available at Walmart, or damage. She continues, 'If something is beyond repair, add the item to your shopping list, so you are prepared the next time guests arrive.'

This way, you won't need to organize bedding and sort clothes for laundry, as it will be ready to pop straight into your best washing machine when you have time.

In a similar vein, Saltman recommends collecting any dirty laundry that may have accumulated over the festive period. She says, 'Grab an empty laundry basket and walk room by room collecting items that don't belong in that particular space.

'Once you've collected items, return them to their proper place in your home. You may even find an item inadvertently left behind by a guest, in which case contact them and arrange a way to get the item back to them.'

8. Freshen soft surfaces

As you probably don't have time to clean your upholstery right now, cleaning expert Ciechorska recommends using a fabric freshener spray to freshen up your space in next to no time.

She says, 'Freshen up any soft surfaces with a spray of Febreze Fabric Refresher available at Walmart on couches, pillows, and rugs to instantly eliminate lingering scents left by any of your holiday guests.

'It's a fast way to refresh those high-use areas without needing a deep clean right away.'

This will also help to avoid any couch cleaning mistakes, which you may make if you rush the job.

9. Dispose of old food

Food is, of course, one of the best parts of Christmas. But, if you have old food lingering in your fridge, it will only harbor bacteria and leave you needing to get rid of fridge smells.

Professional organizer Saltman advises, 'Clean out your fridge. Chances are you hosted a meal or two and purchased your guest's favorite foods.

'Go through your refrigerator and dispose of any half-eaten leftovers along with any other items your guests brought that you expect won't be eaten. This is also a great time to wipe down your refrigerator shelves,' using an anti-bacterial spray such as the Method Antibacterial All-Purpose Cleaner Spray available at Amazon.

Then, you can use coffee and salt to deodorize your fridge and use vanilla to freshen your freezer up.

10. Organize your coffee table

Opening presents and hosting guests has probably taken its toll on your coffee table styling ideas, cleaning expert Cotter recommends taking a few minutes to reset it.

He says, 'Clear away any leftover gift wrap or decorations. Then, replace it with something simple yet stylish. Maybe a fresh vase of flowers, a decorative tray with a couple of candles, or even a bowl with seasonal fruit. The key is to keep it minimal, so it doesn't feel crowded.'

And don't forget to give it a quick dust either, cleaning expert Ciechorska recommends. 'It takes five minutes to tidy up your coffee table by stacking books neatly and using a microfiber cloth (such as the MR.SIGA Microfiber Cleaning Cloth available at Walmart or damp duster) to dust any glass surfaces. A small stack of books or a candle can give it a simple, pulled-together look.'

11. Find a home for new gifts

Finally, make time to put away your best home gifts.

Di Ter Avest advises, 'Tackle finding a home for all the new gifts. It's easy to let new things sit around in bags or on the counter because we're not quite sure where to put them, so I've made it a tradition to give each item a proper spot in our home. If it's a toy, it gets added to my playroom ideas; if it's kitchenware, it finds a space in the cupboards. It's a small step but so satisfying, and you'll be amazed at how quickly your home feels more organized.'

Ter Avest also recommends grabbing a small bag, box, or basket, such as the Household Essentials Basket available at Wayfair, and making a pile near the door for any items that you intend on returning or exchanging.

She continues, 'This simple trick keeps those items from getting lost in the shuffle of everyday life. I like to add a sticky note (such as the Post-it Super Sticky Notes available at Amazon) with the receipt or any important info, so I don't have to scramble when I'm heading out to run errands. You'll thank yourself later when you can easily grab everything and go!'

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

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