How to clean your home after Christmas with 8 expert tips

Christmas is a time of joy and festivity, with decorations illuminating our homes and the holiday spirit in full swing. However, the thought of the inevitable post-celebration clean-up can be daunting for some.

The task of tidying up after a real tree or dealing with the aftermath of hosting family gatherings can seem overwhelming. But fear not, Lynsey Crombie, also known as Lynsey Queen of Clean, has shared some handy tips to make the post-Christmas tidy-up less of a chore. She remarked: “Christmas is magical… until you look around on Boxing Day and realise your home has survived a month of trees, tinsel, guests, glitter and gravy.”

She added: “January is the perfect moment to hit reset and give your home a well-deserved fresh start. With a few simple tricks, you can banish the chaos, clear the clutter and step into the New Year feeling organised, calm and clutter-free. Here’s how to get your post-Christmas clean done the Queen of Clean way.”

Start with a decoration detox

Before you dive into deep cleaning, tackle the leftovers of Christmas sparkle. Pack decorations away by zone; tree ornaments in one box, mantel decorations in another, table bits separately. And label absolutely everything. Your future self, wrestling with tangled fairy lights next December, will be eternally grateful.

If you’ve got decorations you haven’t used in years, donate them. Less stuff means less dust to deal with next year, and someone else gets the joy of your unused pieces.

The post-tree floor rescue

Real tree or faux tree, they all leave a trail. Needles, glitter and mystery sparkles somehow end up everywhere.

Use your vacuum’s nozzle attachment to get right into corners and along skirting boards. If you’re dealing with a heavy glitter situation, stretch a pair of old tights over the nozzle, it helps catch the sparkles without clogging your vacuum.

Once you’ve vacuumed, mop or steam clean your floors to bring back the shine. If you love a steam mop like I do, add one drop of essential oil to the pad for instant freshness.

The gift de-clutter

After presents are opened, the packaging seems to multiply like a magician’s trick. Boxes, tags, plastic ties, receipts… they take over.

Grab two bags:

• Keep: gifts or items that need a proper home

• Recycle/Donate: unwanted gifts, packaging, wrapping

Make it a rule: Put new gifts away immediately. The longer they sit out, the faster they become clutter.

Refresh soft furnishings

Your sofa has probably hosted guests, pets and a few questionable snack spillages. Time to revive it.

Mix bicarbonate of soda with a few drops of essential oil, sprinkle across soft furnishings, leave for an hour, and vacuum off. Then throw open the windows for a burst of fresh air.

Have a fridge and freezer clear-out

Post-Christmas fridges can be a danger zone. Take everything out so you can see exactly what you’ve got.

Bin any sad, forgotten leftovers. Wipe shelves with warm soapy water and pop a slice of lemon inside the fridge for natural odour control.

And if you panic-bought three types of cheese? Grate and freeze it, it’s perfect for quick cooking.

Show your kitchen counter some love

December cooking means crumbs, grease and glitter (don’t ask how it gets there). Spray counters with a multipurpose cleaner and work from top to bottom.

Finish with a hot cloth wipe-down, it leaves everything looking extra shiny.

Freshen up your bathroom

Bathrooms take a beating over Christmas with guests coming and going.

• Spray shower screens with white vinegar, leave 10 minutes, rinse for a streak-free sparkle

• For taps, cut a lemon in half and rub directly over them, it works like magic and smells wonderful

Set the mood for a fresh start

Cleaning done? Now for the best part.

Light a fresh, crisp candle, open a window for 10 minutes, put on a soothing playlist and enjoy that ‘new year’ feeling. A clean, calm January sets the tone for the whole year.

Lynsey Crombie @lynsey_queenofclean is ITV This Morning’s resident home expert and TV presenter. Lynsey’s best-selling book ‘The 15 Minute Clean’ is available to buy from AMAZON.