8 Post-Holiday Cleaning Hacks for Southern Maryland Homeowners

Kimberly Bean
Kimberly Bean
Published on January 10, 2017

It’s official: The holidays are over, and like millions of Americans, you might be sitting shell-shocked in the middle of the massive mess left behind in your home. From grease-spattered stoves to gift wrap everywhere, there’s a lot of work to be done to get your home back to normal.

Don’t worry! We’ve done some of the work for you, scouring the Internet to find the best post-holiday cleaning hacks to help you get the job done.

Storage hacks

First, take down the holiday decorations and put it away. It’s a big job that can be messy, but we’ve found these brilliant hacks to help you:

  • Fill a plastic storage bin with plastic cups; the large red Solo brand cups seem to be among the sturdiest. Wrap each ornament in tissue or newspaper and place each one in a cup. For added protection, fold the tree skirt and place it over the cups. Place the lid on the bin and it’s ready to be stored for next year’s holidays.
  • Sure, you can purchase those long plastic bins made specifically to store wrapping paper rolls, but a less expensive option is available from the local dollar store: A tall trash can. Use ribbon or rubber bands to keep the paper connected to the roll then stand them all up in the trash can.
  • Avoid clogging the vacuum cleaner when you try to suck up pine needles left behind when you dragged the tree out of the house. Use a rubber broom (yes, even on rugs) to sweep them into a pile and then into a dust pan, Marie Stegner, consumer health advocate for Maid Brigade, suggests to realsimple.com. The tool also works well to pick up animal fur.
  • The folks at Good Housekeeping suggest winding your tree lights around empty wrapping paper tubes. “Loop the cord around the roll, starting with the side opposite to the plug, then insert the plug into the tube’s opening.”
  • Glitter has a tendency to land and stick to anything upholstered. Use a lint roller to remove it – even from lamp shades!

Kitchen cleaning hacks

  • Greasy gas stove? Place the burner rings and grates into large plastic bags or containers and add ¼ to ½ cup of ammonia. Seal the bag or container and allow it to sit overnight where the ammonia fumes will work their magic. Wear gloves to remove the stove parts from the bag or container and rinse in hot water. Use sea salt to scrub anything that stubbornly clings to the rings. By the way, never mix ammonia with other products, especially bleach, as it will emit toxic fumes.
  • How’s the stove hood looking? If you did as much cooking as we did over the holidays, it’s probably one big, greasy mess. We found a surprising but brilliant method to remove the grease: Mineral oil (apparently vegetable oil works as well). Use just a few drops on a paper towel, and wipe the hood until it’s grease-free. We used a soft rag to wipe off the excess oil, but a paper towel will work as well.
  • Your microwave worked hard, and it needs cleaning, too. Squeeze a lemon into a large glass measuring cup and fill to within 2 inches of the rim with water. Place the cup in the microwave, and allow it to boil for three minutes. The steam from the boiling water will loosen the grime inside the oven, and the lemon helps remove odors. Dip your sponge carefully into the hot water to remove stubborn stains.

We’d love to hear about your favorite cleaning tips — feel free to share!

White Plains MD Homes for Sale and Real Estate Services in Southern Maryland. You now have a search engine to help you with your Southern Maryland home search! And I’m ready to provide you with a custom home valuation if you’re considering selling your home. Let’s connect to discuss how I can help you. Contact Kimberly Bean at 301-440-1309

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