With Christmas approaching, there are some things everyone starts to prepare themselves for. Unfortunately, we’re not talking about buying presents or sipping on eggnog. Cleaning and decluttering, although unanimously despised, need to be done somewhere around the holidays. Of course, no one solution fits all, and you need to consider many factors before you decide whether you’ll declutter and clean before or after the holidays. Nevertheless, we’ve come up with some universal facts that’ll make this decision easier.

Check your schedule

No matter what’s objectively better, you need to decide whether to declutter and clean before or after the holidays separately from that. No one’s schedule is the same, which means that you need to take some time to figure out what will be best for you. Prioritizing our obligations, especially around the holidays, can be exhausting. Nevertheless, it’s something that has to be done.

Pros of cleaning and decluttering before the Holidays

Firstly, let’s take a look at some reasons why you shouldn’t postpone this until after the holidays.

• Your home will be beautiful for the upcoming holidays: If you clean and prepare your home before the holidays begin, you’ll have a beautiful interior during the season.
• It can be cathartic: Cleaning and decluttering before the holidays come knocking can be a great way to prepare for what’s coming and wrap up a certain time period. It’s also great for getting rid of stress, and you won’t feel like you have anything hanging over your head.
• Running into forgotten gems: Of course, you’ll dig up some old gems while decluttering that could be useful once you start decorating.

Pros of cleaning and decluttering after the holidays

There are some great benefits to cleaning and decluttering after the holidays.

• It’s easier to do everything at once: Since you’ll have to take down the holiday decorations and pack them up, you’ll kill two birds with one stone if you leave decluttering and cleaning for after the holidays.
• You’ll get closure after the holidays: Another great thing about waiting to clear out your home is that you’ll create a transition between the holidays and what comes next. It’ll be easier to start working and being productive if your space reflects that.
• You can make a guilt-free mess while celebrating: If you decide to clean and declutter before the holidays, you’ll feel conscious about ruining and disrupting the results of your effort. Leaving it for after will rid you of this.

Questions you need to ask yourself

If you find it hard to choose whether you want to declutter and clean before or after the holidays, here are some questions that could help.

Are you planning to host?

If you’re preparing your home for guests, it might be better to clean and declutter it beforehand. However, if you’re going away for the holidays or spending them with close family and friends, you might want to put it off.

How messy is your home?

The current state of your home is another thing to take into consideration. If your home’s clean and organized already, there’s no need to declutter it before the holidays are over. Simply set aside time to decorate and then deal with the mess later.

How much time do you have on your hands?

Depending on your work schedule and how you plan to spend the holidays, you’ll probably have some time to dedicate to cleaning and decluttering.

Make a strict timetable

Divide your belongings into categories

Begin by categorizing your belongings before diving into any decluttering or cleaning tasks, whether it’s pre or post-holiday season. This initial step will streamline the organization and packing process.

Create a list of chores

Prioritize efficiency by crafting a meticulous list encompassing both significant and minor tasks that require attention. This detailed checklist will serve as your guide, ensuring that no chore is overlooked.

Get some help from your friends and family

Don’t try to do everything yourself; get your friends and family to help you. If you don’t have the time for cleaning and decluttering, you can always hire a house cleaner who’ll make your home spotless.

Store the items you want to keep

In addition to the items you plan to discard and those earmarked for donation, you may come across belongings that you’d like to keep but lack the space for. This becomes particularly relevant when contemplating home decor projects. In such cases, it’s advisable to identify an alternative storage solution to prevent clutter. Opting to rent a storage unit proves to be an excellent and practical resolution.

Clean your storage unit as well

Don’t forget that your storage also needs to be taken care of as much as your home does. If you’re leaving your belongings for a longer period of time, cleaning your storage unit should also be on your agenda.

Take breaks

One of the biggest purposes of holidays is to rest and regain energy for new challenges. Although cleaning around this time is important, make sure not to get burnt out. Especially if you’re cleaning with kids around, try to create a relaxed timetable and make plenty of time for breaks and rest.

Final Thoughts

Finally, if you simply cannot decide whether to declutter and clean before or after the holidays, why not just do both? What’s more, you can also clean during the holidays. If you think about it, you won’t even feel like setting aside half an hour daily to clean and organize your home, and it’ll make all the difference.