Ah, the holidays, what’s not to love?
Okay. Maybe just one thing–one small, teensy tinsy thing…
The cleaning.
If you are anything like me (maybe a little bit type A?) keeping the house clean over the holidays is a challenge. Call me crazy, but I want my house to feel warm and welcoming all throughout the season. I want my decorations to sparkle and shine (because I didn’t hang them for nothin’, right?).
One of the first steps to keeping your house clean over the holidays, is containing the clutter. Which, can be pretty darn hard to do.
This year, I vowed to fix that.
Here’s a few tips on how to keep your house clutter-free and clean this holiday season:
1. De-clutter BEFORE you decorate
Buy a few large plastic bins, then go through your home and carefully put away anything you won’t need throughout the month. This should be mostly decorative items, since you’ll be adding new festive decor. But think outside the box. I
put away a few unnecessary household items, along with a few of my kids toys. That way, we’ve got a little extra room during this clutter-prone season.
(Holiday hack: mark your bins with electrical tape based on holiday colors. Red and Green stripes makes it super easy to spot boxes in a dark attic.)
2. Re-purpose containers as decorations
Make those containers do double-duty! I have a few red boxes that I usually use in my office. But after a little reorganizing and re-arranging, they are now a part of our warm Christmas decor.
They are set up right next to our tree, so I used them to hold double sided tape, extra ornament hooks, matches for the candles, and a few odds and ends I wanted out of the kids’ reach. This can be done with any container you already own.
(Holiday hack: Don’t have a wrapping room? Me neither. Just use boxes just like these to organize tissue, tape, tags, bows, and bags and place them in a room with lots of floor space.)
3. Embellish your baskets
I try to contain clutter in baskets throughout the year. Honestly, I don’t think you can ever have too many baskets. They have simplified my life in SO many ways.
Why not make those baskets sparkle for the holidays? Try hanging glittery, sparkling ornaments from the handles, and covering clutter with warm winter blankets.
This basket? Full of my kids brightly colored toys. They’re off the floor and out of the way, and the kids know right where to find them.
(Holiday hack: Leave one basket empty, and carry it with you each evening to pick up toys and clutter left on the floors. Then put away when time permits, or better yet–leave for the kids to put away.)
We’ve contained the clutter and sparkled the house with holiday decoration. Now it’s time to add the shine. Especially since the clutter is up and off those floors!
And anything that makes my life easier in the shining department? That’s worth it’s weight in gold. Wouldn’t you say?
Enter Bona.
Their full line of GREENGUARD certified hardwood floor care products not only ensure a clean and and beautiful shine, but all with minimal effort.
I’ve used Bona on my hardwoods for five years. And I simply wouldn’t trust anything else. I love how well it works, and that it’s non-toxic and safe to use around little feet and paws.
The Bona Hardwood Floor Mop makes cleaning so easy. It’s a spray mop combo, with a microfiber mop and refill cartridge all-in-one.
It’s quick, easy to use and leaves absolutely no residue. Honestly, this one mop alone saves me HOURS on cleaning my floors–hours that I am happy to spend with my little ones, especially during the holidays.
I mean honestly, just take a look at the before and after. Between two little kids and a dog, our floors get their fair share of dirt and grime. Believe me.
But Bona makes them look like new. We are constantly getting compliments on our shiny floor, and I tell them it’s Bona every time.
And just in time for Christmas…
Bona is offering MPMK readers a $3 OFF COUPON.
Grab yours before it’s gone and here’s to a clean and clutter-free holiday home!
*This post is sponsored by Bona, all opinions are 100% my own.
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