The Great Christmas Clean Out

Q: What’s the best way to clean up after Christmas?
A: You don’t. You move.

While most of us would love to vacate our current home instead of cleaning and clearing the clutter that Christmas creates, such a scenario isn’t exactly feasible. Thus, we’re left to wade through the detritus of wrapping accessories and the plethora of Christmas accoutrements.

When faced with such an Everest of tasks, the simplest thing is to shove everything into trash bags. However, that behavior is far from eco-friendly (when it comes to wrapping waste) and far from organized (when it comes to domestic decorations). So, follow these simple steps to make your clean up eco-friendly and super organized:

Get rid of the waste

You’ll be happier once the trash has been taken out. But again, don’t simply trash everything. Most municipalities will accept wrapping paper, cardboard, bows and ribbon in recycling programs. So, as you unwrap things on Christmas morning, go ahead and separate your packaging. This will make clean up much easier, too.

Find a home for the tree

If you like the look and smell of a real tree, you’ve got a few options come December 26. In rare occasions, you can actually plant your tree. If this isn’t a possibility, many cities will have a specific Christmas tree pick-up program. Check your local papers and news outlets to see when mulching trucks might be in your neighborhood. Otherwise, you could break it down yourself, sawing and cutting and then placing in your backyard. It will eventually decompose, and could even bring a better smell to your lawn. You can also just compost it or turn it into firewood.

Get serious about decoration storage

If you’ve got bulky or dilapidated boxes that need to be replaced, do it. Wait a week and most stores will have some sort of discount on big, plastic bins, which will last much longer (then you can recycle the other boxes that have been holding your lights and wreaths). If you have decorations that you no longer want, donate them. And, if you’ve got things that are simply broken, get rid of them. You’ll be happier next November when you pull everything out of storage.

A few, dedicated hours can make your clean-up easier, greener and a bit more sane.

Then, go drink the last of the eggnog.