Make room for the holiday season in just 1 week!
With holidays just around the corner, you may be starting to get overwhelmed thinking of all the tasks you need to do in preparation. Whether you’re hosting a holiday gathering or hosting relatives for a few days, there can be lots to get done in a short amount of time. No need to fret! 1-800-GOT-JUNK? is here to help break up the work into manageable chunks, so you can be ready for the holidays in just one week!
7 areas to clean up before holiday hosting
From gift-wrapping to decorating to clearing space for guests, there’s plenty to do over the holiday season! Whether you want to get everything done right away or break it up into easy tasks over multiple days, follow these tips to prepare your home for all your holiday hosting needs.
1. Organize the kitchen
Start off your holiday hosting preparations by organizing your kitchen, This area will be getting plenty of use over the holiday season, especially if you love holiday baking and cooking. First, go through your kitchen, fridge, and pantry to declutter any unwanted or unused items. Once you’ve cleared out anything you don’t need, organize everything from the bottom of your drawers to the tops of your shelves, so your most-used items are easy for yourself and guests to find. Once everything is neatly organized, it’ll also be easier to see if there’s anything you need to stock up on before your guests arrive.
2. Prep your guest room
Next on the list is to prep your guest room, or DIY one if you don’t have a spare bedroom! Whether your guests are staying overnight or not, ensuring you have a space for them and their belongings will help them feel welcome. If you have a spare bedroom, declutter any miscellaneous items that may have taken up space over the year. If you don’t have a spare bedroom, it’s time to get crafty! Prep that air mattress or pull-out couch, and consider the best space to set it up. While you don’t need to have everything set up days in advance, it will help to have a plan in place so your guests can seamlessly visit.
3. Declutter the common areas
After getting the kitchen, bathroom, closets, and guest rooms ready, it’s time to declutter the rest of the common spaces that your guests may be spending their time in. Whether it’s the living room, dining room, or any other entertaining spaces, ensure there is enough space for all your guests to comfortably come together. Remove any clutter from seating areas, and check for any potential tripping hazards. You don’t want to hit your foot on anything while carrying plates of food to the dining table! Once all your common areas are clutter-free, it’s time to start decorating.
4. Organize holiday decorations
While it may be tempting to leave the decoration organization for after the holidays, your future self will thank you if you work ahead! Organize your Christmas or other holiday decorations as you are pulling them out, and ensure any boxes are clearly labeled so it will be easier to put them back in the correct spaces after the holidays. As you’re bringing out your decorations, consider if there are any that you no longer want, or that have been damaged while in storage. Once you have a pile of unwanted decorations, call 1-800-GOT-JUNK? to properly dispose of them!
5. Create a gift wrapping space
Before your guests arrive, take some time to pre-wrap any gifts so they are ready to be handed out. Find a comfortable space to set up all your essentials (wrapping paper, scissors, name cards, etc.) so you don’t have to search around your home once you’ve started wrapping. If you have to declutter an area to make space, make sure there’s plenty of room for all your necessary items! Once you’ve got a designated gift wrapping spot, it will be easier to get all your wrapping done in one sitting before any guests visit. Unsure of what to get your loved ones? Check out our minimalist gift ideas, including some tips for sustainably wrapping your items!
6. Get rid of any unused toys
If you have kids, you’ll want to make sure that there is room for any new toys that they might receive during the holiday season. Don’t be afraid to get your children involved in the process, and have them help organize any unwanted or unused toys into donation and trash piles. Not only will it be another way to spend some extra time with your kids this holiday season, it’ll be a great opportunity to teach them about the importance of donation and gift giving. If you’re unsure where to donate any unwanted items, give 1-800-GOT-JUNK? a call! Many of our franchises work with charities, including Second Chance Toys, so your well-loved toys can find a new home for the holidays.
7. Plan to get rid of any post-holiday clutter
It may seem early to start thinking about how to properly dispose of your holiday clutter, but “future you” will be thankful that you did! Before you host anyone for the holidays, plan how you will dispose of any boxes, wrapping paper, and even your Christmas tree. Some common disposal places will have adjusted dates over the holiday season, so it’s best to prepare to get rid of anything you can in advance, or consider how and when you will dispose of your items after the holidays. 1-800-GOT-JUNK? is happy to help take the stress out of planning ahead and handle all your holiday disposal needs!
And just like that, seven days have flown by, and it’s time to enjoy your holidays with family and friends! To make your holiday hosting run smoothly so you can focus on your loved ones, call 1-800-GOT-JUNK? to handle all your junk removal needs. We handle all the lifting, loading, and proper disposal of your items, so you can save your time and energy for spreading the holiday cheer with your guests!
