How to Make Cleaning Part of Your Holiday Tradition: Creative Ways to Involve Family in Tidying Up After Celebrations
The holidays are a time for joy, laughter, and, let’s be honest, sometimes a mountain of dishes, wrapping paper, and decorations! While no one wants to spend the entire day cleaning, incorporating tidying up into your holiday traditions can make the process fun, meaningful, and stress-free. With a little creativity, cleaning can become a family activity everyone looks forward to—yes, really!
1. Turn Cleanup Into a Game
Who says cleaning has to feel like a chore? Make it playful by turning it into a friendly competition. You can:
Set a timer: See who can clear their assigned area the fastest.
Scavenger hunt: Give kids a list of items to find and put away, like stray ornaments or stray holiday socks.
Point system: Assign points for tasks completed—whoever earns the most gets to pick the holiday movie for that night!
2. Create a Holiday Cleanup Playlist
Music has a magical way of lifting spirits and energizing everyone. Put together a holiday-themed playlist or upbeat tunes that get the whole family moving. Singing along, dancing while you dust, and even a little light competition for “best dance while folding napkins” can make tidying up a lot more fun.
3. Make It a Family Tradition
Consider tying cleaning to a meaningful family ritual. For example:
Post-Meal Gratitude: Before clearing the table, everyone shares one thing they’re thankful for from the holiday gathering.
Memory Jar: While cleaning, family members can write down a funny or memorable moment from the day and place it in a jar to revisit next year.
Decorating Cleanup: Make taking down decorations a celebration—sip cocoa, reminisce about your favorite décor, and take family photos along the way.
4. Assign Roles According to Strengths
Everyone can contribute, even the little ones! Assign tasks based on age and skill level:
Toddlers can collect wrapping paper or help sort napkins.
Kids can wipe down tables or sweep the floor.
Teens and adults can tackle the dishes, laundry, or packing away fragile decorations.
5. Reward Efforts (Not Just Speed)
Celebrate teamwork with small rewards to make everyone feel appreciated:
A festive treat like cookies or hot cocoa.
Extra screen time or choosing the next family game.
A “Thank You” toast to your cleaning crew, because gratitude goes a long way.
6. Make It a Photo or Video Tradition
Capture the cleaning moments as part of your holiday memories. Snap a funny photo of everyone wearing gloves and aprons, or record a short video of the post-party cleanup chaos—it’s often the laughs and silly moments that become the best memories.
The Fresh Nest Tip: Cleaning doesn’t have to feel like a dreaded task. By turning it into a fun, family-centered tradition, you’re teaching kids responsibility, building teamwork, and making your home shine—all while creating memories that last long after the decorations are put away.
This holiday season, try weaving cleanup into your celebrations—you might just find that it becomes one of your favorite traditions. And if you’d like a little extra help keeping your home sparkling after all the festivities, Fresh Nest is here to lend a hand!
