5 Things Everyone Should Clean in January, According to a Cleaning Pro

Welcome to the heart of cold and flu season (otherwise known as January), everyone! With Covid still hanging around and other viruses sneaking through, the dreary winter days in January are the perfect opportunity to clean your home. That way, you can start the new year fresh and sanitized. 

January is also a great time to deep clean after holiday parties — no more years of finding a lingering champagne glass hiding under a table three months later. We spoke to a home cleaning professional to learn about the best things to clean this January.

Here’s what she had to say.

The parties are over, the revelers went home, and the holiday decorations are starting to droop. Take this opportunity to clean all your holiday swag and stash it away for next year.

“[January is the] time to pick up and organize holiday decorative items to prepare for a new year cleaning,” says Jennifer Rodriguez from ProHousekeepers. “Wash your holiday pillows, throws, and other soft items that can be hand-washed or machine-washed.”

You should also deep clean the bathroom. It is flu season, after all, and the bathrooms were likely one of the most-used spots in your home over the holidays.

“I recommend Microban disinfectant for toilets and a Clorox bathroom cleaner for bathtubs, showers, and sinks,” Rodriguez says. “Microban claims that their product keeps surfaces clean for 24 hours after applying the product.”

One other suggestion? Make sure all your holiday gifts are put away to alleviate any clutter. If you got newly gifted clothes, consider donating similar items that you no longer wear.

Start the year fresh by cleaning and sanitizing all the hard surfaces in your home and spots people touch regularly. Think things like countertops, tables, doorknobs, computers, faucets, and even things you might not consider, like cell phones and laptops. 

Some germs can stick around on these things — and if anyone around you has coughed or sneezed, then touched something, it’s more possible that you could get sick. 

Every home has maintenance tasks that should be handled at the start of every year. The timing is particularly smart because you’ll never forget to do it. New year, updated maintenance. Rodriguez suggests checking water filters to see if they need to be replaced and checking filters on your HVAC system in case they need to be cleaned or replaced. You’ll also want to look at dryer vents, fridge messes, any dirty electronics, and windowsills and blinds.

“[These things] are usually ignored after the holidays because everyone is focused on their New Year’s resolutions and starting work again,” Rodriguez says. “Start your year off right with a clean and healthy home and avoid getting sick from the flu.”