Post holiday laundry.

The holidays are over, the decorations are down, and reality has returned—along with a laundry pile that’s judging you from the corner of the room. Between festive feasts, late nights, and “I’ll deal with that later” outfits, your clothes have been through a lot. Don’t worry. They can recover. Mostly.

First things first: don’t panic-wash everything at once. Shoving your entire holiday wardrobe into one mega-load is how whites turn beige and favourites mysteriously shrink. Sort properly. Party wear, cosy knits, everyday basics—they all want very different treatment, and none of them enjoy chaos. 

Next, let’s talk holiday stains. Gravy, wine, chocolate, makeup, fake tan. Before washing, inspect everything closely (yes, even that shirt you only wore “for an hour”). Treat stains with a generous amount of Truly with appropriate agitation. Scrubbing like you’re angry at the fabric will only make things worse.

If your clothes smell like a mix of perfume, food, and regret, resist the urge to drown them in detergent. More detergent ≠ cleaner clothes. It just leaves residue that traps odours and makes fabrics look dull. Use the right amount and let proper rinsing do its job. 

Finally, finish strong. A light press or steam can bring sad, slouchy garments back to life, while proper storage stops them from reliving the holidays all over again in a crumpled heap.

Expert tip: Consider post-holiday laundry a reset, not a punishment. Treat your clothes with a little kindness now, and they’ll see you through the new year looking fresh, presentable, and blissfully free of gravy stains.