Along with all the festivity and joy, we generate a massive amount of waste during Christmas, without really realising it.

As a B Corp, we're always trying our hardest to incorporate sustainability in as many or our choices as we can, and think about the environmental impact of our actions, with Christmas proving to be no different. You might be surprised at how much waste is produced at Christmas each year. Last year, we threw away 227,000 miles of wrapping paper, almost enough for us to paper our way to the moon!

As well as more waste, there’s also a lot more clean up, which is why we’ve created some top tips on post-Christmas cleaning, recycling, and waste management.

1. Food, glorious food!

Many people admit to buying more than they need on purpose from fear of running out of food, and then not knowing what to do with the leftovers (or the packaging).

Start simple, reuse all the food from Christmas Day to create new meals, try out a Leftovers recipe, you might just find your new favourite dish.

And don't forget about the packaging, make sure card is recycled, plastic is separated correctly, and any glass containers are saved and reused instead of thrown away.

Of course, the biggest way to reduce food waste at Christmas is to only buy what you need, so if no one likes Brussel sprouts, don’t buy them!

2. Take care of the good dishes

We all like to treat ourselves at Christmas, and sometimes it's the simple things, like putting out the fancy plates. Don't let oil and starchy foods dry and crust on your plates.

Get your plates soaking in the sink with some Eucalyptus washing up liquid whilst the festivities are in full swing, and you'll get through the wash up quicker and easier later on.

3. Secret stains

Check your carpet and furniture for stains. The longer they set, the more difficult they will be to remove. If you spot any, use a spray bottle to lightly apply a mixture of warm water and washing up liquid.

Blot with a paper towel and continue spraying and blotting until the stain is removed. Rinse with clear water and blot again.

4. Did you have guests staying over?

Cleaning out the guest bedroom doesn't have to be a chore when you wash in Wilton. Strip those bedsheets and get them into the washer with our eco-friendly Cedarwood Laundry Liquid to freshen them up.

Whilst the sheets are drying, use your vacuum’s upholstery attachment to clean the mattress thoroughly, paying special attention to the seams. Replace the bedding, and fluff the pillows to make your next guests comfortable.

5. All wrapped up

Most wrapping paper cannot be recycled, try finding ways to reuse the paper such as using it wrap up delicate ornaments from your tree to keep them safe until next year. Or, if you opened your gifts carefully, fold and reuse the paper next year. Just because it can't be recycled, doesn't mean we can't be creative and find ways to reuse single use items.

This is also a great opportunity to deep clean the house during the holidays. Go room by room and start from high to low, that way and dirt and grime that falls off of cabinets or light fixtures will be picked up last before moving on.

What are your essential Christmas cleaning tips?