How to Tackle Post Party Cleanup
If you like to entertain and throw parties here in the Windy City, it’s always fun until it’s over. Then, the cleanup begins. But, where do you start? Whether you’ve had a dozen toddlers over for your little one’s birthday party or a few friends over for a special celebration, parties do leave a mess. Cleaning up after parties doesn’t have to be a drag. Here are a few tips on how to tackle it all.
When the Guests Leave
There are two ways I approach after-party cleanups. The first are the things I do immediately after all the guests have left.
- Get rid of the mess and the odors. If you think about it, parties usually leave a few unwanted odors in your home. The trick to keep those odors from lingering is to get rid of the root causes right away. These can be anything from plates with uneaten food, glasses that are half-full, cigarette odors, garbage, and more. Before retiring for the evening, gather it all together. Start in the exterior rooms and finish in the kitchen. Empty plates off food and cigarette ashes into a garbage bag or two and haul it all outside to the outdoor garbage can. While you’re doing those things, you might even want to open a window or two to let fresh air in.
- Load the dishwasher. You’ll undoubtedly have a cluster of dishes to deal with. Perhaps even more than a dishwasher full. So, it’s best to get a head start on it and load the dishwasher right away with all those dirty dishes. Then, start the cycle so you can get ahead of the game.
- Inspect for spills. A spill or two is par for the course with parties. Look for them on your floors, carpet, and furniture and tackle any spills and stains right away so they don’t set.
Now, that you’ve dealt with these things, it’s time for you to get a good night’s sleep. You’ll have some heavier cleaning to do the morning after the party.
The Morning After
The second phase of your after-party cleanup deals with getting your house back into the shape it was in before your guests arrived.
- Take down the decorations. Now that the party’s over, it’s time to take down any decorations you put up. Streamers, party signs, balloons – it’s time for it all to go.
- Empty the dishwasher. After you’ve emptied the load of dishes you put washing last night, it’s time to put another load on if you have more dishes that need to be washed.
- Wipe down stains. When you were picking up last night after the party, you may have noticed a few splashes of wine or punch on the walls. Wipe down those walls with a clean, wet cloth. Also, clean your table and kitchen surfaces.
- Dust and clean your furniture. If you have vinyl or leather furniture, there are likely to be a few sticky spots. The same goes for your tables and chairs.
- Put things back in their place. If you’re like me, you probably move some furniture around before a party. Maybe you move a few dining chairs into the living room. You might even clear off some of your coffee tables to place a few finger foods. Now it’s time to put everything back in its rightful place.
- Clean the bathrooms. With so many guests going in and out of your house during the party, you’ll want to clean and disinfect your bathrooms.
- Clean the floors. Just as you do each week during your weekly cleaning ritual, sweep the floors, vacuum the carpets, and mop all bare floors. If the carpets got extra soiled during the party, steam clean them or use a carpet cleaner.
Cleaning after a Party Doesn’t Have to Be A Chore
The mess left behind after a party might seem overwhelming at first. But, if you clean it up in increments like we showed you, it can be a breeze.
If you really want to avoid doing the dirty work yourself, however, consider hiring a cleaning company in the Chicago area. Having someone else do it will help you to be able to focus on more important things – like planning your next big gala.