Everyone loves to party now and then. Inviting friends or family over for a casual gathering at your house is a great way to bond, relax, and recharge. There’s great conversation, delicious food, and maybe some games. It’s all fun and laughter... until all the guests are gone and you are left with the after-party mess.
Cleaning up after a get-together can easily kill your party buzz. There are messes all around – dirty dishes, overflowing trash bins, maybe even a spill or two. You simply wish you can wave your hand and it would all just magically go away.
While calling in a professional home cleaning service is the best option, there are also other things you can do to keep the mess to a minimum at your party.
Cleaning up after a get-together can easily kill your party buzz. There are messes all around – dirty dishes, overflowing trash bins, maybe even a spill or two. You simply wish you can wave your hand and it would all just magically go away.
While calling in a professional home cleaning service is the best option, there are also other things you can do to keep the mess to a minimum at your party.
How to party-proof your home?
1. Start with a clean slate:
Start the cleaning even before the party starts by being organized. Begin with a clean kitchen. Clean and put away pots and pans that are not in use. Throw out the trash and put fresh liners with used newspaper at the bottom to soak up liquids and grease. Load the dishwasher and empty it after.
With the things you used to prepare food for the party out of the way, you have already reduced the amount of things to clean after your gathering.
Start the cleaning even before the party starts by being organized. Begin with a clean kitchen. Clean and put away pots and pans that are not in use. Throw out the trash and put fresh liners with used newspaper at the bottom to soak up liquids and grease. Load the dishwasher and empty it after.
With the things you used to prepare food for the party out of the way, you have already reduced the amount of things to clean after your gathering.
2. Keep it simple:
There’s no need to bring out the fine china if it’s just going to be a casual gathering. Keep things simple by using dishwasher-friendly dishes and glassware. Opt for stemless glasses, as they are less likely to tip and cause spills. You can also choose biodegradable, disposable plates, cups, and utensils.
The less fussy your tableware is, the easier it is for you to clean up afterwards.
There’s no need to bring out the fine china if it’s just going to be a casual gathering. Keep things simple by using dishwasher-friendly dishes and glassware. Opt for stemless glasses, as they are less likely to tip and cause spills. You can also choose biodegradable, disposable plates, cups, and utensils.
The less fussy your tableware is, the easier it is for you to clean up afterwards.
3. Finger-food are your friends:
If it’s just a casual party, sticking to pop-in-your-mouth finger food will considerably lessen the dishes you need to clean. Canapés and hors d'oeuvres can be great choices for grab-as-you-go food that your guests can nibble while mingling. Bite-size pieces will be easier for guests to eat.
Avoid create-your-own stations with dips and sauces that are likely to spill or create a mess. It would also be helpful if you can serve items that can be prepared in advance.
If it’s just a casual party, sticking to pop-in-your-mouth finger food will considerably lessen the dishes you need to clean. Canapés and hors d'oeuvres can be great choices for grab-as-you-go food that your guests can nibble while mingling. Bite-size pieces will be easier for guests to eat.
Avoid create-your-own stations with dips and sauces that are likely to spill or create a mess. It would also be helpful if you can serve items that can be prepared in advance.
4. Be proactive:
Set yourself up for party cleaning success by discreetly setting clean and presentable trash bins at strategic corners of the house. Place an empty tray on a small table where your guests can leave their dirty dishes.
Use décors that are preferably dark-colored or with textures that don’t show grease stains easily. Place coasters around the party area for guests to place their glasses on and make table napkins handy.
Set yourself up for party cleaning success by discreetly setting clean and presentable trash bins at strategic corners of the house. Place an empty tray on a small table where your guests can leave their dirty dishes.
Use décors that are preferably dark-colored or with textures that don’t show grease stains easily. Place coasters around the party area for guests to place their glasses on and make table napkins handy.
5. Offer smart bar options:
Keep the bar well-stocked with drinks that do not leave dark stains. Avoid sticky concoctions and stick to white wine, bubblies, beer, or a fun cocktail that you can pre-mix.
If you’re serving punch, place the bowl in a non-carpeted area with less foot traffic.
Keep the bar well-stocked with drinks that do not leave dark stains. Avoid sticky concoctions and stick to white wine, bubblies, beer, or a fun cocktail that you can pre-mix.
If you’re serving punch, place the bowl in a non-carpeted area with less foot traffic.
6. Manage the traffic:
Allow your guests to mingle in one comfortable place. If you do not want them wandering around (and you scouring your house for dirty dishes and cups), lock doors where you don’t want them to enter or creatively block off an area to discourage them from entering.
Allow your guests to mingle in one comfortable place. If you do not want them wandering around (and you scouring your house for dirty dishes and cups), lock doors where you don’t want them to enter or creatively block off an area to discourage them from entering.
7. Keep your friends close, and your cleaning aids closer:
Having a hand vacuum or small dustpan close by will help in quickly clearing food that fell to the floor before it gets squashed into your carpet. Keeping a spritz bottle of cold water and a clean cloth in the kitchen will be great for cleaning up spills before they set.
Keep portable stain removers handy for any other party stain emergencies.
Having a hand vacuum or small dustpan close by will help in quickly clearing food that fell to the floor before it gets squashed into your carpet. Keeping a spritz bottle of cold water and a clean cloth in the kitchen will be great for cleaning up spills before they set.
Keep portable stain removers handy for any other party stain emergencies.
8. Have fun!
Cleaning so much or too obviously can also make your guests feel awkward. Don’t forget to be present at your own party and have fun.
Save your deep-cleaning mission after all the guests have left. You can also ask your other immediate family members, like your husband or older kid, to help you out with the cleaning afterwards.
9. Party’s over; time to get into it:
When the party is finally done, then you can focus on the essentials of cleaning up your home.
Divide and conquer by asking your clean-up buddies to pick up food and drinks so pets or younger kids won’t step into them (or put them into their mouths). Attend to stains by soaking linens into the machine immediately. Put leftover food into plastic baggies. Rinse and stack plates in one corner if the dishwasher is still full.
Try to gather everything in one place to make the final morning clean-up easier.
Cleaning so much or too obviously can also make your guests feel awkward. Don’t forget to be present at your own party and have fun.
Save your deep-cleaning mission after all the guests have left. You can also ask your other immediate family members, like your husband or older kid, to help you out with the cleaning afterwards.
9. Party’s over; time to get into it:
When the party is finally done, then you can focus on the essentials of cleaning up your home.
Divide and conquer by asking your clean-up buddies to pick up food and drinks so pets or younger kids won’t step into them (or put them into their mouths). Attend to stains by soaking linens into the machine immediately. Put leftover food into plastic baggies. Rinse and stack plates in one corner if the dishwasher is still full.
Try to gather everything in one place to make the final morning clean-up easier.
A time and place for everything
Having a party is a chance for you to reconnect, relax, and have fun with people close to you. It is a time to let your hair down and take a breather from the daily grind. If you obsess too much over cleaning, you will most probably miss the fun and possibly alienate your guests as well.
There’s nothing wrong with keeping everything spic and span. Just bear in mind that there is a proper time and place for everything.
AUTHOR BIO
Rania Bellos launched Dust Busters Cleaning Services with the help and support of her husband after spending 15 years working in the banking and finance industry in France, Lebanon and the UAE. She welcomes the daily challenges and exciting opportunities provided by the highly competitive residential and commercial cleaning services market.
There’s nothing wrong with keeping everything spic and span. Just bear in mind that there is a proper time and place for everything.
AUTHOR BIO
Rania Bellos launched Dust Busters Cleaning Services with the help and support of her husband after spending 15 years working in the banking and finance industry in France, Lebanon and the UAE. She welcomes the daily challenges and exciting opportunities provided by the highly competitive residential and commercial cleaning services market.