And after every party comes the inevitable party cleanup.
This week we thought we'd share some after party cleaning tips. They're created with New Year's Eve bashes in mind, but can be applied to any get-together, big or small, corporate or private, and enjoyed by rookies like me or professional crews. If you're a world-class cleaner you can probably sneak some of these tricks in while the party is still in swing, and spare yourself some work the next day.
Recycle the easy way
I am a big believer in plastic cups and paper plates, which are now greener than ever. Many plastic cups and even some plates are recycled and recyclable. When I have my a-game on, a favorite trick is to have a disposable tablecloth on the the dining table. That way when the eating portion winds down and people wander into the kitchen for socializing, I can move the centerpiece off the table, wad the table cloth and left-behind (non-recyclable) plates into a trash bag, replace the centerpiece, and be ready to have coffee with my guests in seconds flat.
Trash is trash.
Speaking of trash bags, recyclable plastic bags or pieces of plastic made into bags are great for guests to toss their used plastic cups. When one bag is full, it takes seconds to put it in the recycle bin. Conveniently-located garbage bags also make it easy for people to clean things up as they go. If you're entertaining the family and children are over, you can even make a game of it. Our house used to look like the Sack of Rome after my husband's crew of nieces and nephews came over for Christmas, until I had a trash bag ready for used wrapping paper and other things. The boys made an ad-hoc game of basketball out of wadded-up gift wrap and that was one less thing I had to do.
Clean and ….
Hardcore entertainers love to have a pre-mixed cleaning solution on hand for the inevitable spills. A good general cleaner can be a lifesaver, and if you use it in a spray bottle, can be used discretely as stains and spills happen. Dirty china and dish ware can quietly be stacked in one pile and set to soak in a sink until they're ready for the dishwasher. A little hand soap on a clean, damp paper towel is my weapon of choice for coffee rings on kitchen counters.
Clean again.
More intense cleaning may be needed the next day. Bob Vila offers a tip for removing stubborn candle wax from wooden tables. A warm hair dryer can soften the wax and it will lift up gently. One blog suggested using a warm iron and a paper lunch bag to remove spilled wax from carpet – the iron should cause the wax to attach to the paper and lift up. A good carpet spotter can get spilled wine or other stains out of rugs and carpet. A nice citrus-based cleaner will polish the wood on your coffee tables as you herd up spilled snack-mix, and a good bathroom cleaner will make the counters sparkle again.
Now, you're ready to relax.
We Fight Dirty!™ . . . so you can relax sooner!