There comes a time in everyone’s life to throw THAT party! The one that will be epic — talked about constantly, where everyone will have fun like never before, and no other party can recreate certain highlights. After the party, however, everyone will go home to sleep it off and you will end up cleaning it all up.
One look at the place and you will start panicking when you see the state of walls, floors, furniture, ceiling, and windows — the chaos. Take a few deep breaths, go to bed, and sleep it off so you can take care of it all tomorrow (although with a hangover). Once you had enough cups of coffee to wake up the dead, it’s time to clean up the mess after a party, and here is how you are going to do it.
Gather your cleaning tools
When you’re making a list of supplies for the party, include some items you will need to clean up the mess after it. Some of the things that should be there are:
- Gloves
- Masks
- Trash bags
- Cleaning products
- Newspapers
- Sponges
- Microfiber cloths
- Toothbrush
- A couple of replacement mopheads
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Paper towels, etc.
What you will get depends on what you already have at home, as well as where you will host the party. For example, wooden items require special products and windows will shine if cleaned with newspapers. If you plan to use products with aggressive agents, always wear an appropriate mask and gloves since such cleaners can irritate your throat and skin, and even cause chemical burns.
Start with decluttering
Do not do anything before decluttering! Put on your gloves, take a plastic bag, and start collecting the trash around the house. It would be great if you could separate items for recycling, like plastic, paper, and glass. Look underneath the furniture, on the counters, in the corners — make sure to check every spot for pieces of junk.
Leave the full bags outside and start picking up cushions, chairs, tablecloths, and other pieces of décor that may have ended up out of their place. Put the dishes in the sink or on the kitchen counter and laundry in the hamper or by the washer. Once you are done, you should have a clutter-free space to start mopping, scrubbing, and vacuuming.
Mop and wash the floors
Every party planner knows that carpets and rugs get rolled up and stored somewhere safe. This leaves the floors bare and ready for any type of mess you will leave on them. To collect shards of broken bottles, glasses, and plates (also, maybe a vase, mirror, or picture frame), take your broom and start sweeping the floors.
Depending on the type of surface, use an appropriate cleaning product and take special care to collect the water as much as possible so you don’t slip on wet floors. Leave the floors to dry and wipe and wash them again if necessary to remove persistent smudges and stains.
Take care of the dishes
While the floors dry, you can put the dishes in the dishwasher and turn it on. Those dishes that couldn’t fit in the washer you should put aside or wash them by hand. In case you used paper plates and plastic cups, you will hardly have any dishes to wash except for a few items, like bowls for snacks.
However, other things can be washed inside the washer, like the toilet seat. Take the toilet seat off, place it on the bottom rack of your dishwasher, and set it on the hottest rinse cycle. Take them out when done and spray with 10% bleach solution to soak in for a couple of minutes and wipe them with a cotton rag. The temperatures your dishwasher uses are so hot that they destroy germs efficiently, but you should run a regular cycle with baking soda and white vinegar just to make sure.
Get help
There are several options when it comes to cleaning up the mess after your party. You can hire a professional house cleaning service and while they take care of everything, have a nice breakfast to fight off the hangover. Alternatively, you can make a deal with your friends to come over the day after the party and give you a hand.
However, let experts deal with serious issues, like broken or damaged items. For example, to replace a broken window or repair a damaged piece of furniture. Trying to fix something you don’t know how to may make the matters worse, so create an emergency contact list before the party just in case it gets pretty wild.
Vacuum after everything is done
Vacuuming is easier to suck in all the rubbish, but some items may damage it. This is why you should vacuum after you swept and washed the floors, to collect small pieces you missed. In most cases, you will collect dust, confetti, and pieces of food.
However, examine the vacuum bag after you are done to make sure that no one’s jewelry or keys ended up there. Also, don’t forget to vacuum the sofa, chairs, behind the shelves, and other areas you couldn’t reach with your broom. If necessary, wash your sofa to remove dirt and stains with suitable cleaning products that won’t damage the fabric or spoil its color.
Clean up outside
The outside area should come after you cleaned the inside of your home. After you declutter and collect the rubbish, including trampled plants and broken pots, take the hose. Spray the hard areas, like patio, pathways, and other concrete, stone, wooden, and tile surfaces to remove the dirt.
If you have a lawn vacuum, use it after raking the grass to clean it without causing any damage. Other options are to do it manually or call professionals to do it for you. To minimize the damage outside, make clear which areas are off-limits with signs and protective fencing.
The bottom line
Parties are fun, but cleaning up the mess afterward is not. However, it shouldn’t be a thing that will ruin your great impressions of last night. Have friends to help, hire professional cleaners, and remove anything valuable you don’t want to be destroyed. Also, stay hydrated the moment you wake up to take care of that hangover and be a minimum of 70%for cleaning up.
About The Author
Dan Taylor
Dan is responsible for content marketing and branding at GuestPostBlogging. He writes about topics related to startup naming, branding and entrepreneurship.
