Simple Strategies for Party Cleanup

So much planning goes into a party: decorations, food, favors and activities. Hardly any time is spent thinking about cleaning up after the party. However, with a few smart strategies and the right tools, party cleanup can be a lot less stressful than it needs to be.

Before the Party
Smart party planning requires that you prepare for the clean up even before the fun begins. By starting out with the right supplies and décor, you can minimize cleanup hassles and keep party cleaning manageable.

Start out with a clean kitchen and clear countertops. Everything will be in its place, and you'll have plenty of room to work. Also make sure the dishwasher is empty so you can load it up as the night goes on.

Use disposable cutlery, plates and cups. That way, guests can easily toss their own things when they're finished. After the party, it will be quick to gather up discarded disposables into a garbage bag, and you'll save time on washing dishes. Also get several types of disposable plastic containers with lids. This way, you can easily send food leftovers home with guests. For those who want to be environment-friendly, you can purchase disposable utensils made of biodegradable materials.

Give guests the chance to keep things tidy themselves by placing several plastic-lined garbage cans in strategic locations around the house. Place one near the food area and a few others in easy-to-reach places throughout the party area. For those who want to recycle, make sure receptacles are clearly labeled and they are placed where guests can easily access them.

Set out several sets of coasters on all surfaces, or use table runners and tablecloths on wood surfaces to prevent the appearance of white rings from damp cups. Finally, have several bottles of club soda and a few towels stashed nearby in case of spills or stains. The faster you treat a stain, the less likely it'll stick around.

During the Party
Of course you don't want to scamper around during the party, cleaning up after everyone. You should spend time enjoying your guests and the results of all your planning. However, there are a few things you can do during the party to minimize party cleaning later.

With around 20 minutes until the party's over, make the rounds through the house, offering to take anyone's empty plates and gathering up any discarded garbage. This also gives you the chance to circulate and talk to guests one last time. For your guests' convenience, bag up full wastebaskets and replace them with clean and empty bags. You can run the full bags out later.

Accept help from guests who offer. While you don't want to make a guest work too hard, even a small task will help with the overall party cleaning. Simply say something like, "Thanks. Would you mind running these full bags out to the garage?"

Party Cleaning Strategies: After the Party
Once the last guest has gone, you can really get down to party cleaning. It's a lot easier to clean up the majority of the party while you are awake and buoyant from the fun than when you are tired and worn out. So you don't spoil that post-party feeling, do the essentials right after the party, and save the detail work for the next day.

Prioritize what needs attention first, such as stains and spills that you weren't aware of. Sop up as much as you can with clean towels, and then get some carpet or upholstery cleaner on them right away.

Then start taking care of the trash. Use a large serving tray or plastic bin to haul non-disposable items (glassware, silverware and plates) from each room to the kitchen. A large tray will save you several trips back and forth. For the disposable items, walk around the rooms with a large garbage bag. You can pick up any garbage and discard it right away.

Once the garbage has been cleared up, and, if you aren't too exhausted, take garbage bags out to the cans, or at least set them in the garage. You don't want any accidental leaks onto the carpet. After that, vacuum the floors for crumbs so that ants or other bugs don't become party crashers.

Put perishable foods in the refrigerator if they've been out for less than two hours. Longer than that? Throw it away. Load up the dishwasher and run it right before you go to bed. You'll wake up to clean dishes that can be put away before you put in the next load.

Last, but not least, fill the sink with hot soapy water and soak any dishes that didn't make it into the dishwasher. They'll be easier to clean in the morning when all of that crusty goo is softened.