10 PRICELESS TIPS FOR PICKING UP AFTER A PARTY
The big party or family gathering is over! And now it’s time to clean up the remnants of the a-fabulous-time-was-had-by-all! A party or big gathering can be a blast but it can also wreak havoc on your home. I’m not talking about the kind of mess from Animal House, but let’s face it… parties, holidays or big family gatherings can leave us with a bit of a mess on our hands! No worry, we can get our homes back in before-party shape easily if we have a plan! Here are 10 fabulous tips for cleaning up after a big gathering!
When Bobby and I were younger we could stay up until 4:am getting our home in tip top shape after a night of fun… but those days are over! If our parties end late into the evening, once everyone is gone we put away the essentials, soak the dishes and head for bed. It’s much easier to wake up in the am, grab a big cup of coffee and divide and conquer!
Here’s what we do now. It’s really a whole lot smarter!
LET EVERYONE LEND A HELPING HAND
The number one rule for getting your home back in order quickly after a big party, family reunion, holiday or entertaining any large group of people is… IF SOMEONE ASKS TO HELP, LET THEM!
Can they go from room to room picking up used glasses,plates and napkins? Can they help put food away after a big meal? Can they put chairs back under the correct tables? This is so so important! Especially if hosting a family gathering. The more informal and better you know your guests the more you can ask them to do if they offer!
Don’t be shy about this. People ask because they want to help!
I don’t ask guest to do the dishes or put dishes in the dishwasher. But, if they want to help bring dishes from the table after eating I ask them to stack them on the side of the sink.
Most guest are so willing to help and enjoy the camaraderie of a little cleaning up together!
If your gathering includes your yard for games, like ours does, enlist the kiddos in the group to help clean up the bocce balls or find or collect the wiffle balls and bats and bases!
Just remember people you invite into your home are your guests. Let those who ask do something but don’t put them to work until everything is done! They don’t come to work!
Here’s a great idea I use often for big parties, I hire a couple of responsible teenagers to help me keep things cleaned up. It’s a win/win!
I’m sure you will know what’s appropriate for each large gathering.
INACT THE DISH PAN RULE
This should only be used for family gatherings and for big dinners like Thanksgiving etc. To find out how to make your major holidays with family so much simpler to clean up click HERE.
WORK ON THE INSIDE OF YOUR HOME FIRST
When we have big gatherings and people spread out all over the inside and outside of my home I ALWAYS start to get the inside of my home back in working shape and then concentrate on the outside.
PUT AWAY ALL FOOD FIRST
Do this sooner than later. And make sure to share the wealth. If you have lots of leftovers let people take some home! Keep fun Chinese food containers on hand to put leftovers in! Refrigerate or put away all other food.
PICK UP ALL DINNERWARE THAT BELONGS IN THE KITCHEN
Before I do any serious straightening up after my guests leave I do a sweep of my home for any glasses, plates, bowls, utensils, napkins etc and get them into the kitchen. I ignore furniture that’s been moved, chairs that are out of place, and pillows that have tumbled on the floor! I concentrate on one thing… getting what belongs in the kitchen into the kitchen!
STRAIGHTEN UP ONE ROOM AT A TIME
Don’t get distracted! Work on one room at a time. Don’t clean the room (with the exception of the kitchen and bathroom), just straighten up. Fluff the pillows, put away the coasters and make sure everything is in it’s place.
TACKLE THE KITCHEN FIRST
For me, if my kitchen is not clean and straightened up my whole house feels messy! Tackle one thing at a time. I begin with dishes. Wash the dishes! Put as many as you can in the dishwasher and wash the rest. Dry and put away any dishes that are hand washed. Don’t forget to put away the dishes in the dishwasher as soon as they are done.
Clean one counter top at a time. I start with the counter that has my coffee station on it and work around the kitchen cleaning every surface. That includes the stove and any other appliance that has been used!
Don’t forget the floors! I wash up the kitchen floors when I am working on the kitchen. I don’t like crumby or sticky kitchen floors! When I leave the kitchen it is often better than when guest arrived!
GIVE THE BATHROOMS A SWISH AND SWIPE
Bathrooms get quite a workout during a party. Don’t forget to clean them from top to bottom. Work fast and it should take you no time at all!
VACUUM AND DUST ONLY AFTER ALL ROOMS ARE STRAIGHTENED UP
When all the rooms are tidied up then go from room to room with a dust cloth or feather duster. After a good dusting run the vacuum through the party areas! Easy-peasy!
CLEAN UP THE OUTSIDE
If the party goes outdoors, make sure to spend a little time cleaning up outside too.
It’s really great if you have a partner or two or three that can work with you! But if you are working alone make sure to turn on some great zippy music and be determined. Don’t stop until your home is back in order!
I hope this will give you lots of ideas and ways to CLEAN IT UP!!!! Stay inspired and GET ER DONE!
What is your best clean-up tip! Please share!
If you like this post you might also like:
HOW TO CLEAN YOUR HOME IN 30 MINUTES
10 TIPS FOR CLEANING MESSY SPACES IN YOUR HOME
Great tips and beautiful photos, as always.
Good ideas, Yvonne! Can you tell me a little about the floor vacuum? Have a great week! Thanks for the tips and sharing.
I use two vacuums. The one in the image is my Dirt Devil. I love it! Quick clean up, for sure! I also have a Shark. It has amazing suction. Hope this helps.
I’m interested in what floor vacuum you use as well:)
Hi Dawn, I use two vacuums. The dirt devil because I love the attachments and the shark.
The after-party clean up help is right-on. Can you tell me what the red vacuum-type floor equipment being used in your post is this morning? I have a built-in whole house vacuum but your equipment has some kind of a rag/pad attached. Is it a steamer? Brand/type name please. Also what is the paint color again you have in your living/dining room, please. Love your decor.
Hi Vicki, The vacuum you are talking about is my Dirt Devil. It has a mop plus suction that I love to clean up crumbs, dust and foot prints. Great for after party clean up!
I love the the link for using dish pans. I will be adding this to my clean up routine.
I notice you have a Dirt Devil in one of the pictures. Do you recommend this for wood floors? (I have been looking for a vacuum for easy and quick cleaning of my wood floors.)
Yes, I love my dirt devil. Easy on wood floors!
Gorgeous as always Yvonne!
Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!. My question was the same as the other ladies., it seems we all zoomed in on the red little devil doing some work., could you give us info on it. And if it’s a good choice for wood/tile and just an all around “suck it up” 🙂 have a great day!!
See the post above and the post: HOW TO CLEAN YOUR HOME IN 30 MINUTES. Here’s the link: https://www.stonegableblog.com/clean-house-in-half-hour-a-day/
Where did you get your beautiful scroll looking white plates?
Hi Mari, they came from HomeGoods a few years ago.
You are so right Yvonne…hubby & I could get it all done by ourselves a few years ago. Now I never refuse help and look forward to getting to know my guest better or just enjoy time with the helpful person. I love to entertain and have used your dishpan suggestion for a couple of big family meals. It is a great idea! My family has a lot of stories about my organizational style, but the dishpan is a favorite teaser! Thanks for the suggestion…Happy Easter blessings, Cheryl Ann
I adopted your dish pan idea when you first posted it several holidays ago and it’ has made my life so much easier! We entertain alot and I invested in four dish pans that are identical. I keep them in storage until the day of the event and then they are put to use! Great investment! My next investment is the red dirt devil!
Or you could clean the table like I did once . . . I was standing on the porch waving goodbye to guests, and turned around and looked through the glass doors to see what they were laughing about, and I saw my Beagle walking around the formal dining room table, helping clean everything up! . . . AAAGGHHHH!!!!!
OH MY GOODNESS! This made me laugh out loud! Now that is one unique way of cleaning off a table! So glad you shared!
Great tips. I love getting ready for a party but the cleanup is the pits. I always listen to good music while cleaning. It makes things a lot more enjoyable and gives me a boost of energy.
You always have such great systematic ways of doing thing and accomplishing them…..Hope you had a most joyous Easter Yvonne!
Hi Yvonne, thanks for the tips! I need to use the one of “letting guests help out” more often. When I go places I like to help the hostess straighten up; I know all the work there is to parties. I need to let others, or even ask others to help with the light duty stuff. Good idea to draw the line at loading the dishwasher. We all have our own way!
HI, Yvonne,
Always enjoy your tips. But today I must ask: where did you get the checkered apron?
I think I got the checked apron from HomeGoods.
Always the kitchen first – you are so right! I tend to leave everything apart from putting food away till the morning, It gets done in half the time.
I love the music idea too, that always helps!
Your kitchen is the favorite room for me ! I just love it all…..
Thanks for sharing these wonderful tips!
Your organizational skills are remarkable and time effective to say the least. My husband and I hate getting up to an “after party”mess so we go through the room to room clean up also. One thing I do is grab all kitchen and bathroom towels used and throw them in to wash. Oh my goodness I use and wash more darn towels than anyone I know….Lol!
Yvonne — my comment/question is totally unrelated to your post (permit me, please).
I’m in the market for a new, farmhouse style dining table. I love your table and believe the top is zinc. Right? How is that holding up, and how to you cleanse it?
I’m debating between zinc, copper, or live wood topped.
Thanks for your input.
I love your clean up tips and how you have it all together and your home is beautiful
Hello, as always your home is perfect! Love everything about it but especially love the rug under your dining room table, where is that from? Thanks