The festive season is upon us. And whether it’s around the braai area or the dining room table—if you’ll be playing host there are a couple of things you’ll need to think of to ensure that the festivities are a success. You need to consider who are you inviting and when, what will you be serving and what people need to bring.
That’s the fun part. The downside to hosting festive parties is that you are also responsible for the daunting task of cleaning up. Fortunately, playing host does not have to be a burden as there are many ways to make this part of the planning a whole lot easier for yourself.
These six post-party cleaning hacks will help you get your home spick-and-span, ensuring a night of fun without stressing about the mess.
Out of sight, out of mind
Put out a few bins or bin bags in obvious places in your home. People are much more likely to drop something in the bin if they know where it is. If they have to wander around to find one, on the other hand, it’s definitely more likely that they’ll just pop things down on the nearest surface. This might seem simple, but it will save you a lot of time having to wander around your house collecting bottle caps, serviettes, and beer cans.
Get your guests to help
Sadly, it’s not great host manners to put your guests to work as they’re trying to be on their way out the door. But you can host a potluck party, inviting your guests to each bring a dish or plate of snacks with them. That way, you save on the chaos of making everything for everyone in your own kitchen and your guests will take their dishes home with them.
Get help from a pro
There’s an app for almost everything these days, including for booking an ad hoc cleaner for the day. Consider connecting with a SweepStar through the SweepSouth app to clean your kitchen, bathrooms and just generally ensure there’s no sticky drink or food residue on any surfaces and floors. You can even select to have your fridge, oven, or windows cleaned. You just choose your tasks and your SweepStar will arrive on the day to take care of everything for you for the required hours. If you have a hangover, despite your best intentions, you’ll be especially grateful you thought ahead.
Remember what your mother taught you
You might not use a tablecloth for day-to-day home dinners, as most people don’t. But there was a time when eating at an unclothed table was considered uncouth. A tablecloth can be especially useful for parties as it keeps your surfaces clean and you can simply throw it in the washing machine after the last guests have left. Or, if you opt for disposable, just wrap up any other rubbish on the table in the tablecloth and put the whole thing in the bin.
Post-party clean-up begins pre-party
You could always start the process before your party even begins. How, you ask? There are many small things you can do in advance to ensure the next day clean-up is swift and painless. Make sure your dishwasher is empty so all you need to do is load it and push start (you can even put a tablet in there to remove another small step). Put out coasters (which some people might actually use, hopefully). You can even put out disposable cups and plates for your guests, so all you have to do is throw them away and wipe a few surfaces.
Have any leftovers?
Take a look at what you have lying around your house after the party. Did anyone leave any remnants of spirits or mixers in a bottle in a corner, or in the fridge perhaps? Believe it or not, vodka can deodorise, disinfect, and it’s excellent for making glassware and metals shine. You’ll probably want to use cheaper brands for these particular tasks, but a smidge of the bottom-shelf, best-served-with-a-mixer variety could come in handy. Similarly, Coca-Cola is great for removing thick grease on surfaces or in pots and pans.
Images: Unsplash
