Hosting a dinner party can be a fun experience. You get to spend quality time with friends and family, enjoy delicious food, and create lasting memories. However, once the guests have left, you’re often faced with a messy home that needs some serious cleaning. Tackling the post-dinner party cleanup doesn’t have to be a dreadful chore. With some planning and efficient cleaning methods, you can get your home sparkling clean again in no time. Here are some helpful tips for cleaning your home after hosting a dinner party.
Create a Cleaning Schedule
The key to efficient post-party cleanup is being organised. Take some time beforehand to make a cleaning schedule that assigns specific cleaning tasks to be done at certain times. You can use a cleaning schedule template to help with this.
Your schedule should include both time-sensitive tasks like washing dishes and removing rubbish, as well as less urgent tasks like vacuuming, dusting, and mopping which can wait until the next morning. Having a plan will help you methodically work through the cleaning and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Make your cleaning schedule realistic and don’t plan to do too much in one session. You’ll be tired after hosting, so focus first on the must-do tasks before going to bed like tidying surfaces, loading the dishwasher, and taking out the trash. Save more intensive cleaning like scrubbing pots and pans for the next day.
Deal with Leftovers Promptly
One of the most important post-party cleaning tasks is dealing with food mess and leftovers. Leaving leftover food sitting out can lead to dead bugs, strange smells, and bacterial growth in your kitchen.
First, consolidate all unused food into containers with tight lids. Then pack up any party leftovers your guests didn’t take home so you can enjoy them for lunch tomorrow.
Don’t forget to toss any food sitting out that may have spoiled like dairy products or cooked vegetables. Taking care of leftovers right away prevents odours and keeps your kitchen sanitary.
Load the Dishwasher
Stacking a towering pile of dirty dishes in the sink after a dinner party is a recipe for disaster. All that stuck-on food will be much harder to clean once it dries on plates and cookware.
As soon as your guests leave, start rinsing dishes and loading them directly into the dishwasher. Don’t leave clean dishes sitting in the dishwasher – go ahead and run a full cycle so everything is cleaned and put away.
Handwash any items that aren’t dishwasher safe, like your good china and stemware. Check the sink and dish drain for stray utensils too. Getting all the dishes cleaned and put away ASAP means waking up to a sparkling clean kitchen.
Tidy Surfaces
While it’s natural for some clutter and spills to accumulate on surfaces during a party, you’ll want to tidy up before calling it a night.
Start by clearing off countertops and other surfaces in the kitchen, removing everything that doesn’t belong. Next, clean counters by either using an antibacterial surface spray or dilute bleach solution. Allow to air dry.
In other rooms, quickly straighten sofa cushions, clear coffee tables of glasses, and return out of place items to their proper locations. This simple tidying makes the space feel instantly more organised.
Deal with Spills and Sticky Surfaces
Even if you avoid any major mishaps, small spills and sticky surfaces from food and drink are inevitable when hosting a dinner party.
Tackle any spills right away by blotting liquid then using an all-purpose cleaner on the spot. For sticky areas or spills on carpets, use a mix of dish soap and warm water. This lifts away sugary residue from spills. Just don’t oversaturate carpets.
Using disinfecting wipes, go over doorknobs, light switches, and appliance handles which can collect stickiness and germs during a party. This removes traces of dirt and gives everything a quick sanitising clean.
Vacuum Thoroughly
Even if you vacuum right before having guests over, carpets and rugs will likely need attention again after a dinner party. All of those shoes walking around leads to crumbs, dirt, and debris ground into your carpets.
It’s best to give all carpets and rugs a thorough vacuum the day after entertaining, when you have more time and energy. Use the crevice tool along baseboards and under furniture too.
Vacuuming not only removes dirt you can see but lifts away crumbs, allergens and microparticles deep down in carpet fibres as well. Your carpets will look renewed for your own enjoyment once your company is gone.
Follow Up with a Deep Clean
While you probably won’t have the time or energy for deep cleaning right after a dinner party, follow up in the next couple of days with some more intensive scrubbing.
Tackle all those sticky spots on cabinets and do a thorough disinfecting. Move appliances and clean underneath. Scrub down the stovetop and oven or run the self-cleaning cycle. Wash any throw pillows or blankets left out during the party.
Following up with a deep clean ensures any hidden grime or odours from entertaining are fully eliminated. Then your home will truly feel clean and fresh again.
Enjoy a Clean Home
Entertaining for dinner guests is meant to be an enjoyable experience for hosts and guests alike. Don’t let the aftermath dampen the fun memories made at your party. With a logical cleaning approach and efficient methods, you can get your home looking spotless again quickly. Be sure to schedule time to relax and take pride in your sparkling clean home after all your hard prep and hospitality efforts.
