» Tidy dancers
After a great party comes the inevitable clean-up. Here are our top tips for a stress-free morning after.
The winter party season is upon us. From Halloween through to New Year’s Eve, each weekend seems to hold something worth celebrating… and an eternal hangover. Hosts be warned: nothing makes a hangover worse than postparty clear-up blues. Awakening to cigarette butts in the goldfish bowl, something unidentifiable in the bathroom and wine stains on the carpet can turn a pounding head into a full-blown case of man ‘flu. Planning some festive fun? Send not a single invitation till you’ve read our indispensable guide to keeping it clean…
Pre-party planning
First things first: be prepared. If you’re hosting a party, limit the potential for any damage before you even start. Roll up the rugs, put away your knick-knacks and stash anything you don’t want on public display (or that you don’t intend for consumption: an aged parent’s vintage Cognac, for example). Tidy up bathrooms and lavatories, bearing in mind that your bathroom cabinet and toiletries are fair game whenever (a) a houseful of people have had more than three glasses of wine or (b) bored children or teenagers are present.
Stock up on bin liners, cleaning products and so on when you buy the party supplies – that way, no-one has to see your hungover, un-groomed self in PJ-bottoms and uggs at the corner shop the next morning.
The morning after
Wake any house-guests, arm them with bin bags and send them off on a reconnaissance of each room: Pick up rubbish and report back on damage. Bribing with a cooked breakfast at the end may be helpful (or it may not, depending on combinations and quantities of alcohol consumed). Open lots of windows, burn a citrus-based candle or oil to banish party smells and get cleaning.
Emergency fixes
Most stains can be treated: blot beer spills with a kitchen towel, add some white vinegar solution (1/3 vinegar, 2/3 water), blot again and clean with a fabric cleaner. Red wine should be sponged with white wine and then cleaned. Candle wax spills should be scraped, covered in brown paper and gently ironed off, and burn holes (oh dear) should be trimmed and patched.
Call in the experts
Sometimes, it all gets a bit too much. For any serious breakages or damage, phone around and get some expert quotes. The really savvy host, if they have a little cash to spare, would be well advised to book a professional clean in the days following a party: A really good deep clean will leave you wondering if the party ever happened. Most agencies will accommodate a weekend booking for the right price, leaving you free to pop out for a quick hair of the dog. After all, it is the party season.
