So, you threw a party. Or maybe just a small gathering that somehow spiralled into a full-scale event. Either way, your place now looks like a battlefield littered with solo cups. Cleaning up might feel overwhelming, but not all is lost. There’s a way to get your space back in order without collapsing into an existential crisis.
Start Before the Party Ends
Cleaning while the party is still happening might sound counterintuitive. In reality, it’s a game changer. A few sneaky clean-up moves could make all the difference. Before you even think about calling it a night, take a quick lap around the room and collect all the obvious trash. That includes empty bottles, discarded napkins, and stray plates you will find in the most inconvenient places.
Do yourself a favour, and stack the dishes, shove leftovers in the fridge, and do a quick wipe-down of any sticky surfaces. The longer you let things sit, the more daunting the clean-up becomes. Getting ahead of the mess means waking up to a far less chaotic scene, which in turn makes it less likely you’ll stare at the destruction and consider moving house instead of dealing with it.
Tackle the Smells First
The morning after a party, the first thing you notice isn’t usually the mess, but rather the smell. Stale champagne, food remnants, and that unidentifiable combination of sweat and spilled cocktails make for a truly unpleasant sensory assault.
Before diving into the physical clean-up, open the windows wide and let some fresh air in. Ventilation does wonders and if you have candles or essential oils, do light them up.
Coffee grounds in a small bowl will work like a charm for absorbing lingering odours, so make sure to prepare it in advance if possible. Sorting out the smell first makes everything else feel a little less painful, which is important when motivation is already running on fumes.
Divide and Conquer
Looking at the entire mess all at once can be overwhelming. The best approach is to break it down into zones: kitchen, living room, bathroom, and outdoor area (if you were feeling particularly ambitious). Instead of running around aimlessly, focus on one section at a time.
Think of it as unlocking different levels of a game, so try to complete one before moving to the next. This method stops you from getting halfway through cleaning five different areas and then losing steam. It’s also incredibly satisfying to finish one zone completely before moving on, creating a sense of accomplishment that keeps you going.
Can an Event Management Agency Help?
If the idea of dealing with the aftermath of a party makes you want to disappear into another dimension, hiring a professional event management agency such as Veritas Events might be worth considering. While most people think of these agencies as planners, many also offer post-event services, including professional clean-up.
Not every agency includes clean-up in their standard packages, but that’s not a problem. Organisational skills from event management agencies can significantly reduce the mess at parties. Their experience in planning and logistics means they structure events in a way that naturally minimises chaos. So, either way, hiring an event manager is a win-win.
The Trash Grab
Before you get into scrubbing or rearranging, the easiest and most effective way to make an instant visual improvement is to remove all the obvious rubbish. Grab a garbage bag and do a sweep through every room, picking up cups, napkins, snack wrappers, and abandoned plates.
If you hosted a big group, consider separating recyclables from general waste. This is an extra step, but it’s worth it for the planet. This stage is quick but incredibly rewarding because once the visible clutter is gone, the space already looks ten times better, making the rest of the clean-up feel more manageable.
Dishwasher: Your Best Friend
If you had the audacity to use real plates and glasses instead of disposable ones, then good on you for keeping it classy. Now, into the dishwasher, they go. If you don’t have one, fill the sink with hot, soapy water and let things soak while you focus on other tasks.
Letting the grime loosen on its own makes the actual scrubbing infinitely easier. Working smarter, not harder, is the goal here. If you had guests helping themselves to coffee or cocktails, don’t forget to check for mugs and glasses that somehow ended up in completely nonsensical places. Party logic is truly a mystery.
Tackle the Stains Before They Set
Ignoring stains is a rookie mistake. Once they settle in, they become permanent fixtures, and you really don’t need a red wine reminder of last night’s chaos staining your carpet forever. The faster you deal with them, the better. Baking soda and vinegar work wonders on most carpet stains, while cold water and dish soap handle most fabrics.
If you’re dealing with something particularly stubborn, hydrogen peroxide can be a lifesaver. Just make sure to patch-test first unless you want to replace your rug entirely. Blot, don’t rub. Rubbing just spreads the mess and embeds it further into the fibres, which is exactly the opposite of what you want.
The Bathroom Situation
Post-party bathrooms are their own special kind of disaster zone. If you had more than a handful of people over, it’s highly likely your bathroom is in shambles. The good news is, it’s small, so it doesn’t take much time to restore order.
Grab disinfectant wipes and give the sink, counters, and toilet a quick clean. Swap out the hand towel because, at this point, it’s probably damp and suspicious. If there’s a funky smell, a small bowl of baking soda or even a lit candle can freshen things up. No one wants to deal with a grimy bathroom, but it’s one of the easiest things to fix, and the difference is instant.
The Floors Deserve Love Too
Sticky floors are a universal sign of a successful party, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer them for long. Before mopping, do a quick sweep or vacuum to get rid of crumbs, dirt, and whatever debris people tracked in. Once that’s done, hit it with a mop or some floor wipes to restore some dignity to your space.
If you have carpet, cover it in baking soda, give it some time to absorb odours, and clean it all up. This trick works wonders for freshening up soft surfaces that have seen better days.
Reward Yourself
Once everything is back in order, take a moment to appreciate your hard work. Brew yourself a coffee, take a long shower, or collapse onto the couch and revel in the restored calm.
If you want to be extra kind to your future self, make a mental note to encourage guests to help out a little before they leave next time. Though that’s usually just wishful thinking. Either way, now you know how to clean up like a pro, minus the stress and the unnecessary suffering.
Conclusion
Cleaning up after a party doesn’t have to be a dreaded ordeal. With a little strategy and a step-by-step approach, you can turn what seems like an overwhelming mess into a manageable task. The key is to stay ahead of the chaos where possible, tackle the worst offenders first, and break things down into sections so you don’t burn out halfway through. Sure, you might swear off hosting for a while, but let’s be real, you’ll do it all over again soon.
