Part of what makes the festivities fun in Malaysia are the get-togethers, even though the pandemic has changed the rules for how these are done.
Still, there is always joy when friends and family come over to celebrate the season. That said, the part nobody likes is the cleaning up!
If you are expecting company in the next few days, fret not – these tips will get you through the post-holiday cleaning easily and efficiently.
1. Clean as you go
You don’t need to wait until after the party – the best way to tackle messes is to get them early. Spills, stains, and breakages should be dealt with immediately to reduce the risk of injury and damage.
Pick up food scraps, sweep up crumbs, and throw away the trash as it builds. Keep paper towels and cleaning cloths handy.
And don’t worry about looking like a worrywart – your guests will understand.
2. Strategise
Cleaning up your whole house after a party can be overwhelming. Everything is in disarray, so where do you even start? Festivities can also take up the whole day and run late into the night.
Tackle the cleaning one area at a time by breaking the chores into smaller, more manageable tasks. Some things need to be dealt with immediately; others can wait until you feel more energetic and focused.
Prioritise certain cleaning areas according to the amount and nature of the mess, or even by how often you’ll use a particular room.
3. Deal with food waste
Among the things you need to deal with right away is trash, food waste, and leftovers. Often, guests are only too happy to “tapau” any leftover food, especially the tasty, festive ones.
If you’re still left with food after your guests have left, make sure to store it properly before it goes bad or attracts pests.
4. Throw away the trash
From food waste to wrappers and general trash, garbage tends to build up the more people there are and the more festive things become.
Round rubbish up quickly and bag it securely, and be particularly careful of food scraps that could spill and attract pests. Separate the recyclables as you go.
Preferably, throw out your garbage into the receptacle outside your house as soon as you can to reduce the clutter and trash inside your home.
5. Tackle guest areas
The messiest parts of your house are clearly the areas guests have occupied. These may include the kitchen, dining hall, living room, and front porch.
Give these spaces a thorough sweeping, and wipe down areas where food was served to get rid of crumbs and scraps.
You could also lightly clean the bathrooms, and do a more thorough clean later.
6. Do a simpler tidy-up
If you cannot handle a deep clean, tidy up your home with a brisk sweep, vacuum and wipe. Shake out the bedding, sofas and linen before vacuuming to eliminate crumbs and scraps, and wipe surfaces to remove stains and greasy fingerprints.
Rearrange and replace furniture, and stow away party decorations, extra chairs and festive setups to return your space to its normal homeliness.
7. Be prepared
The key to success is proper preparation before and after the party. Freshen up your house before the festivities. Allow guests access to only certain areas.
If washing-up is a chore, consider using disposable tablecloths, plates and cutlery. Take stock of the kind of activities and food you’ll be having, the number of guests, and the schedule of events to plan your cleanup strategy.
This article first appeared in kaodim.com.
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