Tips and tricks to make cleaning up after a party much easier

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The party went smashingly well – so well you missed the part where your house turned into chaos. Quit cursing yourself for not having stored away the breakables, for having served dipping sauce and no napkins, and not having made everyone remove their shoes at the door. The damage is already done.

Thankfully, we have some hacks to make the morning-after clean up that bit less painful. So easy you can even do them with a hangover.

1. Clear broken glass with bread

An errant elbow. A poor grip. An overexcited hand gesture during drunken conversation. Even if you’re not particularly clumsy, broken glass is inevitable at a party. Deal with the situation by first putting on your dishwashing gloves. Pick up the largest pieces, wrapping them in newspaper before putting in the bin. Then vacuum the area – don’t use a broom as it will sweep up any strays. Finish by pressing a slice of bread – good old white, not artisanal sourdough – against the ground to draw up any small slivers.

2. Clean your blender by switching it on again

Can’t get the smell of margarita mix out of your blender? Fill it with a warm detergent solution and blend on high speed for 15 seconds. Rinse and allow to dry.

3. Treat puke patches with bicarb soda

First, clear as much of the solid matter as you can with paper towels. Then douse the stain with bicarb soda and a little bit of warm water and allow it to soak in. Blot with an old towel, adding more water until it’s gone. Follow this up with a warm detergent solution and leave to dry. Once dry, take care of the smell by covering with bicarb soda, leaving overnight and vacuuming in the morning.

Use bicarb soda and a little bit of warm water to get rid of puke patches. Photo: Stocksy

4. Get rid of that after-party odour

Does your house reek of beer and stale cigarettes? Fill a saucepan with water and boil with a sliced lemon, sprig of rosemary and teaspoon of vanilla extract. Leave on the stove and allow it to simmer until your house smells heavenly again.

5. Clean the BBQ with an onion

Want a chemical-free grill cleaner? Try rubbing it down with an onion. Ensure the grill is hot, to burn down any remaining food particle, then rub it hard with an onion, cut in half and stuck on the end of a fork.

6. Unclog your drain with Alka-Seltzer

If you have a slight blockage due to unidentified foodstuffs, try dropping four tablets of Alka-Seltzer down the sink. Follow this up by pouring a cup of white vinegar down there, too. Wait for 10 minutes, then rinse with boiling water. That should agitate and gently dissolve anything too greasy down your pipes. This also works as a toilet cleaner. Simply drop four tablets down, wait 20 minutes, then brush and flush.

7. Watch water rings disappear

Wood furniture looks great – until someone forgets to use a coaster. Turn your hair dryer on the mark, using a high setting and holding it close to the stain. Watch as it disappears, then buff with a soft cloth and a tiny bit of olive oil to moisturise the wood.

8. Clear evidence of a spilt candle

Got candle wax on your tablecloth? Allow it to dry, then scrape away any excess. Cover the stain with a kitchen towel and iron on a low-medium heat, being careful not to burn. The wax will instantly lift.

Start the clean up as soon as the party is over. Photo: Stocksy

9. Clean your couch

Hesitant to sit on your couch after seeing what it went through the night before? Spray it with rubbing alcohol to eliminate any bacteria that may be camping out in the crevices. Sprinkling it with bicarb soda, leaving for a few hours, then vacuuming also helps to deodorise.

10. Save the dregs

Leftover wine? Freeze in ice-cube trays so you can use them in your next spag bol. Flat club soda? Use to water your houseplants. The sodium phosphate it contains is said to promote growth and root development. The dregs of a cheese board? Consolidate the rinds and ends to make a cheese-end fondue.

11. Treat spillages before bed

Attend to them before they set. Grease on tablecloth? Sprinkle the spot with cornflour. Leave for 10 minutes, then remove the flour and sponge the area with water, blotting away the mark. Red wine spillage? Extract from your carpets, rugs and shirts with salt and club soda. Blot with a clean tea towel and allow to dry. Then vacuum or launder as usual.

12. Budge stubborn lipstick stains

Got swipes of lipstick on your favourite cloth napkins or hand towels? Spray the stain with hairspray, allow it to set for 10 minutes, then dab away at it with a damp cloth. Toss into your washing machine when done.

Freeze any leftover wine in ice-cube trays so you can use them in your next spag bol. Photo: Stocksy

13. Save those scorched pans

Too many drinks inspired some late-night cooking? Save yourself some serious elbow grease by filling the bottom with a cup of white vinegar and water. Allow to simmer for a few minutes. Remove from heat and add two tablespoons of bicarb soda to the mix. This should dislodge some of the grease and crud before you scrub it clean with an old toothbrush.

14. Remove fingerprints from your appliances

Got smudges all over your shiny fridge door? When wiping stainless steel, always ensure you move in the direction of the grain. And if the clean up itself leaves streaks, rub a bit of olive oil into it and buff with a soft cloth.

15. Next time, prep ahead

And yes, there will be a next time. Minimise the morning-after clean up by preparing before the party. Clear worktops, empty the dishwasher, double bag your bins and store away breakables. And if you can, start the clean up as soon as it’s over. The smell of stale food and beer – while hungover – is going to hurt you come morning.