How to Clean Your Kitchen After a Holiday Party

Guests and holidays. It can be fun for everyone. Unless, of course, they’re your mother-in-law.

Nonetheless, cooking delicious food is a must for these types of gatherings. Naturally, your oven will work overtime, and your cooking skills will be tested.

So, you’ve impressed your guests with delicious treats, even the dreaded mother-in-law. Congratulations! Now the holiday party’s over, and you can relax. Unless, of course, you go over and see the state of your kitchen

First off, don’t panic! Every holiday season is like that. Below, we’ll explore in detail the best tips on how to deal with the post-party mess in your kitchen without you having to exert too much effort.

Gear up for Cleaning

To save your sanity, it’s best to work with a list. Put together an inventory that includes everything you need. Make sure you have enough trash bags, sponges, all-purpose cleaners, etc.

In this sense, you can avoid running back and forth to retrieve a missing object while in the flow of cleaning.

Consider using green cleaners and reusable tools to contribute to the environment while you are at it.

Once you get your cleaning kit ready, remove any random items that do not belong in the kitchen. Next, save as much as you can from that leftover food. You worked hard to make it and you definitely don’t want to toss it. That will make your mother-in-law happy.

Lastly, put on some comfortable clothes and, even better, some relaxing music. It’s time to delve straight in and deal with the mess head-on!

Tackle the Dishes First

Getting the dirty dishes out of the way first is a smart move to clear the countertops so you can easily polish them later.

Begin by soaking grimy plates, pots, and cutlery in scorching-hot, soapy water to dislodge any firmly stuck residue. This will make them much easier to scrub clean.

Set up a dish drying station to ensure that everything is safely stored until they are completely dry. Your family or flatmates can help. If possible, include them in this task to lighten your load.

Clear the Countertops

Now that the cooking and eating utensils are taken care of, remove any remaining objects, including compact appliances like toasters and kettles. That way, you will successfully declutter your counters and have ample space to thoroughly clean the surface.

Dispose of countertop trash as you go to tidy up the place. Next, grab a cleaning solution and wipe away any crumbs, spills, or splatter. Remember to go over hard-to-reach areas, like those beneath built-in appliances, with a damp cloth.

This is your chance to reorganise your kitchen as needed, so feel free to play around with your appliance placement.

Focus on the Floor

Parties are often bad news for the floor. We honestly hope you’re the exception to the rule. We really do. But just in case you aren’t, you should shift your attention to it. Begin by sweeping the floor to remove any visible debris.

A reliable broom should work just fine, but keep your vacuum cleaner handy to clean your carpets, if you have any, and reach those tight corners and hard-to-reach areas.

After sweeping, it is time to mop. A quick-drying cleaner will minimise the wait time if you have another holiday party to get to.

If you prefer to use a green solution, simply mix one part white vinegar with three parts warm water. For a permeating, refreshing aroma, add a few drops of lavender or lemon essential oil.

This concoction is both affordable and environmentally friendly.

Leaving the floor till the end would be wise. That way, you can avoid the need for repeated cleanings should any food residue or dust fall onto them while you are wiping the counters.

Clean Appliances Efficiently

Extended care is necessary to ensure that your refrigerator and other appliances continue to operate efficiently. It is the only way to prevent staleness and stifling odours.

First off, discard expired or unsalvageable food items. Then, use your vinegar and water mixture to wipe down shelves, drawers, and door surfaces. This effectively eradicates splatter and grime while preventing nasty residual smells.

Turn your attention next to the oven and microwave, where grease and grime could have accumulated. Using a baking soda and water paste, scrub these surfaces clean.

For sustained, smooth operation, expert cleaners recommend using natural cleaning ingredients or specialised products.

Wipe Down Fittings and Fixtures

Ah, the little things. After all, we made it this far, so we might as well pay attention to the fittings and fixtures as well.

Before you groan, think about how nice they’d look after a rubdown. Moreover, think about how easy it is. It merely requires you to take a damp cloth and just do it for a few minutes.

The result will be amazing, and more importantly, you’ll feel great after doing it.

As for mirrors and glass objects, a specialised cleaner will give them a streak-free shine.

Use a microfibre towel to clean taps and sinks. They are also great for wiping stainless steel fixtures, so give those a go as well. Its silky fabric removes finger smudges and water stains from hard surfaces without scratching them.

Practise Responsible Waste Disposal

Let’s face it, no one likes waste nor dealing with it. Still, doing a little bit and going the extra mile to sort your trash responsibly goes a long way to helping the already suffering planet not get its landfills bogged down any more than it has to.

Moreover, proper garbage disposal ensures no lingering unpleasant smells. Your home will look and feel much better. So, sort your waste into compost, recyclables, and plain old trash.

But don’t stop there. Opt for biodegradable bags as well. They’ll reduce your carbon footprint significantly over time, and won’t take hundreds of years to decompose like standard plastic bags.

We don’t mean to sound preachy, but you would likely agree that when everyone does their part, the planet will be a much nicer and cleaner place for everyone to live in and enjoy.

Prevent Future Messes

Being ready pays off big time. You already know that, after all. But just in case you forgot, having a strategy to deal with the impending chaos of post-holiday cleanup is a must. And no other tool can save your sanity here as much as a checklist.

Write everything you need to do, the order in which to do it, and cross off items one by one. Thus, you’ll ensure you won’t miss or forget anything.

Ensure you have enough recyclable plates and compostable cups for the occasion. Ignore your mother-in-law’s anachronic comments about that. After all, you care about the environment, and she’s at your place. Your home, your rules.

Next, set up a spot for easy waste disposal. Your guests will then discard their trash themselves, thus saving you the effort of doing everything by yourself.

Lastly, include some sort of daily cleaning schedule as well. Doing a little bit every day helps you avoid doing everything all at once, which is frankly quite overwhelming.

Conclusion

You could be feeling already overwhelmed by your hosting assignments, so getting the kitchen in order after a lavish party can seem like an unnecessary burden.

Start by getting all your cleaning gear ready. Focus on the important spots, like the counters and floors, first, and make sure you toss out the trash the right way.

If you get into the habit of tidying up every day, cleaning after parties will not be as dreadful. It is understandable that you would not feel up for it during the holidays, though. In that case, you can always hire professional cleaners.