Post-holiday cleaning: reset the house after guests leave
Post-holiday cleaning goes fastest in this order: food and trash the night of, the kitchen the next morning, then the guest bedroom and bathroom, then the living room, and the floors last. Do it in that order and a house that hosted twenty people is back to normal in a morning instead of a week.
From Thanksgiving through New Year's, a lot of families host more than once. This is the reset we'd do after each one.
What should you do the night of?
Only four things, before bed:
- Put the food away. Leftovers go into shallow containers and into the fridge. Don't leave platters out overnight.
- Start the dishwasher. Hand-wash what can't go in, and fill the roasting pan with hot water and dish soap to soak overnight.
- Take out the trash and recycling. Food trash left in the kitchen is what the house smells like in the morning.
- Wipe the counters. Spills that dry overnight take far more scrubbing.
Leave the rest. You'll do it faster with daylight and coffee.
How do you reset the kitchen?
- Go through the fridge. Toss what nobody will eat in the next couple of days, wipe up drips on the shelves, and label what stays.
- Scrub the roasting pan. After the overnight soak, a lot of it lifts with a non-scratch pad. For what's left, a paste of baking soda and water and a bit of patience.
- Degrease the stovetop. Spray, let it sit five minutes, wipe. Lift the grates and burner caps and soak them in the sink.
- Deal with oven spills later. Once it's cool, spread a baking soda paste on the spill and leave it overnight. Don't run the self-clean cycle the day before more guests arrive. It smokes and smells.
- Wipe the cabinet fronts and handles. Holiday cooking leaves greasy fingerprints everywhere at hand height.
- Mop last.
How do you turn over the guest room and bathroom?
Strip the bed as soon as the guests leave and start the wash with the towels. Then:
- Vacuum the mattress along the seams with the upholstery tool.
- Empty the trash and the nightstand drawer.
- Dust the nightstand and dresser, and wipe the mirror.
- In the bathroom: toilet, sink, counter, mirror, shower and floor, then fresh towels and a new roll of toilet paper.
- Make the bed with clean sheets so it's ready for the next round.
How do you get the living room back?
Pine needles and glitter
Use the vacuum's hose attachment for needles, not the beater bar. They jam it. For glitter on furniture, a lint roller works; on hard floors, a damp paper towel picks it up instead of spreading it.
Candle wax
Harden it with an ice cube and scrape off what you can with a dull knife or an old gift card. Lay a paper towel over what's left and press with a warm iron. The towel pulls the wax out as it melts. Move to a clean spot of towel as it soaks through.
Red wine on carpet or upholstery
Blot, never rub. Use a clean white cloth and press from the outside of the stain in. Then blot with cold water and a drop of dish soap, rinse with plain water, and blot until dry. Test any stain remover somewhere hidden first. Wool and silk rugs are a call for a rug cleaner.
Throws, pillows and the couch
Wash the throws, fluff and rotate the cushions, and vacuum under them. That's where the cracker crumbs from the kids' table went.
What about the floors and the entryway?
Floors go last, always, because everything above them drops something.
Around here, the holiday season is also when the road salt comes out. Salt tracked in on boots leaves a white film on hardwood and tile. Vacuum the grit first, then damp-mop with warm water and a small splash of white vinegar, and dry it. A boot tray and a real doormat at every door cut a lot of it before it starts.
How do you put the decorations away so next year is easier?
Wipe ornaments and decorations before they go into storage, so you're not unpacking last year's dust. Pack by room and label the bins. Wrap lights around a piece of cardboard so they don't come out knotted. Vacuum the spot where the tree stood, and check the base of the walls for needles.
Should you book a cleaning before or after hosting?
Both, if you can.
Before, book Deep Cleaning, PureRenewal, a few days ahead of the guests. That's when the baseboards are hand wiped, the doors and door frames, light switches and handles are done, the stovetop is degreased, cabinet fronts are wiped with the hardware detailed, and the guest bathroom tub, shower and tiled walls are scrubbed with the soap scum and grout treated. Every item on the list is cleaned whether or not it looks like it needs it.
After, a Fixed-hour Special: 2 hours with two cleaners for $198, 3 hours for $298, or 4 hours for $398. See the cleaning specials.
The practical tip: book the after-party clean when you plan the party. When you submit the booking form, it sends a booking request. The appointment is confirmed after the details are reviewed and an available cleaning professional is matched, and the confirmation comes by email and text. You don't need to be home, which helps if you're traveling to family the next day.
For the rest of the year, see how to maintain a clean kitchen.
FAQ
What should I clean first after hosting a holiday? Food and trash, the same night. Put leftovers away, run the dishwasher, soak the roasting pan and take the trash and recycling out. Everything else can wait until morning.
How do I get candle wax off a tablecloth? Harden the wax with an ice cube, scrape off what you can with a dull knife, then lay a paper towel over the rest and press with a warm iron. The paper pulls the wax out as it melts.
How do I get red wine out of carpet? Blot it right away with a clean white cloth, never rub. Then blot with cold water and a drop of dish soap, rinse with plain water, and blot dry. Test any stain remover in a hidden spot first.
Should I book a cleaning before or after hosting? Both, if you can. A deep clean a few days before the guests arrive takes care of the spots people notice.
Do I need to be home for the cleaning? No. Entry, alarm, parking, pet and lock-up instructions can be provided in advance.
Book your reset
We clean homes across South Jersey and Central Jersey. Book online at tinascleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (609) 831-4455.
