BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Cleaning Cleaning up after a party...

Is actually partially done DURING the party!

See the article all about it here!

Actually, I like to wait until the party is over so I can visit with my guests. It kinda bugs me when my sisters rush to clean up and make me feel obligated to help and miss out on the socializing!

I'm with you - I just wait 'til the party is over. Sometimes a friend or two will stay and help but if they don't that's OK.

Nope, not me ladies. I have to start cleaning before and yes, it bothers the guest I'm sure cause they keep saying things like, "Kim, girl come on over and have a seat" and I'm like, "naw, I've gotta' do this now, 'cause I'll be too exhausted later". But, I have found a way to do this and socialize. Clean a little, sit and chat a bit. When someone says something funny or exciting and things get loud, hey, there's my cue.....sweep in with the dish towel and start up cleaning again.

Now, I must admit, I am not as bad as busting out with the Swiffer or anything, but putting away trays and collecting paper cups and dishes, that I have to do.

I might pick up something on my way to the kitchen for refills but the big clean up is right after the party when the adrenalin is still flowing.

me too Angie, when the adrenalin is still there.

Cleaning up? That's what children are for! :-D

I usually do what I can while I have to be in the kitchen for something anyway. Or if we're clearing the table, it's nothing to stack it neatly, etc... ya know? I want to be IN the party. So if I do a combo of using my "down" time effectively, doing stuff a certain way when it has to be done anyway, and taking 2 minutes here and 5 minutes there--it all adds up and I don't miss much.

I try to keep the kids WAY out of my hair during a party!

Funny! But true! I do ask the kids to collect the trash, etc. to give them something to do together. One will hold the bag while the other will toss stuff in. They like that (when they're still young!) Sometimes, I'll offer them a reward like a popsicle or the first to get dessert.

Yeah, kidz can help too but I'd rather have it done right the first time, especially after a party. Any other time, they can fool around and make mistakes and eventually get around to completing the job efficiently. But after a party, I quickly finish it all up and we all retire for the evenin.