After guests: secure things tonight, clean tomorrow
After guests leave, refrigerate perishables, blot spills and deal with hazards first. Next day: dishes, surfaces, waste and floors last.
You do not have to do everything at once, but a few steps are worth doing the same evening. Put perishable leftovers in the fridge promptly, well covered or in sealed containers. Anything that has stood at room temperature for a long time is better thrown away.
Collect glasses and plates and soak heavily soiled pans in warm water. Wipe up spilled drinks immediately, especially on wood, rugs and upholstery; dried stains are much harder to remove.
- Chill leftovers, covered
- Soak pans
- Wipe up spills immediately
- Put out candles safely
| Situation | Appropriate action |
|---|---|
| Tonight: food | Refrigerate covered perishables and follow storage guidance; do not guess if safe storage is uncertain. |
| Tonight: hazards | Extinguish candles, absorb spills, keep children/pets away from glass and collect shards without hand contact. |
| Next day: kitchen | Dishes, worktops, hob and sink; sort waste and change cleaning cloths. |
| Next day: living room | Check tables and upholstery, care for textiles as labelled; floors last. |
Further reading
Keep it quiet, for the neighbours too
Late in the evening it is considerate to postpone noisy jobs until the next day. Clinking bottles at the glass container, vacuuming or moving furniture quickly disturbs others in an apartment building. Check your building's house rules to see whether certain quiet hours apply.
Quiet tasks such as loading the dishwasher, wiping tables or folding tablecloths can still be done. That makes the next morning more relaxed.
Cleaning the kitchen systematically
Start with the dishes: fill the dishwasher, wash the rest by hand and dry. Then clear the worktops and wipe them with warm water and washing-up liquid or a suitable kitchen cleaner. Surfaces that have been in contact with raw meat, fish or eggs, and chopping boards, deserve particular care.
Then clean the hob, sink and the handles of the fridge and cupboards. Wash cloths and tea towels hot according to the label, or replace them. Finally, sweep or vacuum and mop the floor.
- Dishes first
- Wipe worktops thoroughly
- Clean chopping boards separately
- Wash cloths
- Floor last
Further reading
Separating waste
A party produces lots of bottles, cans, cardboard and food waste. Sort it into separate containers while tidying. In the city of Zurich, Entsorgung + Recycling Zürich provides information on collection points and collection days for glass, paper, cardboard, green waste and household rubbish; follow your building's rules.
Rinse bottles and cans briefly if they stay in the apartment until you take them away, so they do not smell. Take glass to the container at the permitted times.
Further reading
Restoring the living room
Open the windows and air the room thoroughly. Collect napkins, candle remains and decorations. Wipe the coffee table and dining table and check the sofa, cushions and rug for stains; treat these according to the care label, blotting rather than rubbing and without mixing products.
Put furniture back in place, vacuum the floor and plump up the cushions. Wash tablecloths and cloth napkins soon, before stains set.
Restock and finish
Finally, take a quick look in the fridge and the store cupboard. Note what has run out, such as washing-up liquid, bin bags, napkins or drinks. Throw away opened food that is no longer fresh. That way you are prepared for the next visit.
If you would like help with the regular cleaning of your apartment in the supported municipalities around Zurich and Rapperswil-Jona after a party, you can book regular apartment cleaning with PUTZIO for CHF 40 per hour. PUTZIO does not offer a special event or party service.