Whether you’re planning a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner for family and friends one thing is certain: when all the guests have gone you’ll be left with a bit of a mess!
While it’s very tempting to just close the kitchen door and go to bed, it’s really not nice to come back to that mess in the morning. Here’s seven thing you can do at the end of the party so that you wake up to a clean and tidy kitchen the next day.
After Dinner Clean Up: 7 Things to Do Before Bed
1. Store your leftovers.
Put snacks and nibbles back into their packets and boxes, and store any leftovers in plastic containers in the fridge. This is one task you really need to do throughout dinner rather than leaving to the end when the food may have spoiled.
2.Clear away cups and glasses
3. Load the dishwasher and run the dishwasher.
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Collect up anything that is dishwasher friendly and load the dishwasher. There’s nothing worse than getting up in the morning and coming into a kitchen piled high with dirty dishes.
4. Save your fine china.
Do you use your fine china for special occasions, and then pack it safely away for the rest of the year? To avoid spoiling your china while cleaning it, use a plastic spatula to scrape off any leftover food. Then line your sink with a rubber mat or dishcloth before washing them to avoid damaging the china. And whatever you do don’t let anyone put them in the dishwasher!
5. Put the roasting pan to soak.
Whether you’ve used your roasting pan to cook your turkey or roast potatoes it’s always tough to get it clean afterwards. Sprinkle the pan with baking soda, and then mix a cup of hot water with 1/3 cup of vinegar. Now pour the mixture over the baking soda and leave it to soak. The vinegar and soda react to produce a fabulous fizz that will remove all the sticky residue from the pan.
6. Tablecloths and dishcloths.
Gather up the tablecloth, napkins and dishcloths ready to be washed. Make sure you check your table linen for stains before you throw them in the washing machine. This handy guide will help if anything has been spilled on your tablecloth.
7. Set the table for breakfast.
Just because it’s nice to come down in the morning to a table nicely set out for breakfast.
Over to you: Do you have any tips for after dinner clean up that you’d like to share? Leave us a comment, we’d love to hear from you!
Clare Swindlehurst is a mom to toddler twins and blogs about all things family over at The Super Mommy Club. When she’s not picking toys up off the floor you’ll find her hanging out on Pinterest. Be sure to follow her on Twitter, Google+, and Facebook too!
Anna says
I totally agree its horrible to come back to it the next morning if you haven’t cleared up the night before! In our family we all tend to help out with the cleaning up after the meal, so before they go home my sils and mil would help out to clear some of the things away and when I go to theirs I do the same – that way there is not a huge mess left for one person at the end.
Katelyn Fagan says
That is also a great tip! Many hands make light work, right? It is sad when guests and family more on to fin things while mom, or the host, start cleanup.
Sheila @ BrainPowerBoy says
Good advice. I wouldn’t be able to handle coming back to a mess in the kitchen the next day. I like the idea of setting the table for breakfast. Another thing checked off the list 🙂 Thanks for a helpful post.
Cindy Howell says
I never thought about setting the table for breakfast. That’s a great idea! I think I will give it a try.
Nina says
Awesome post, Clare/Katelyn! I never knew all the tips to clean china (don’t have them) and glad to know so I won’t ever run into that problem in case I do! And yes, clean up at night is crucial because however tired I am at night, I’m going to be even more tired the next morning 🙂
Elizabeth says
I dislike coming back to a mess–because it always seems to multiply. I always wipe down the counters and the stove, wipe off the fridge and sweep the floor. That way, I don’t wake up to crumbs under my bare feet. I don’t set the table for breakfast…I may have to try that. Great tips!! 🙂
Katelyn Fagan says
I think this advice applies to a lot of situations. For example, before I go on vacation, I really like to have the house super clean, the laundry done, and fresh sheets on the bed. I mean, who wants to come home to a mess after a relaxing vacation?
Heidi says
I had no idea a rubber spatula and a sink liner were necessary for fine China. It makes perfect sense! And what a great idea to set the table for breakfast. That would be a nice way to wake up every day!
becca says
Ha, this reminds me of one time I was in a share house with two guy – both of them really nice, but a bit clueless. We’d take it in turns to do the dishes but that didn’t mean they got done every day; basically, when it was the guys’ turn, they’d wait until we were almost out of dishes before they’d wash them. When it was my turn I’d wash them after one day – See, the rule wasn’t particular to a number of dishes or a number of days, it was just his turn-my turn-his turn, so I figured I’d do it quickly so it was no longer my turn. A few times the guy whose turn it was after mine, didn’t cotton on to the fact that I’d already done the dishes (you know, five days ago) so he’d say, “Um, do you think maybe you could do the dishes? We’re completely out of spoons,” and I’d say, “I did. Five days ago. It’s been your turn since then.” Ah, the fun! He never did catch on to what I was doing, either . . .
Katelyn Fagan says
Ha ha ha. That is hilarious! Smart cookie!
Shawna Burgess says
Great tips. There is nothing better than to clean as much as you can the home after the party. It saves you a lot of work for the next day, and is definitely not pleasant to wake up and find all the dirty dishes and glasses.
cooks in chennai says
This is really good tips for me. Daily after dinner i am feeling lazy to wash the vessels. But my mom like to clean it at night itself.At least her after I will try regularly.
J. Ivy Boyter says
I totally needed to read this! Even on regular nights, I’m not always the best about totally cleaning up before bed … I need to get better at it though. I love the suggestion for lining the sink with a rubber mat to save fine china! I don’t currently use mine since I still have a 2 year old, but I never even thought about it! Saving this for later!
Kathryn H. says
There’s something really satisfying about a clean kitchen at night and the table ready for breakfast! It’s worth the effort to clean as you go, also, while cooking, so that absolutely everything isn’t still dirty after dinner. Quick clean-ups of pots and utensils make the after-dinner dishes so much easier.