After The Confetti Falls: Post-Event Cleaning Checklist

After almost a year of quarantine, it’s safe to say that everyone is ready for the pandemic to end so social lives can return to normal. We can assume that restaurants and bars will be bursting at the seams, and the same can be assumed for the world of events. 

Whether professional, charitable, social, or otherwise, events will no longer be a temporary thing of the past. Event venues will be booked up, and that means that event venue upkeep is about to become very important again. The turnaround between the end of one event and the beginning of another may very well be within the same day. Here’s what to do to cleanup after an event:

Familiarize Yourself & Make a Plan

If your event isn’t being held at your home or place of business, then it’s a good idea to know the event’s venue. Familiarize yourself with the venue before the event day if possible. One or two walk-throughs should be sufficient. Making a post-event cleaning plan during the walkthroughs will be critical when cleaning up after the event ends.

Assign a Leader & Use Your Team

If you’re reading this, that leader may be you. Put together a post-event cleaning team, and lead them to the promised land!

If the event is personal, then consider your family members as your team. If professional, ask your colleagues to volunteer for the different roles that need to be filled for you to execute your cleaning plan. The more hands on deck, the better the cleaning and the quicker it will be finished.

Use Proper Sanitization Equipment & Supplies

Before getting to the actual cleaning, make sure that you and your team are equipped with the right protective gear. Until the pandemic is neutralized, it’s a good idea for everyone in your cleaning crew to wear a mask and powder-free nitrile gloves. With all of the garbage and communal event equipment and accessories that need to be cleared and cleaned, your team needs to be protected from what they are helping to clean.

Once your team has all of their protective gear on, make sure they have access to all of the supplies they need. What you’ll likely need: extra garbage bags, spray bottles full of disinfectant solutions, paper towels or terry towels, a few brooms or a vacuum, and other relevant supplies.

Steps to Cleaning

The steps to post-event cleaning should look like this, or something close to it:

• Remove all of the garbage from any platforms, tables, counters, food and drink areas, and then off of the floor.
• Make sure all surfaces are disinfected – spray and wipe the most high-traffic surfaces twice.
• Remove and put away all event materials, chairs, tables, and ancillary equipment.
• For carpets, vacuum the entire event venue thoroughly.
• For hardwood or tile floors, sweep the event venue clear and then mop and let the floor air-dry.