Office Holiday Party Cleaning Tips

For many, holiday parties are the highlight of the season. They’re an opportunity to see family and friends in a fun and festive environment, and a great way to get to know coworkers outside a professional one and in a new and more light-hearted setting. If you’re the one throwing the office party, however, there can be a lot to do in preparation for the event, as well as plenty to do after. It can be overwhelming, but it shouldn’t overshadow your ability to enjoy the party, so here is a quick guide to cleaning for the office holiday party.

Before

Cleaning before the party is important for a number of reasons. First, everyone wants to present their business and space in the very best possible light. Second, it can actually make a big difference in how fast it is to clean after, since you’re not doing double the work. Finally, you can implement a few easy strategies to help you later.

• Place large garbage bins generously around the party area. This will encourage guests to throw away their own trash instead of absentmindedly leaving them scattered about for you to take care of later.
• Decorate with tablecloths that you can easily dispose of if they are single-use, or cloth ones that you can bundle and launder instead of scrubbing tables down by hand.
• Add entry mats to prevent all the dirt and grime from making its way into the party off the shoes of all your guests.

After

The best tip for cleaning your holiday party is to not do it alone. They say ‘many hands makes light work’ because it’s incredibly accurate, so designate a cleaning committee if you are able. When it comes to tackling the mess, here are a few ways to make quick work of it.

• Start with larger items, and walk around with a trash bag to throw away all stray garbage. This way you don’t need to take constant trips to the trash can, and can get everything in one fell swoop.
• Clean the floors the very last. Trash and messes on the table will make its way to the floor as you clean, so don’t do that too soon and create additional work for yourself.
• Since you’re cleaning the floors last, don’t be afraid to knock food and messes onto it as you go. It can be easiest to wipe the counters onto the floor without too much concern, and then sweep and mop it up from there.
• Sanitize all surfaces like counters and tables – after so many guests, it’s an essential step.