If you’re expecting an influx of guests for a forthcoming party, you’re bound to be apprehensive about the potential for mess and damage. Whether it’s a kids’ party for your children, or a dinner party for your friends, there’s a good chance that things are going to get spilt and something will get damaged.

Having dealt with the aftermath of many parties, from teenage gatherings to Christmas dos, we’ve learned a thing or two about preventing damage and accelerating the clean-up operation.

Here are our preparation tips.

Hide the Ming Vases

Whether your guests are aged 5 or 75, the risk of damage is high at a party. People are crowded into a small space, and most will be new to their surroundings. The day before, pack up anything that you’d miss if it broke, including vases, glass ornaments and anything on high shelves. It’s sensible to stash sentimental items and keepsakes, even if they aren’t valuable, and you might also want to move valuable electronics, like your TV or laptop. It’s amazing how often these kinds of items topple over and break.

Protect Furniture

Teen and adult parties come with a high risk of spillages and stains, particularly if there’s alcohol involved. You’ll have a better chance of removing stains if you’ve pre-treated your soft furnishings with Scotchgard. This wonderful spray can also be used to treat your carpets, but make sure the room is well ventilated, and allow plenty of time for your home to air out before the guests arrive.

Invest in Disposables

Washing up with a hangover is a drag, and nobody wants a pile of pots to do once the guests have all gone home. Invest in disposable, biodegradable plates and cutlery made from sugar cane, bamboo or potato starch. Not only can you throw them away, they’ll simply dissolve in landfill, so you need not worry about the environmental impact.

Clean As You Go

If you’re having friends round for drinks, place a few crates around the house for bottles, and have the recycling bin close by for crushed cans. Move all empties outside at the end of the night. If you keep on top of the rubbish, you will greatly reduce accidental spillages during the party, and you should stop your home acquiring the stale smell of beer while you’re asleep.

Place Ashtrays Outside

If you ask smokers to go outside for a cigarette, provide a few ashtrays too. Inexpensive glass ashtrays can be purchased from supermarkets, and they’re easily recycled after a quick rinse in the morning. If you fail to make provision for smokers, you may spend days picking up stray cigarette butts in the garden, so a bit of simple preparation could go a long way.

Hire a Cleaner

If you have a regular cleaner, make sure he or she is booked to attend for a deep clean after the party. An extra pair of hands will help you to return your house to its normal clean state.

If you don’t have a cleaner yet, contact Efficient Cleaning in Surrey, and find out how we can help you with your chores.