Christmas Day is wonderful. The morning after is often a mess of wrapping paper, leftover dishes, sticky glasses and a very full fridge. Rather than tackling everything at once, work through it in a sensible order and you'll be done before lunch.
1. Rubbish and recycling first
- Collect wrapping paper, boxes and packaging. Flatten cardboard and separate recycling.
- Use strong refuse bags for kitchen waste, especially anything with bones or food scraps, and get it outside quickly in the heat.
- Keep ribbons and gift bags you want to reuse in one box.
2. Dishes and glasses
Start with the glasses in clean, hot water with a little dishwashing liquid. They'll come out sparkling instead of greasy. Then plates and cutlery, and finally pots and roasting trays, which you can soak while you work on other rooms.
3. The fridge
- Combine leftovers into fewer containers and label them with the date.
- Throw out anything that sat out for hours in the heat.
- Wipe sticky shelves and the door.
4. Surfaces and spills
Check tables, chairs and floors for spilled drinks and food. Sticky marks on tiled floors come up best if you sweep first, then mop with a floor, wall and tile cleaner and finish with a rinse.
5. Bathrooms
After a houseful of guests, give the toilet, basin and floor a proper clean and restock toilet paper and hand soap before the next wave of visitors.
6. Make it a team job
Give everyone a task and a time limit. Twenty minutes with the whole family is quicker and more fun than three hours alone.
Stock up
Dishwashing Liquid Econo, Black Refuse Bags and Floor, Wall & Tile Cleaner are great value in 5L sizes from maxproducts.co.za.
Products mentioned in this guide
Available now from our sister company Max Products at maxproducts.co.za, in trade sizes and delivered in Cape Town.
Dishwashing Liquid EconoShop now →
Black Refuse Bags 40 MicronShop now →
Floor, Wall & Tile CleanerShop now →
