If you’re crossing your fingers for your backyard bash to be a success, don’t worry. At The Maids, we’ve prepped for plenty a party, and we’ve partnered with Coldwell Banker to show you that all it takes is a little planning and a nice quick clean of yard, furniture and house. Before you put up decorations or tweak the playlist for the thousandth time, tidy your castle and courtyard.
The Yard
Mow the lawn: If your lawn is starting to look like a jungle, it’s time to press the mower into service and cut the blades to a reasonable size. You don’t want wee party guests to get lost in the undergrowth.
Get rid of debris: If your party includes children, you can bet they’ll want to show off cartwheels and summersaults. Carefully walk through the lawn and look for anything that might cause a problem, including rocks, gopher holes, or pet waste.
Wash the deck and patio: Over the course of the seasons, layers of dirt, moss, and leaves can build up on your deck and patio. A quick rinse with a power washer will blow the mess away.
The Furniture
Spray down outdoor furniture: Certain surprises at parties are a good thing. Sitting down in a wet or mud-stained chair is not one of them. Do a quick spray down of all your outdoor furniture to remove stains and dirt, and then make sure everything is dry before the guests arrive. Don’t forget to clean outdoor umbrellas—you don’t want any drop-ins, be they spiders or debris.
Indoor furniture needs to be cleaned too! You may have to use indoor furniture to provide extra seating and comfort. Just because a chair or table usually resides inside, doesn’t mean it’s guest-ready. Get out the glass cleaner and fabric stain remover to make sure all the furniture is ready for duty.
The Home
Clean all the bathrooms: You may intend for guests to use only a specific bathroom in the house, but they may have other plans, especially if someone is taking too long. Clean every bathroom as though your nosiest in-laws are coming over.
Clean all the main rooms: Even during a backyard party, guests will migrate into the house, so make sure your home is prepared for inside scrutiny. This means vacuuming and sweeping the floors, wiping down countertops, and cleaning windows and mirrors.
Put away personal things: Because parties are fluid by nature, guests will be coming in and out of the house. Keep important items protected, including mail, work files, personal items, and medications.
Keep valuables safe: If you don’t want guests in a certain area of the house, lock it if possible or post a sign. This is a good place to store valuables that you don’t want to be damaged during the party.
Take out the trash: Preparing for a party will fill up the trash fast. Before the doorbell rings, haul out all the current trash so that there is plenty of space for guests to throw out paper plates, plastic cups and napkins.
Preparing for a rockin’ backyard party involves lots of details, but take it a step at a time. Keep this list handy and don’t forget one more thing – have fun!
