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Dinner - Cleaning

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As the saying goes, "cleanliness is next to godliness". Unfortunately, cleaning is probably the least glamorous task at hand. However, it is also one of the most important because it leads to the next major area, presentation.

It is best to do as much of the major cleaning as possible on the day before the special event. This will help prevent wearing yourself out on the appointed day or cleaning too early and finding it necessary to reclean. We've included a handy check list and some pointers that we've learned from experience.

This is all going to sound like pretty common sense information, but while being in the middle of preparation, it is sometimes easy to overlook even the most basic elements.

Checklist:

Kitchen:

_____ Clear off as much as possible from coutertops. This will help the area to look neat and uncluttered. It is expected to see certain things on a counter top such as a coffee maker, canister set or a cookie jar. But the 3 cans of soup you bought last week should be put in their proper place.

_____ Clean all dirty dishes. Nothing says unprepared like walking into a kitchen with a sink full of dirty dishes.

_____ Once the dishes have been cleaned, store them properly.

Bathroom:

_____ Clean the toilet (including the top of the tank) and the sink.

_____ Again, clear off as much as possible from coutertops.

_____ Do you have a large family? Are there various towels and washcloths hanging around? Put them all in a clothes hamper. It looks so much neater that way.

_____ Place clean towels in a area where it is convenient for your guests to dry their hands.

_____ If you have one of those liquid soap dispensers, ensure that it is atleast half full. Totally filled is best.

_____ Place a spare roll or two of toilet paper where they can easily be seen. A small basket holding these can add to the overall appearance.

_____ It looks best if the shower curtain is drawn shut. This will also hide any clutter from shampoo bottles, etc. If there are doors on the shower, shut them.

Serving/Eating Area:

_____ Clean all corners and baseboards. These areas tend to be neglected during routine cleaning.

_____ Dust any horizontal surfaces. This is another area that can be overlooked from time to time.

_____ If you are using a room that will feature a view of the outdoors, take time to thoroughly clean any windows.

And you're done! Now that wasn't so bad after all.

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