After every massive celebration comes to a pretty hefty cleaning. With pumpkin juice sitting on the porch, melted candies and gummies on the table and floor, not to mention sticky stains that remain stubborn to your usual wipe-and-go, here are your cleaning solutions:
Sticky candy:
If the candy has melted or doesn’t come off, try using a vinegar solution with 1/3 vinegar and 2/3 water. Mix 1 teaspoon of detergent in a cup of warm water. Blot utilizing the solution and cloth. Blot with water afterward and scrape off the candy.
Gum:
Harden gum by pressing on ice, and then scrape gum off. If the gum has gotten on hair, rub hair strands with peanut butter until it eventually gets off.
Pumpkins:
Pick up large chunks of the pumpkins and throw them away. Hose down the remaining juice and stains. If the pumpkin has dried, use a spoon to scrape it off or scrub it with a soap solution. To make cleaning easier, prevent pumpkin mess by placing newspaper underneath the pumpkin beforehand.
Glitter, confetti:
Vacuum remnants from the floor and check nooks and crannies for possible hideouts. If glitter has stuck to objects and walls, you can use soap and water to have them come off. You can also use clay or Play-Doh to pick up glitter and confetti. Confetti can stain hardwood and carpet, so clean them up as soon as possible.
Fake blood, food, and makeup stains:
Remember to deal with these quickly, as stains get more brutal by the hour. For blood or ketchup stains, rub a small amount of liquid detergent on the stain and scrub in small circles from the inside out. Soak excess fluids with a cloth or paper towels, then blot with cool or warm water. Finish off by blotting with water. For juice or coloring stains, mix 1 teaspoon of detergent plus 1 cup of warm water and blot (not rub) the stain. Rinse with 3 tsp vinegar and 1cup of water and continue to blot. Repeat as needed. If all else fails, try rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, but test first on a small hidden surface area to see if they would bleach out the color.
TP, shaving cream, silly string:
Toilet paper can give you a headache once it becomes wet, while shaving cream and silly string can harden and stain your area in the process. You can remove the tissue by hand or pick it off using a stick wrapped with duct tape on one end. If TP did get wet, wait for it to dry to make cleaning easier. Avoid letting TP sit as it can smother the grass. Water down, shaving cream, and silly string. You can use warm soapy water to remove the remaining particles.
Egg:
Maybe you didn’t give treats, perhaps you didn’t provide enough, or maybe the neighborhood kids just like playing pranks. Rest assured that you can clean up just about anything they literally throw at you. Pick up egg shells, moisten the area with the remaining goo, and then wipe off. If residue persists, place the remnant under a cloth soaked in a vinegar-water solution with a 1:1 ratio and let it sit for 15 minutes. Clean off using another cloth. Getting the shells off before watering or wiping them down is crucial to prevent scratches on your surfaces.
In The End
Remember, it is once a year, and you should have fun. Try to mitigate messes before the party gets going. Also, hide a few of these things from the site, so you aren’t subject to anything crazy. In the end, enjoy the spooky and fun things you’ll see.
