Post-party clean-up guide

Cleaning up after a party doesn't have to be a headache - although you might have one! Get your house shipshape in no time with our step-by-step guide to tackling the morning-after mess...

STORE food leftovers you want to keep - wrap in clingfilm and put in the fridge as soon as possible.

OPEN THE WINDOWS - even if it's cold outside - to banish stale odours.

WEAR AN APRON over your pyjamas and don some rubber gloves.

PREVENT MORE SPILLAGES by getting rid of bottles and glasses first.

COLLECT BOTTLES in a recycling bag or bin, emptying dregs into a bucket as you go to save constant trips to the sink.

GATHER GLASSES by placing them on a tray lined with a damp cloth (for grip). Again, empty dregs into a bucket as you go. If you have a dishwasher, fill it with glasses and set it going. Otherwise, wash them by hand and leave to drip-dry upside down on clean tea towels placed on the worktop.

LAYER TWO BIN BAGS, one inside the other, to stop any leakage through tears.

PICK UP all the non-recyclable waste from around the house, including any unwanted food that can't be composted, then put it in your outside bin.

SOAK PLATES AND CUTLERY to soften dried-on food and stop odours until you're ready to wash them.

TACKLE STAINS from wine or food on your carpets and upholstery. Follow our tips (right) if you want to use more eco-friendly methods or, alternatively, use an all-purpose carpet and upholstery stain remover such 
as Sainsbury's Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner, £2.55 for 500ml, which is a winner of a Which? Best Buy Award.

TREAT TABLECLOTHS and linen napkins with a pre-wash product such as Stain Zappa, £3.29 for 100ml, Lakeland, then put them in the washing machine.

VACUUM the whole house thoroughly.

PUT AWAY GLASSES and load the plates and cutlery into the dishwasher.

WIPE SURFACES with a multisurface cleaner, then mop any hard floors to remove sticky residues. Start with the outer rooms first and work your way towards the kitchen.

RELAX with a cup of tea and put your feet up - you've earned it! Happy new year!

Click ahead for the best-ever stain-busting tips...

Best-ever stain-busting tips

Red wine on your carpet? Grease on your tablecloth? Don't panic! Save your soft furnishings from these common spillages...

1. RED WINE - Blot with a paper towel, dab with water and blot again. Spray with a specialist product such as Oops! Red Wine Stain Remover, £6.95 
for 100ml, from The Handpicked Collection.

2. BEER - Blot with paper towels then sponge with a solution of 1tsp laundry detergent in a cup of warm water. Next, use a solution of one part white vinegar with two parts cool water. Sponge with water again and then blot dry.

3. GREASE - Sprinkle with cornflour. Leave for 10 minutes, then remove the flour, sponge the area with water and blot dry.

4. CHOCOLATE - Place paper towels on top and run a cool iron over it. Get rid of the remaining mark by sponging with 1tsp laundry detergent in a cup of warm water, then rinse with water and blot dry.

5. COFFEE - Soak with lemon juice or white vinegar, then blot. Sponge with water and blot dry.

Looking for more cleaning tips? Check out our Stain removal tips - the A-Z guide.