Cleaning tips for after-party mess

There's no avoiding the after-party cleanup. No, it's not fun, but it doesn't have to be as bad or take as long as you might think. The Maids Home Services offers the following low-tech tips:

• Clear away clutter. Grab a big basket and walk around the house scooping up everything that's not where it should be. Get family members to help put items back in their proper places.

• Freshen the refrigerator with baking soda, but rather than opening the box and shoving it to the back of a shelf, pour the contents into a jelly-roll pan and place the pan on a shelf in the fridge.

• Boost the dishwasher by adding a few tablespoons of vinegar to the wash cycle. It cuts down on grease and leaves glassware sparkling.

• Reclaim burnt-on baking pans by covering the bottom with baking soda, then add enough water to cover. Let stand for three hours, then gently scrape with a plastic spatula.

• Deodorize and de-spatter the microwave by putting a lemon wedge in a cup of water and boiling it inside the oven for a few minutes. Afterward, cleaning the inside should be a cinch, and it will smell fresh.