CLEAN UP YOUR FESTIVE TABLE

Make fast work of tidying, leaving more time for family fun

1CLEAR THE TABLE Once everyone has finished eating and retired to the living room, grab a couple of bin bags and begin clearing the table of used napkins, wrapping paper and crackers. Separate them into bags for paper and cardboard recycling, and one for the bin. Next, take all cutlery, tableware and glasses back to the kitchen and tidy away any candles or decorations, leaving your tablecloth clear of everything other than crumbs.

2BLAST ANY STAINS The quicker you’re able to tackle any stains on your tablecloth and napkins, the more likely they are to come up sparkling clean. Use tepid (not hot) water with washing-up liquid and dab at the stains to dilute them. Alternatively, use a specialised stain remover. Pop the dirty linens straight in the washing machine if possible.

3CLEAN CROCKERY AND COOKWARE Soak up any oil from your roasting dishes using a couple of sheets of kitchen roll. Meanwhile, load the dishwasher with your crockery. If you’re washing by hand, clean glasses first, then follow with the rest of the tableware, leaving the grubbiest items until last. Return to your roasting tins and bin the oily paper. Soak the dishes in washing-up liquid and hot water for half an hour, before finally giving them a thorough wash.

4SOAK THE SILVER Using the family silver for the special occasion? Give it a rinse to remove any pieces of food, then place the lot in a foil-lined baking tin. Pour over a mixture of warmed vinegar and a tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda. Leave for several hours until any tarnish transfers to the foil, then rinse with cold water.

5WIPE DOWN FURNITURE After the Christmas feast, it’s unlikely your dining furniture will have escaped without a splatter or two. Grab a pack of anti-bacterial wet wipes and give your table and chairs a quick once-over to remove any greasy fingerprints and grubby marks. Remember to give door handles a quick wipe down, too, just in case of lurking germs.

Decorations, from £3; lights, £8; tableware, from £3.50, all Sainsbury’s Home. Garland, £15; cutlery, £20; dining chairs, £100 for two, all Argos

HAVE A SPARE TABLECLOTH AND SET OF NAPKINS ON HAND SO YOU DON’T NEED TO WASH AND DRY THE SAME SET READY FOR BOXING DAY

BANISH GERMS Flash extra-large anti-bacterial wipes, £2.85, Waitrose & Partners

The kit you need

CONVENIENT & CORDLESS Bosch BCS612GB Series 6 Unlimited ProHome cordless vacuum, £269, Bosch

EASY SCRUB OXO soap squirting palm brush, £5.50, Dunelm SPILLS SAVIOUR Wine No More! stain remover, £7.99 for 250ml, Lakeland