Cleaning After Trick or Treat Night: Entryways, Candy Wrappers, and Muddy Boots

Trick or treat night is a blast. Then everyone comes home at once with wet shoes, a heavy candy bag, and makeup on their faces.

A few minutes of setup before you leave keeps the mess near the door, not all over the house.

Before you head out

• Set up a boot spot. Put a boot tray or an old towel by the door. Halloween night in Illinois is often cold or wet.
• Put a mat outside and inside the door. Two mats catch most of the leaves and mud.
• Set up a candy sorting spot. A cookie sheet or tray on the kitchen table keeps candy in one place.
• Put a trash bag next to it. Wrappers go straight in.
• Put an old pillowcase on each kid's pillow. Some makeup always makes it to bed.
• Keep wipes by the door. For sticky hands and faces.

When you get home

1. Shoes off at the door. Wet boots go on the tray.
2. Costumes off next. Hang wet costumes to dry before they go in a pile.
3. Sort candy on the tray. Not on the couch or the carpet.
4. Wrappers in the bag. Make it a rule for the night.
5. Wash faces before bed. Use gentle soap or makeup remover, and use a dark towel.

Keep candy away from pets

This one matters most. Chocolate is dangerous for dogs and cats. So is xylitol, a sweetener found in some sugar free candy and gum.

• Keep candy bags up high or in a closed cabinet.
• Pick up every wrapper. Dogs will go after them because they smell like candy.
• Do not let kids sort candy on the floor.
• If your pet eats chocolate or sugar free candy, call your vet right away.

Have a dog or cat? My guide to cleaning a home with pets has more tips for busy seasons.

Washing and storing costumes

• Check the tag first. Many costumes say hand wash or spot clean only.
• Treat makeup and fake blood spots before washing. My guide on how to remove Halloween stains walks you through it.
• Wash in cold water on a gentle cycle, or by hand in the sink.
• Hang dry. Dryer heat can melt plastic parts and set stains.
• Store them clean. Put costumes in a bin with a label. Food and sweat left on fabric attract bugs and smell by next fall.

Cleaning after trick or treat: the morning after

• Sweep the porch and steps. Leaves, wrappers, and dropped candy pile up by the door.
• Check the walkway. Look for smashed pumpkins or anything slippery.
• Vacuum the entry and the kids' rooms. Candy and glitter travel.
• Wipe sticky spots. Floors, counters, door handles, and the fridge door.
• Wash the mats and towels you used by the door.

Muddy entryways last all fall and winter. My fall cleaning checklist has a simple plan for keeping the entry clean through the cold months.

Getting help

If the week after Halloween is busy, I can help. I offer one time house cleaning and floor cleaning in New Lenox and nine nearby towns. I will get the floors, entry, kitchen, and bathrooms back in shape so you can enjoy the candy.

Hosting before you head out? Start with my Halloween party cleaning checklist.