Spooky Season in the Keys: Tricks, Treats, and Cleaning Up After Ghosts
Halloween in the Florida Keys isn’t just any holiday – it’s a celebration that gets everyone out for scares, sweets, and spooky decor. Between costume parties, haunted house setups, and handing out candy, it’s all fun and games until you’re left with the aftermath. And as any local knows, Halloween messes can be the scariest part of the holiday. But don’t worry; Lee Lapid Housekeeping is here with tips, tricks, and a helping hand to keep your home looking less haunted once the holiday is over. The Nightmare Before Cleaning: Halloween Messes That Haunt Us All Halloween decorations can take over your house – plastic skeletons, fake cobwebs, scattered candy wrappers, and pumpkin goo become part of the decor in ways you didn’t expect. And, unlike most decorations, Halloween’s stuff isn’t meant to stay tidy. Here’s a look at some of the worst Halloween messes that can haunt your house: Spider Web Remnants: Those cobwebs look great when stretched over the bushes, door frames, or windows, but taking them down leaves tiny threads clinging to every surface. Pumpkin Guts: Carving pumpkins is all fun until you’ve got seeds and stringy pumpkin guts sticking to countertops, floors, and somehow the walls. Those sticky bits are the stuff of cleaning nightmares. Costume Debris: Between wigs, fake blood, glitter, and face paint, costumes tend to leave a trail of evidence wherever they go. And let’s face it, some of that face paint might end up smeared across surfaces you didn’t expect. Candy Mess: Kids and candy can be a terrifying combo for any floor or couch. Crushed candy wrappers, sticky fingerprints, and chocolate smudges can leave behind stains if left unchecked. Zombie Attack (Or It Just Feels Like One) After a Halloween party or a night of trick-or-treating, you might look around your home and feel like you’ve survived a zombie apocalypse. Between sugary messes, drink spills, and costume remnants, it’s like a scene from a horror movie – only you’re the hero left to clean it up. Here’s how to tackle some of the most horrifying post-Halloween cleanups: Face Paint Smears: Makeup remover isn’t just for faces. Try using it on surfaces where face paint may have transferred, like doors or countertops. Dab gently with a cloth to lift the smudges without spreading them further. Sticky Floors: A damp mop with a bit of vinegar should handle most sticky messes on floors. This combo breaks down sugary residues and leaves floors shining. Glitter Everywhere: Glitter, the ultimate horror, requires patience. Use a lint roller on fabric surfaces and a vacuum with a brush attachment for carpets. For hard surfaces, a damp microfiber cloth works best. Fake Cobwebs and Spider Threads: Start by gently wiping them down with a dry duster. For the pesky little remnants, a small lint roller or painter’s tape can pick up the clingy bits that won’t leave. Tips for Cleaning Up Halloween – Before and After the Ghosts Go Boo Halloween’s unique messes require some special handling. Here are some easy ways to minimize the post-holiday cleanup nightmare: Pre-Candy Patrol: Have a designated area for kids to unwrap their candy, ideally over a mat or tile that’s easy to clean. Encourage them to put wrappers in one bowl or bag to keep sticky wrappers from wandering into hard-to-clean places. Outdoor Pumpkin Stations: If you’re carving pumpkins, do it outside or on a spread-out tarp. This keeps the mess contained, so you’re not scraping dried pumpkin bits off your countertops later. And once you’re done, toss the tarp – mess contained, problem solved. Contain the Costumes: Costumes tend to shed bits and bobs everywhere they go. Set up a “costume corner” where masks, wigs, and accessories go right after the festivities, so glitter and face paint don’t end up decorating every room. Candy Stain Removal 101: For carpet stains from melted or squished candy, mix a tablespoon of dish soap with two cups of warm water. Use a clean cloth to blot the stain and rinse with cool water. Avoid rubbing, as it can embed the stain further. Why You Need a Post-Halloween Clean-Up – Let Us Haunt the Mess for You Halloween might be a night of fun, but the cleanup can last well into November if you’re not careful. With our local experience in the Keys, we know that homes here are busy and bustling. Lee Lapid Housekeeping is here to help you get rid of the spooky mess and reclaim your home from the candy carnage and cobweb chaos. Our professional team can handle everything from sticky floors to glitter-covered sofas. A Ghost-Free Guarantee After Halloween, a deep clean is the best way to remove every lingering trace of the festivities. Our team doesn’t just sweep the mess under the rug (literally or figuratively). We’ll ensure that every corner, nook, and crevice is cleaned up, leaving your home sparkling and fresh. So, whether you’re gearing up for Halloween parties, trick-or-treaters, or just a cozy night of horror movies, remember – Lee Lapid Housekeeping is just a call away. (305) 395-0588