How to Get Ready for a Summer BBQ Party

It’s the most wonderful time of the year once again! No, not the time of year where the fat man in the red suit stuffs his butt down chimneys to leave presents for little boys and girls. I’m talking about summer! The other most wonderful time of the year. Summer is the perfect time to kick back, relax, and just take it easy. But summer is also the time of year when people are traveling and gathering and celebrating family and friends. If you are planning a summer BBQ party this season, follow these easy tips to make the day of your gathering a complete success.

You should really start to plan your summer gatherings months in advance. It sounds silly, but people get so busy during the warmest months of the year that it actually becomes really difficult to get everyone together at the same place, at the same time. I started telling my friends about my summer BBQ in April- the party is planned for August. They laughed at me when I invited them to a party four months in advance, but they were all able to commit because I gave them so much advance notice.

Start putting away some extra cash for your party. It costs a lot of money to feed a bunch of people bbq’d food and all the fixings. When you send out your invites, set up an automatic transfer between your bank account and a savings account that you can squirrel a few dollars a month into for safe keeping. Also, don’t be afraid to ask your guests to bring a side dish. People always offer, and it’s time hostesses started taking their guests up on those offers. After all, you are feeding them an entire meal and all they have to do is bring a pasta bake. Too easy.

A few days before your party, give your house a good cleaning and scrub down. Leave the floors for last. Your floors will start to get dirty as soon as you clean them anyway, and you want them in perfect condition for when your guests trek dirt and grass into the house each time they need to use the restroom or find another drink. Consider using a steam mop to get your floors looking fresh and bright. You can read a steam mop review to find out which steam mop is best for your type of flooring and which ones do the best job of cleaning stuck on grime and dirt for after the party is over!

Here's a winning tip: don't use your good dishes. Guest are happy to eat from good quality disposable plates. You don't want the honor of washing potentially dozens of dishes long after your guest has left. Set up a trach and recycle station outside and ask your guest to just toss their leftovers and trash where it belongs. Everyone loves a neat and clean area to hang out. People will appreciate you were ready for clean up.

Lastly, enjoy your time with family and friends. Summer only comes once a year, but those memories last a lifetime!