March Madness Party Cleaning Tips from Clorox

March is finally here. No matter where I am I can only think of one thing- basketball. Suddenly, I am craving Buffalo wings and nachos as early as 10 AM. Never before has the workday dragged on as I read over the brackets for the hundredth time making sure I have correctly calculated the times and channels of every game for when the guys come over.

If your house has become the game day go-to spot, you should consider a few things before tip-off. Cleaning, cooking and warding off germs may seem like the last things on your manly basketball to-do list, but trust me when I say the appreciation from the guys will justify your behavior later. Here are some tips from Clorox to help keep your party clean (foul language notwithstanding):

•    Make Room for The Wings: Before you head to the store to buy all of the food you’re going to need to satisfy your buddies, rid your fridge of old food and germs with a quick spring cleaning. Wipe down the fridge and walls with a solution of ¾ cup bleach per gallon of soapy water. Rinse and let air dry before filling the inside with all of your game day food essentials. Note: Produce drawers harbor the most bacteria. Make sure to thoroughly wash them before tossing in the celery and carrots.
•    Refresh the Menu: As the bracket gets narrower and you begin looking forward to your third party in two weeks, make sure to add some fresh twists on the classic menu. Another way to do this, without going through recipes when you’d rather be studying the stats, is to make the event a potluck and ask guests to bring their favorite dishes.
•    No Double Dunking: Leave the multiple dunks to the players on the court. A study by 12-seed Clemson University found that 10,000 bacteria get transferred from the double dipper’s mouth to the bowl for every 3-6 dips. No need to throw out the guests, simply offer paper plates with the food and place a spoon in the dip to encourage everyone to grab their own portion.
•    Last Minute Cleaning Ritual: Just like the superstitious rituals of the players, if you do a quick clean up of the bathrooms and kitchen, the night will be much more successful. No one wants to watch the game in a house smelling from a months worth of dust and germs.

Make the most of this time of the month that is full of unexpected upsets, record-breaking plays, the excitement of the one-and-done atmosphere, and the buzzer beating three point shots that solidify the “madness” tradition. I can’t wait to dig into Buffalo wings and enjoy one of my favorite months of the year.

The Clorox Company sent me information not intended to solicit a product review or product claims.

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