Some people have the gift of hospitality. It’s amazing to go into a home where everything matches and smells good, and nothing is dusty! Others of us do not have the mindset or bandwidth for such details, and that’s OK!
Ultimately, your friends and family visit your home to enjoy your company, not to inspect your baseboards or test the air quality. However, if you take the time for a few basics before your guests arrive, you can help ensure that they have a pleasant experience. Here is a quick-and-dirty guide to make sure that your home is not-so-dirty where it counts for your guests. These simple chores are listed in order of importance, according to my unofficial social media research.
01
Clean the Bathroom
Make sure the guest bathroom is clean. The number one recommendation in my research was to have clean hand-towels—or disposable towels—that are clearly for guests to use. No one wants to dry their hands on a dirty or wet towel. While you’re at it, be sure there’s a trash can with a liner. (A plastic grocery bag is fine!) Clean the toilet bowl, the underside of the seat, the hinges, and around the outside. At the sink: the handles, the bowl, and the soap should be clean. Also, it’s good to have a plunger, toilet brush, and air spray where a guest can find them without having to ask you. That way, when your guests use the restroom, they emerge refreshed and not embarrassed.
02
Check the Smells
Subtract odors, insert fresh air if possible, and add good smells. The most common sources of bad odors in the home: decaying trash, mildew, smoke, and pet odors. We develop “nose blindness” to the air we breathe every day, so you might ask a trusted person to tell you what they smell.
Take your trash out soon after putting meat or produce in it—even if the bag is not full. If pets lie on your couch, consider shampooing it a few days before guests arrive–or at least vacuum it and cover it with a freshly cleaned blanket.
Synthetic smells are too much for some guests. You can put a pot of water on the stove, add some fruit slices and mulling spices, and keep it on a low simmer.
03
Clean Floors & Seating Areas
Vacuum the carpets and rugs, and give the floors a quick sweep and mop. If you ask guests to remove their shoes, their socks should not be getting filthy on your floors!
Make sure the seats where you will invite people to sit are not dusty, hairy, or sticky. For pet hair, it’s good to clear the bulk of it a day or two before, and also do a touch-up shortly before guests arrive.
04
Declutter Table & Counters
If your guests are having a meal at your home, the only thing on the table should be dining-related items. Remove anything that has gotten dropped there over time—but be mindful where you put it, so it doesn’t get lost!
If you have time, try to declutter other surfaces, too. The kitchen comes first, because when the food prep area is clean, folks feel safe eating there!
05
Declutter Common Areas
One tip for overall decluttering is to take an empty paper towel roll, and look at your house through that “lens.” You’ll notice things that are out-of-place more easily. Grab an empty laundry basket, walk around and put anything that doesn’t belong in a given room into the basket. When you get to where the item does belong, take the item out of the basket and put it away. Keep moving through the house until you have placed the majority of items back into their proper homes. You will find that a lot of items end up in the trash or recycling! If you decide to fill a bag for donating, put it in your car right away.
06
Extra Credit
If you have extra time:
clear out any cobwebs, vacuum the dust off HVAC intake vents, bathroom exhaust fans, and ceiling fan blades. These areas tend to get overlooked, but the dust piles up! If you have even more time, clean appliance handles, door knobs and light switches, and dust furniture such as tables and bookshelves.