5 Easy Cleaning Tips Before the Guests Arrive

Published On: December 13, 2019|Categories: Cleaning, Holidays, Tips|Tags: Cleaning, cleaning tips, Holiday Guests, Tips|

You’ve got guests coming and it’s starting to stress you out. How does your home look? How does it SMELL? Are you comfortable letting people stay in your rooms and use your bathrooms? First – remember to relax. You live in your home and guests know that. They aren’t expecting the Plaza Hotel. Second, follow these five easy cleaning tips, and your house will look great when your guests arrive!

De-clutter the High-Traffic Areas

Guests probably aren’t going to see every room in your house. Why bother cleaning the second living room or laundry room if no one is going to be in there? Instead focus on the guest rooms, bedrooms, living-room, and kitchen. All of the areas your guests may enter into should get the de-clutter service. Pack up loose items that aren’t currently needed. Store what you can in closets, and if you find a bunch of things lying around that you don’t want anymore, go ahead and donate them.

Dust the Furniture

It’s amazing how much neater a home can look when the furniture has been dusted. In some areas dust can accumulate practically overnight. You could clean your house every week and still need to dust again before your guests arrive. We love the long handled Swiffer Dusting Wand that can reach in high (and low) places and picks up dust in a jiffy and picks up pet hair and tiny debris floating around. Do a quick circuit around the house and dust all of the most noticeable places that need it. Give everything in the guestrooms and main rooms a going over. You’ll be amazed at the difference a little less dust makes.

Vacuum and Lay Down a “No Shoe” Rule

Doing a thorough vacuum job can take time, especially if you have a big house with a lot of rooms and a lot of carpet. Take the time to thoroughly vacuum all rooms that your guests may go in. You can even enlist the kids help with this task! You don’t want to have to do it all again right before guests arrive so once you’ve finished, implement a “no shoes” rule in the house. Make sure everyone takes off their muddy sneakers and snow covered boots right inside (or even outside) the door.

Wipe Down the Kitchen

Kitchens get messy. Especially when you use them on a regular basis. And especially around the holidays and/or when you have guests in the house. You don’t need to clean your entire kitchen top to bottom before people arrive, but you do want to make sure dishes are done, counters are de-cluttered, and there’s no food rotting away in your fridge. You should also wipe down your counters, stove-top, sink, and microwave so that there is no food stuck to them or crumbs lying around, and so the whole area smells fresh and clean.

Open Some Windows

We all get used to the smell of our homes. Over time we won’t notice that the carpet is a bit musty or the cat box is a bit pungent. But other people will notice when they come to visit. Open windows throughout the house to air it out before guests arrive. Let the smell of the fresh air and the flowering plants or even the new snow fill your home instead. Light a candle or buy a few plug in air fresheners to help cover any lingering scents.

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