With Christmas around the corner, you probably have guests ready to storm your home. If you’re like me, a clean home is the most important when guests come. I understand the mantra of “this home is lived in so pardon the mess” as I typically abide by this. However, having other people stay at my house makes me need to clean it so then it can become messy again and it’s part their mess therefore they are comfortable in it.
Cleaning Tips to Get Your Home Guest Ready
- Walk your house with visitor eyes, notice what is out of the ordinary, what does not belong in each particular room.
- Clutter control– attack your clutter hot spots and reduce them to something manageable. If you don’t have time to put everything in it’s right place, straighten the area, make neat piles and straight lines to reduce the look of clutter.
Clearly more than clutter but proof that people live in this house. The pillow goes back on the couch, laptop cord under the couch, makeup to the bathroom, papers go to the trash and the electronics move to the shelf underneath.
- Deep clean bathroom– I sometimes pretend Oprah or some other celebrity is going to be visiting my home and that really makes me scrub every nook and cranny. The bathroom is the one place I do not skimp on for cleaning because I want my guest to not feel grossed out in a place they are supposed to clean themselves in.
- Pick up extra toiletries in travel sizes. Stock the guest bathroom with extra razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste and hair products. Since traveling liquids is such a pain, especially for flying, make sure the essentials are there so when they hop in the shower they don’t have to worry that there’s no shampoo.
- Make room in the fridge- You’ll be feeding extra people and will need the extra space for more food. Now will be a great time to throw out expired food and nearly empty condiment bottles.
- Deodorize– I know that my house smells sometimes and making your house smell fresh and clean is a great way to welcome them into your home instead of letting them know you went to the gym three days ago. :)
- Have fresh, clean towels– Pull out your fluffy towels for the guests and have them folded nicely in the bathroom for them, so they don’t have to go hunting for them; unless you like people snooping in your linen closet with your perfectly folded things.
- Sweep front porch- Clear the leaves and any creepy crawlies.
- Dust electronics, unless you like it when your guest leave you messages or pictures on the TV screen.
- Fresh sheets– There’s nothing like climbing into a freshly made bed after a long day of traveling.
- Extra electronic chargers- Now that we practically can’t function without screens and many of us share brands of electronics, place an extra charger and cord in the guest room just in case they forget their own. I forgot mine over Thanksgiving and it was so nice that my in-laws had an extra one I could use.
You can clean your house until it is completely perfect, or enough that most everything is in its place, but you can tell people actually live there. My biggest rule is to make sure guests will feel comfortable in my home and not have to worry about cleanliness.
What are your steps to get the house ready for guests?
Angela
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Angela Says 
Great tips to focus the mind when my head is whirling with jobs to do. I have to remember the house only needs to be good enough not perfect! I would add clean the kitchen floor, mine gets mucky with all the food prep beforehand and it makes the kitchen look dirty even when the work tops are actually clean.
That’s a good one! I walk around barefoot all of the time and I dislike crumbs sticking to my feet.
I do try to do a cleaning before the guests arrive. However, during the holidays, sometimes there are so many people staying in the house that I can’t even tell that I’ve done a thorough cleaning. P.S. I’m a biggie on the clean towels and fresh sheets….
I say it’s fine as long as it was done initially because after a large crowd has come it is hard to tell. I figure at that point they don’t mind because they helped make the mess. :)
Very useful tips, Angela! I must admit that I’m sometimes guilty of leaving messages on dusty dressers and bookshelves. :)
It goes without saying I guess, but the point about leaving a charger in the guest room is truly a top tip! I don’t have enough fingers to count how many times I’ve accidentally left my charger at home. Thanks for this great post!
Thanks! I write messages in the dust and sometimes wait for my family to see them. :) Have a wonderful Christmas!
Thanks, I will! I hope you have a great Christmas as well! :)
Angela, these are all great tips! I wish I had a dryer so I could fluff towels not only for guests, but also for myself! :) I told my husband I liked your first tip and wish sometimes that I could have him walk around our house with my eyes. He is oblivious to clutter sometimes. Sharing this post!
Thanks Jelli! I know what you mean, goodness, but it is a good reminder that our homes don’t have to be perfect, just comfortable. :)
These are great tips! I especially love the idea of having an extra cord for guests. Thanks for sharing on the weekend re-Treat link party! Hope to see you again Thursday at 7PM.
Britni @ Play. Party. Pin.
Thanks Britni! As a person who often forgets her cord, it’s nice when the host has an extra one I can borrow.
I need all the cleaning tips I can get! Thanks for linking this to Think Tank Thursday. I hope to see you again today.
You’re welcome! I love coming to your party.
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