How to Clean Your House Before Guests Arrive

That Cleaning Girl · House Cleaning

Company's coming, and suddenly you see every smudge and dust bunny. The good news is that you don't need to deep clean the whole house before guests arrive. You need to clean the right things. If summer has kept the house busy, Summer House Cleaning Tips for Hot Texas Days has tips for the daily mess. This guide is for when someone is about to ring the doorbell.

Think like a guest

Guests don't open your closets or look under your beds. They notice a few specific things:

• The entry, where they first walk in.
• The living room, where they'll sit.
• The kitchen, where everyone ends up.
• The guest bathroom, which they'll definitely use.
• The guest room, if they're staying over.
• How the house smells.

Focus on those spaces and let the rest go. A closed door is your friend.

Smell matters more than most people realize. A house can look tidy and still feel off if the trash is full, the dog bed needs a wash or something is lingering in the fridge. Before you reach for an air freshener, take out the trash, run the disposal with a little citrus peel and open a window for a few minutes. Fresh, clean air does more than any scent.

A few days before

If you have a little lead time, use it for the jobs that take longer:

• Wash guest bedding and towels.
• Clean the guest bathroom thoroughly, including the shower if guests will use it.
• Clean out the fridge to make room for food and drinks.
• Dust ceiling fans and light fixtures in the main rooms.
• Wipe down the front door and porch, and sweep the walkway.

Doing these early leaves the day before for quick touch-ups.

The day before: declutter first

Clutter makes a clean house look messy. Grab a laundry basket and walk through the rooms guests will see. Collect everything that doesn't belong: mail, shoes, toys, backpacks, chargers. Put it all away or, if you're short on time, put the basket in a closet or bedroom to deal with later.

Clear the kitchen counters as much as possible. You'll need the space for food, and clear counters look clean instantly.

The guest bathroom

This is the one room every guest will see up close. Make it count:

• Clean the toilet, especially the seat, base and floor around it.
• Scrub the sink and polish the faucet.
• Clean the mirror so it's streak free.
• Wipe the counter and clear it of personal items.
• Empty the trash.
• Hang fresh hand towels and put out a full roll of toilet paper, plus a spare where guests can find it.
• Restock hand soap.
• Mop the floor.

A small candle or a fresh plant goes a long way, but cleanliness matters more than decor.

Kitchen and living room

In the kitchen, wipe counters, the stovetop and appliance fronts, especially the fridge handles. Clean the sink and empty the trash. In the living room, dust the surfaces at eye level, fluff and straighten the cushions, fold blankets and wipe glass tables. Vacuum and mop the floors in both rooms last.

If you have pets, give the couch a quick pass with a lint roller or rubber glove for pet hair.

The guest room

If someone is staying over:

• Make the bed with clean sheets.
• Clear a space in the closet and a few empty drawers, or at least a spot for a suitcase.
• Dust the nightstand and dresser.
• Put out clean towels and a washcloth.
• Leave a phone charger, a glass for water and the Wi-Fi password.
• Vacuum the floor and empty the trash can.

It's the little touches that make guests feel welcome.

Last-minute touches

The hour before guests arrive, do a final walk-through:

• Empty all the trash cans.
• Wipe the guest bathroom sink and mirror one last time.
• Turn on lamps and open blinds for good light.
• Light a candle or open a window if the weather is nice.
• Sweep the front porch and step.
• Put your dirty-dish plan in place: an empty sink and an empty dishwasher.

Hosting without the stress

The goal isn't a perfect house. It's a comfortable one. Clean the spaces guests will use, put away the clutter and stop fussing once the doorbell rings. People are coming to see you, not your baseboards. And when they leave, a quick reset of the kitchen, bathroom and guest room gets the house back to normal in an hour or so. When the family is coming to Red Oak, Cedar Hill or anywhere else across the south DFW area, a lot of our clients book a one-time clean before the big visit. If that sounds helpful, see our house cleaning services.