Photo by Monica Silvestre from Pexels
You’ve been there before. You’re lazing away on a weekend afternoon when the phone rings. It’s a long-lost friend or family member saying they’re passing through town and will be at your door in about a half-hour.
If you happen to live in luxury furnished apartments, you don’t have much to worry about. The place is equipped with the best of everything making it aesthetically appealing and comfortable for your guests. A quick cleanup to tidy things up is really all you need to impress your company.
On the other hand, if you live in a house, it will take a bit more to get things in shape before they arrive. Don’t panic, however, simply take a few deep breaths and follow the tips provided below:
Take a Picture
Before ranting at your significant other to pitch in and clean, take a few quick pics of your place using your phone. Look closely at them to see if anything seems to be obviously out of place. It’s a simple thing for you to become inured to that gym bag that you dropped just inside the door a couple of weeks ago, but seeing it in a picture can point it out to you.
Focus on Guest Centric Rooms
You won’t have the time to clean and disinfect your entire home, as you would during a quarantine, so you’ll need to narrow the scope a bit. Realize that your guest will only be in a few places in your home. This means that you can skip your home office because you won’t be showing off your workspace. Just shut the doors to the rooms you won’t have your guest in and concentrate on the rest. Focus on areas like the kitchen, bathroom, living room, and any other areas where you might take them.
Dirty Towels and Clothes
Did you know that you can burn calories while you’re cleaning? Speed walk through each of the areas mentioned above and take a good look around. If you spot crumpled up T-shirts, damp towels, or rogue socks, grab them up and put them into the hamper where they belong. They don’t need to be put into the washer this minute, but they need to be put where they belong and think about the calories you’ve just burned doing it!
Dirty Dishes and Empty Glasses
Ready to burn more calories? Time for your second speed walk. This time, pay attention to your counters and tables. If you notice your coffee mug from this morning’s latte is still sitting out, pick it up and deposit it in the sink or dishwasher. The same thing goes for any plates, pots, or anything else that is kitchen related and needs to be washed.
Bathroom Mirror, Sink, and Toilet
There will be a point in time when your guest will ask you to use your bathroom. Before they arrive, take a few minutes to wipe down the main bathroom fixtures like the mirror, sink, and toilet using your preferred cleaning materials. However, first put things like shaving cream and hair dryers away where they belong. Don’t forget to straighten your hand towels too. While in the bathroom, be sure to close your shower curtain.
Make Space
While you were trying to get your home straightened up in a hurry, if you’re like most people, you’ve more than likely come across a few things that you’re not exactly in love with and have no need for. Don’t just put those things back out when your guest finally decides to go on their way, they’ll just take up a lot of unnecessary space that you could put to better use. Instead, create a box to take to your local Goodwill or Salvation Army.
Last-minute visits from friends or family members will always be associated with a bit of stress, but by following the tips you’ve read here today, at least they’ll leave with the knowledge that your home is tidy and neat.