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There are few things that get me speed cleaning faster than hearing I’m just about to host some unexpected guests. I try to keep my home as tidy and sanitized as possible at all times. But when you have a young kid and a dog as unemployed housemates, living rent-free and competing for who can make the biggest mess, it’s not always easy. Even the most pedantic of people might forget a spot when they’re racing with a bucket and mop in hand, against the clock.
Someone recently asked netizens to list the seemingly unnoticeable things they should not forget to clean before guests come over. Some of the answers might seem like a no-brainer while others could surprise you. From "under the toilet lid" to "on top of the fridge," Bored Panda has picked our favorites. Feel free to save them so you don’t get caught off-guard, and embarrassed, the next time the doorbell rings.
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#1
Yeah, sit on the toilet and gaze at the floor. People have nothing to look at while on the pot, so they’ll notice things like baseboard trim, dirty grout, etc.
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How much of your home you’re able to clean will depend on how much time you have before your guests arrive but you’ll most likely want to focus on the areas that they will be in or see.
Think entryways, bathrooms, patios, dining and living areas, the kitchen and if your visitors will be sleeping over, you’ll definitely not want the guest bedroom looking like a junk room.
Make sure the entrance of your house is welcoming and tidy. Sweep any leaves, dust or dirt and give the welcome mat a shake. Check that the handle of your front door is clean. Wipe it down and sanitize it. Clear any clutter in the entryway.
#4
Under the toilet lid!
Sue Denham 8 months ago
This one should be an every day thing - not just when you're expecting guests.
#5
Door handles, cabinet doors and fridge especially.
Lame Llama 8 months ago
I wipe down the handles of my kitchen cabinets quickly as part of my after dinner cleaning up everyday.
#6
Dusting ceiling fans. Some people never clean them off and have a inch of dust on them.
#7
The space between the seat cover and back of the toilet! And the top of the toilet. I get the ick when it’s dusty
#8
First thing is not even a sight issue… how does your house SMELL??? If your garbage is overflowing, it’s quick and easy swap over. Gather from other areas like bathroom too while you’re at it. Next is the bathroom. A quick wipe of the toilet and sink (not a full detail scrub, just a wipe) goes a long way. And last is change over the hand towels in your kitchen and bath for fresh ones. Chances are your guest will use the bathroom and these are the smallest things you can do that go the longest ways to make your space feel fresh. And this should only take you maximum 10 minutes, then if you have more time you can tackle other things around that you feel put your space in a more welcoming state.
#9
Front of kitchen cabinets.
Gossameringue 8 months ago
So true. These collect dust and drips. Dust and drips also describes my teenage dating life.
#11
Hand soap and clean towels to dry your hands in the bathroom.
StrangeOne 8 months ago (edited)
Make sure the decorative towels you don't want anyone to use are put away, and a clean hand towel is hung near the sink, and put away that bath towel. I don't know how many times I've been to someone's house and all they have are these frilly towels I'm afraid to smear my hands on and get in trouble, and a questionable bath towel I don't know may have been smeared by someone's butt.
#12
Those covers that go on light switches and electrical outlets! They're usually white and glossy, and they get touched a lot so they yuck up fast.
#14
Sink faucets and mirrors. Also dust random places.
#15
Please wipe down your dining chairs. Seats AND rings, especially if you have children. There are almost ALWAYS crusty bits of food stuck on them and gross handprints that you don’t notice. Saying this as a mom AND a guest… but other than that, I wouldn’t worry. They are coming to see YOU and if they sit in judgement, well… that says more about them than you, love… I only mentioned the chair thing because that is good practice in general and people almost always forget it when they are cleaning from my experience.
#16
Inside your microwave. I know it seems like nobody would be getting in there, but next think you know, they're asking to heat up their cup of coffee you offered them...
Brian Droste 8 months ago
I just get a paper towel damp and put it in the microwave for about 10 secs. The moisture from the paper towel will soften everything up and can wipe it down with a clean cloth or clean paper towel.
#18
My mom always says silverware drawer!
#19
Take a good look at your outside front door area. Make sure the doorbell isn’t smudged with dirt.
quentariel 8 months ago
Now this is one thing that never even came to my mind to check. I live alone and obviously use keys to get in.
#20
Floors in visiting areas are truly clean, not just look clean. If the host requests shoes off at the door (my personal preference), sock soles shouldn’t be dirty after visiting for an hour or two.
quentariel 8 months ago
Socks off is the norm where I live and floors are easy to keep clean. Although as I often paint, my wooden floors have random specks of acrylic paint in random places. It's easy to get them off, but takes a quite some time. So if I'm in the middle of a project, I don't bother getting them all the time. My mom always taught me that you should be able to walk with white socks without them getting dirty, so I've always kept that - just with an added paintdrops (that don't stain).
#21
People with dogs: if your dog has a favorite place to lounge on the sofa, please sit there yourself and have your guest sit on your favorite spot, instead of vice versa.
I can't tell you how many times my friends' homes will be pretty clean but when I visit and am invited to sit down on the sofa, and it is just gross with pet oils (even if the pet hair is swept up). Gives me huge icks and makes me want to shower/wash all my clothes. (And yep I like dogs). So give your guest your favorite spot, and you sit in your pet's grimy spot.
lovemy suffolk 8 months ago
I agree. This is good hospitality. And the dog probably prefers you in their space over stranger also.
#22
Wash the rug in the guest bathroom. Idk how many times I’ve stayed at people’s houses and I put socks on the second I get out of the shower because the rug is filthy with dirt and crumbs and god knows what that stick to your feet. I swear some people have never washed them since laying them down. .
#24
The glass covers on light fixtures like a dining room chandelier. Especially if the dining room is usually not used. They get dusty and greasy if they’re near the kitchen. Even light bulbs on wall sconces get dirty if not dusted every once in a while.
#25
The top of the fridge.
I am short and my husband is tall. My husband does not care if there is dust on top of the fridge and I cannot see it so I forget. Every two weeks I stand on a stool that makes me as tall as my husband and I clean all the areas tall people see that I (a short person) do not.
I am a stay at home wife and my husband works a lot so I don’t mind that he does not clean and I do.
#26
When the light’s string pull is white …. Except for the bottom few inches above the plastic oohjah at the bottom.
#27
Behind the bathroom door. You don’t see that spot until the bathroom door is closed. And it can collect a lot of dust and ick.
#28
I like to have the front door and back door of my apartment open when I sweep. If it’s not too cold, I’ll even have the fan on. I think it refreshes the room and helps diffuse any smells to which I might have become oblivious.
#29
Exhaustive list, which may or may not be relevant depending on what you are going to do together:
Door handles, doors, thresholds and trim for doors, and walls, especially in areas with a lot of spatter, like bathroom and kitchen.
Light switches and electrical outlets.
Toilet seat, above and under. Toilet brims. Sinks and taps (hate coming home to peoples homes and there are residues of beard all over the bathroom sink). Toilet paper holders.
Table sides.
Below carpets and behind curtains.
Radiators.
Remotes for TV and other equipment, game controllers, keyboards and mouse.
Glassware.
Microwaves, stove tops and ovens. Fridge.
StrangeOne 8 months ago
This is why I rarely invite people over. I do all of this spaced out. I do not like doing a deep clean all in one, tight timeframe.
#30
Cobwebs on the ceilings.
#31
Top of the toilet cistern unless it's one of those near the ceiling ones.
#32
The black garbage disposals guard thingy in your kitchen sink.
#33
Stainless steel anything seems to be way more dirty than we notice day to day. Grill hoods, fridge handles, microwaves, ovens, trash cans, visible small appliances, dishwashers all show hard water, smudges and dust. I give these a once over.
#36
If you are short... apparently tall people can see the dust on your shelves and picture frames. lol.
seriously though, take a bucket and some cloths and wash all the doors, esp around the doorknobs and also the light switches and the walls around those. Look closely at the wall next to the toilet in all kinds of light/positions.
#37
Light switches. People seem to forget to clean them, even self-described ‘neat freaks.’.
SouthernGal 7 months ago
Light switches, door knobs and remote controls are often overlooked. I can’t imagine how nasty remote controls in hotels are.
#38
Doors where people grab them to push or pull them
open. Area around and above the doorknob. Also, light switch covers.
#39
Wall behind the garage can if it’s not inside a cupboard. I dated a guy who never cleaned the wall and it was covered in splatter. Yes I spoke up about it no it didn’t last. He was a gross guy.
#40
The bathroom medicine cabinet. People are gonna look. Hide that stuff under your bed till they’re gone. Toothbrushes too.
Gossameringue 8 months ago
Or put really weird s**t in there like jars of preserves, Polly Pocket dolls, and googly eyes
What do you think ?
Sarah Suelzle 8 months ago
Ok so literally every inch of your entire house. Got it. I have to say...if my house has to be THAT clean for someone to visit...I'll just meet them at their hotel.
Hippopotamuses 8 months ago (edited)
I don't want to seem judgemental, but just keeping your house clean, to an acceptable level, would solve all of these problems. People should be coming to see you, not your house!
StrangeOne 8 months ago
To the average person, yes. But if you have particularly judgmental people in your circle, probably best to limit their visits or not have them over at all.
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Daria 8 months ago
i've always lived by the rule that if it's acceptably clean for my family and me, all the others will manage. if not, we can always meet at their place instead :D
Savannah greenleaf 7 months ago
Agreed, otherwise they walked in the door they should know where to exit.
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MonsterMum 8 months ago
I think a house should be a home, not some sterile showpiece. If your friends are nosing through your bathroom cabinet and looking for dust, they shouldn't be. A home should be hygienic and functional. A bit of dust is not unhygienic.
T'Mar of Vulcan 7 months ago
Went to visit some friends in the UK and I have never seen such a cluttered house in my life. I mean, every surface was covered with *stuff*. Even at the dining table - I had to balance my plate between a pile of books and papers and the edge. The back yard, small as it was, had grass growing at waist-height. I was flabbergasted and found it hard not to judge. I mean, the visit/dinner was planned months in advance, and they couldn't even clean off the couch for visitors to sit on? They couldn't be bothered to move stuff off the table that people were going to eat at? I feel sorry for their kids, living in that mess.
Sarah Suelzle 8 months ago
Ok so literally every inch of your entire house. Got it. I have to say...if my house has to be THAT clean for someone to visit...I'll just meet them at their hotel.
Hippopotamuses 8 months ago (edited)
I don't want to seem judgemental, but just keeping your house clean, to an acceptable level, would solve all of these problems. People should be coming to see you, not your house!
StrangeOne 8 months ago
To the average person, yes. But if you have particularly judgmental people in your circle, probably best to limit their visits or not have them over at all.
Load More Replies... Daria 8 months ago
i've always lived by the rule that if it's acceptably clean for my family and me, all the others will manage. if not, we can always meet at their place instead :D
Savannah greenleaf 7 months ago
Agreed, otherwise they walked in the door they should know where to exit.
Load More Replies... MonsterMum 8 months ago
I think a house should be a home, not some sterile showpiece. If your friends are nosing through your bathroom cabinet and looking for dust, they shouldn't be. A home should be hygienic and functional. A bit of dust is not unhygienic.
T'Mar of Vulcan 7 months ago
Went to visit some friends in the UK and I have never seen such a cluttered house in my life. I mean, every surface was covered with *stuff*. Even at the dining table - I had to balance my plate between a pile of books and papers and the edge. The back yard, small as it was, had grass growing at waist-height. I was flabbergasted and found it hard not to judge. I mean, the visit/dinner was planned months in advance, and they couldn't even clean off the couch for visitors to sit on? They couldn't be bothered to move stuff off the table that people were going to eat at? I feel sorry for their kids, living in that mess.
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