We’ve all been there, you’ve invited a group of friends over and kept putting off that big house clean. Now, it’s the day they’re coming and your house is a mess. You don’t want to cancel on them, nor do you want them to see the dirty space you call your home – so it’s time to face the big clean.
It can feel daunting when your house is overwhelmed with mess. Sometimes, you may not even know where to begin! Well, we understand. So we’ve created a little cheat sheet to help you get your house in tip-top condition before your friends come over. You deserve to feel good in your home and to be able to share your space with those you love.
Take Out the Trash
The first step is to get anything out of your house that doesn’t belong there. Whether you’ve managed to contain your rubbish in bins, or if it’s strewn about your floors and surfaces, it’s time to get rid.
Go through your entire house and pick up every last piece of rubbish and throw it out. You’ll be amazed at what a big difference this can really make.
Got Machines?
And, no – we’re not talking about sitting in front of your games console for a couple of hours. Get the dishwasher running and put in a load of laundry, that way the machines can clean along with you.
You can race against the machine to see how much you can get done. (This works on a smaller scale too, for example, clearing up the kitchen and doing dishes while the kettle boils to make tea, etc).
Put Away Clothes
We all use the floordrobe every once in a while, but when your friends are coming over it’s better to put your clothes back where they belong. If things have got a little out of control, you might want to also use this time to donate any clothes you no longer wear to charity.
Getting rid of stuff is a great way to maintain a more clean house in the long run as you have less to organise.
Make the Beds
When you go into a bedroom and make a bed, you will instantly notice the difference it makes in a room. A clean room with an unmade bed can look dirty, and a dirty room with a made bed can look surprisingly well put together.
Dusting
Tackle those surfaces! Make sure to remove any dust and reorganise everything as you go. You can also use this opportunity to tackle any lurking cobwebs. Make sure to dust first with a dry cloth and then go over with a disinfectant spray to make sure your home remains clean and hygienic.
Clean the Bathroom
Everyone’s favourite job! This is one of the most important things to do before hosting people in your home. Almost a third of guests would be put off by a dirty toilet, so don’t forget to give it a good scrub.
You should also change your hand towels and bath mats to make sure it all looks sparkling and fresh.
Tackle The Kitchen
If you’re serving food it’s especially important to show that your kitchen is clean so that your guests will feel comfortable eating the food you prepared.
Make sure to wash any dirty plates, pots and pans. Give the sink a good clean afterwards too and pour some bleach down the plughole to get rid of any lingering drain smells.
If guests will be storing their own drinks or food in the fridge, make sure it is nice and clean and that there is space for them to put their items.
Floors
The final step is to look after your floors. After cleaning the floor you’ll find your whole house feels brought together and clean. You will also find that your floors will be more resistant to trodden in stains and dirt if they are clean before your guests arrive.
Once you have hoovered and mopped you have a real excuse to put your feet up as you wait for your floors to dry. Now, you’re ready to welcome your friends.
