IN THIS POST
- Take Out the Trash
- Vacuum the Floors
- Open the Windows
- Remove the Unwashed Utensils
- Tidy Up All the Surfaces
- Make the Dining Table Shine
- Quick-Clean the Powder Room
- Bring Plants Indoors
Have you ever experienced that rush of adrenaline (mixed with a splash of frustration) when you only have a few minutes to clean your entire house before a guest shows up? If you are one of those people who have a systematic approach to tidying up and styling their home, the situation could leave you frazzled and confused, wondering where to start and what to tackle first. Well, if you ever find yourself in this situation, our tips on how to make your home ready for guests in an hour or less will surely help you spruce up your space.
Remember, the more individuals you have in your household, the quicker it would be to clean the place before someone rings the doorbell. However, if you want to avoid chaos and confusion, please make sure to delegate diligently and divide the tasks equally among your family members.
How to Make Your Home Ready for Guests on a Short Notice
Here are some tried-and-tested tips that will help you learn how to make your home ready for guests in an hour without feeling like you’ve just run a marathon.
Take Out the Trash
The first step to preparing your home for guests is getting rid of any wrappers, discarded tissue papers, and other trash strewn about your home. You should ideally start with your drawing room before moving on to the living room and bedrooms. It is also extremely important to get rid of any fruit and vegetable peels resting on your kitchen counter or any food remnants lying in the sink as quickly as possible.
Once you have put all the trash in the dustbin, please take it out or at least move it out of the way.
Quickly Vacuum the Floors
You cannot get your house ready for guests without vacuuming the floors. However, since this task can take a long time depending on the size of your home, you should consider starting with the drawing room before moving on to the living room. Also, instead of thoroughly cleaning every nook and cranny of each room, just make sure to run the machine once over all the carpeted areas and rugs to ensure they are free of any visible dirt or debris.
Meanwhile, if you have tile flooring, just grab a dry mop or a regular broom to sweep the room. Unless your floors are extremely dirty or haven’t been cleaned in a while, you will be likely able to cruise through without having to use a wet mop.
Open the Windows for Ventilation
This is perhaps the most important and time-effective tip to make your home ready for guests. If you want your space to look bright and fresh, consider pulling the curtains on your windows to the side and letting some sunlight into your home. In addition, don’t forget to open the windows to improve ventilation and get rid of any unpleasant odours in the house. Doing so would make your space feel cleaner and lively.
You can also turn on the fans in each room for better air circulation. Furthermore, these home ventilation hacks can come in handy during the summer months when the stifling heat can make your space feel like an oven.
Clear out the Unwashed Utensils
If your kitchen looks cluttered and disorganized, you should consider removing as many items from the countertops as possible and moving all the dirty dishes, cookware, and cutlery to the sink. Since your guests can arrive at any moment, you likely don’t have enough time to scrub the stovetop or thoroughly wash the counters. However, moving all the unwashed dishes out of sight would make a huge difference. You can even try soaking them in the sink so they are not the first thing a person notices when they enter your kitchen.
Furthermore, don’t forget to take a look at our tips on how to keep your kitchen clean and sparkling.
Tidy Up All the Surfaces
This step is the key to preparing your home for guests. Even if you don’t have enough time to organize your home, picking toys and clothes off the sofa will hardly take a couple of minutes. Similarly, you can spend a few minutes ensuring your coffee table, console table, end tables, and other items in your home look clean and tidy.
If you have pets in your home, you may want to take a lint roller to remove any fur that may have stuck on the couches and chairs. Moreover, if there are young kids in your home, make sure their toys and books are not taking up any space in the drawing-room or the living area.
Make Your Dining Table Shine
Remove any utility bills, mail, books, and other random things lying on your dining table before wiping the surface with a microfibre cloth and a cleaning spray. Once your dining table looks free of crumbs and other junk that tends to accumulate on the surface, you may want to add a runner to spruce up its appearance or throw a few placement mats to make everything look cohesive. If a runner and placement mats are out of the equation, consider adding a flower vase or any other decorative piece to your dining table.
For inspiration, you can also check out our guide on how to decorate your dining table for special occasions.
Quick-Clean the Powder Room
Decluttering your vanity, drying the floors, and wiping down the mirror can instantly make your powder room look ten times cleaner than before. If you’ve got a bit more time on your hand, consider quickly washing the basin with a store-bought cleaner or dishwashing liquid. Moreover, you can add some cleaning product to the toilet and flush it after a couple of minutes to make the space more hygienic.
Here are some more DIY bathroom cleaning tips you may want to take a look at.
Add Fresh Flowers or Plants to Your Space
Does your house look dull and lifeless despite all your efforts over the last hour or so? If your answer is yes, you should consider adding a bit of colour to your space by placing a few houseplants at prime locations in your home. For example, you can move the potted plants on your kitchen window to the coffee table in your living room.
Alternatively, if you have any large potted plants in your garden or balcony, bringing them indoors can instantly brighten the place along with making it look more contemporary. After all, bringing nature indoors is one of the most noteworthy interior design trends still going strong in 2022.
This brings us to the end of our guide on how to make your home ready for guests. To conclude, always start tidying up your house by removing trash and vacuuming the floors. Next, declutter and clean the countertops and dining table to ensure your space looks put together and well-kept. Don’t forget to do a quick clean-up of your kitchen and powder room before adding some fresh flowers or plants to your home décor. As a bonus tip, consider lighting up a scented candle in your home to make it smell fresh and pleasant.
If you are looking for more tips on how to accommodate guests in your home, our comprehensive guides on essential items for a guest bedroom and how to create a welcoming bedroom for guests will surely help you out.
For more on how to organize your home, please stay connected to Zameen Blog – the top home improvement and real estate blog in Pakistan. You can also share your thoughts and ideas with us by dropping an email at blog@zameen.com. Also, don’t forget to visit our Facebook page to stay up-to-date about the latest property investment opportunities in your city.
