18 Seemingly Unimportant Things You Should ALWAYS Clean If You're Having Guests Over
It's always considerate to tidy up around the house when you know guests are coming over, but there are some things that might get overlooked because of how seemingly unimportant they are. Recently, Redditor u/Tough_Letterhead9399 asked those in the Reddit Community to share the "unnoticeable" things one shouldn't forget to clean, and I'm keeping these tips in my back pocket:
1."Under the toilet lid."
2."Take a good look at your outside front door area. Make sure the doorbell isn't smudged with dirt."
3."People with dogs: if your dog has a favorite place to lounge on the sofa, please sit there yourself and have your guest sit in your favorite spot instead of vice versa. I can't tell how often friends' homes will be pretty clean, but when I visit and am invited to sit on the sofa, it's gross with pet oils and hair. It gives me a huge ick and makes me want to shower and wash all my clothes (and, yes, I like dogs). So, give your guest your favorite spot, not your pet's grimy spot."
4."Those covers that go on light switches and electrical outlets! They're usually white and glossy, but they get touched a lot, so they yuck up fast."
5."Wash the rug in the guest bathroom. I don't know how many times I've stayed at people's houses, and I had to put socks on the second I got out of the shower because the rug was filthy with dirt, crumbs, and god knows whatever else sticks to the feet. I swear, some people have never washed them since laying them down."
6."Inside of the kitchen trash can lid."
7."Dust your ceiling fans. Some people never clean them off and end up having an inch of dust on them."
8."The first thing isn't even a sight issue — how does your house SMELL? If your garbage is overflowing, it's a quick and easy swap-over. Gather from other areas, like the bathroom, while you're at it. A quick wipe of the toilet and sink goes a long way, too. Lastly, change over the hand towels in your kitchen and bath for fresh ones. Chances are, your guest will use the bathroom, and changing the towels is the smallest thing you can do, and it goes a long way in making your space feel fresh. This should only take you a maximum of 10 minutes. If you have more time, feel free to tackle other things around the house."
9."Cobwebs on the ceilings."
10."My mom always says to clean the silverware drawer!"
11."The answer is baseboards, especially in the bathroom."
12."Bathroom fans. A filthy fan cover always grosses me out."
13."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."
14."Remotes for the TV and other equipment, game controllers, and keyboards. And wipe down your glassware."
15."Inside your microwave. I know it seems like nobody would be getting in there, but next thing you know, your guest will be asking to heat up the cup of coffee you offered them."
16."The space between the seat cover and back of the toilet, plus the top of the toilet. I get the ick when it's all dusty."
17."Door handles."
18."Front of kitchen cabinets."
19.Lastly: "The bathroom medicine cabinet. People are going to look, so hide that stuff under your bed until they're gone. Toothbrushes, too."
What's a seemingly small thing to clean around the house that makes a big difference when hosting guests? Let us know in the comments, or you can anonymously submit your thoughts using this form!
Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
