Things guests immediately notice about your home (and things they don't)

Check for mold, Vacuum the floors, Dust visible spots, Empty walls, The entryway, The scent, Clean your windows, Give your kitchen a quick clean, Do the laundry and change linens, Don't professionally clean your carpets, Skip cleaning out closets, Don't clean the laundry room, Don't pick up every last toy, Skip organizing the refrigerator

Having people over at your home can be stress-inducing, particularly if you're a perfectionist. Even if you spend hours cleaning beforehand, you may struggle to relax when they arrive, worrying about what your guests will think of your space and if they have noticed that nook you forgot to dust. But do people really pay close attention to the details when they visit someone else's home? This gallery reveals everything you'll need to clean before visitors arrive and what you can totally skip. Click to discover more.

Check for mold

Check for mold, Vacuum the floors, Dust visible spots, Empty walls, The entryway, The scent, Clean your windows, Give your kitchen a quick clean, Do the laundry and change linens, Don't professionally clean your carpets, Skip cleaning out closets, Don't clean the laundry room, Don't pick up every last toy, Skip organizing the refrigerator

Mold can grow anywhere, from bathrooms to bedrooms and your guests' eyes will divert to those telltale black spots. Not only will mold spores show you haven't cleaned, but some types can be toxic.

Check for mold, Vacuum the floors, Dust visible spots, Empty walls, The entryway, The scent, Clean your windows, Give your kitchen a quick clean, Do the laundry and change linens, Don't professionally clean your carpets, Skip cleaning out closets, Don't clean the laundry room, Don't pick up every last toy, Skip organizing the refrigerator

If you live in an area with high humidity or your home suffers from high moisture, you may wish to invest in a dehumidifier.

Vacuum the floors

Check for mold, Vacuum the floors, Dust visible spots, Empty walls, The entryway, The scent, Clean your windows, Give your kitchen a quick clean, Do the laundry and change linens, Don't professionally clean your carpets, Skip cleaning out closets, Don't clean the laundry room, Don't pick up every last toy, Skip organizing the refrigerator

Guests will definitely notice if the floors are dirty. You don't need to go to extremes; a once-over with the vacuum will be sufficient.

Dust visible spots

Check for mold, Vacuum the floors, Dust visible spots, Empty walls, The entryway, The scent, Clean your windows, Give your kitchen a quick clean, Do the laundry and change linens, Don't professionally clean your carpets, Skip cleaning out closets, Don't clean the laundry room, Don't pick up every last toy, Skip organizing the refrigerator

You don't need to worry about dusting every nook and cranny, but it's a good idea to dust any obvious areas like coffee tables and lampshades. 

Empty walls

Check for mold, Vacuum the floors, Dust visible spots, Empty walls, The entryway, The scent, Clean your windows, Give your kitchen a quick clean, Do the laundry and change linens, Don't professionally clean your carpets, Skip cleaning out closets, Don't clean the laundry room, Don't pick up every last toy, Skip organizing the refrigerator

Bare walls can make a space feel unwelcoming. You may wish to add some photos or art to your communal areas.

The entryway

Check for mold, Vacuum the floors, Dust visible spots, Empty walls, The entryway, The scent, Clean your windows, Give your kitchen a quick clean, Do the laundry and change linens, Don't professionally clean your carpets, Skip cleaning out closets, Don't clean the laundry room, Don't pick up every last toy, Skip organizing the refrigerator

The entryway to your home is the first space your guests will notice, so you want to make sure it's clean and clutter-free.

The scent

Check for mold, Vacuum the floors, Dust visible spots, Empty walls, The entryway, The scent, Clean your windows, Give your kitchen a quick clean, Do the laundry and change linens, Don't professionally clean your carpets, Skip cleaning out closets, Don't clean the laundry room, Don't pick up every last toy, Skip organizing the refrigerator

The scent of your home greets guests as soon as they enter. You may have become accustomed to the smell of your home and not realize if it needs freshening up. You can make your own air freshener or purchase a diffuser. 

Clean your windows

Check for mold, Vacuum the floors, Dust visible spots, Empty walls, The entryway, The scent, Clean your windows, Give your kitchen a quick clean, Do the laundry and change linens, Don't professionally clean your carpets, Skip cleaning out closets, Don't clean the laundry room, Don't pick up every last toy, Skip organizing the refrigerator

Before guests enter your home, they will notice if your front door or windows are dirty. It's a good idea to wipe down any external surfaces before people arrive.

Give your kitchen a quick clean

Check for mold, Vacuum the floors, Dust visible spots, Empty walls, The entryway, The scent, Clean your windows, Give your kitchen a quick clean, Do the laundry and change linens, Don't professionally clean your carpets, Skip cleaning out closets, Don't clean the laundry room, Don't pick up every last toy, Skip organizing the refrigerator

Putting away dishes and wiping down appliances and countertops is enough to make the kitchen look presentable before guests arrive. You may also want to light a candle to eliminate any lingering food smells.

Do the laundry and change linens

Check for mold, Vacuum the floors, Dust visible spots, Empty walls, The entryway, The scent, Clean your windows, Give your kitchen a quick clean, Do the laundry and change linens, Don't professionally clean your carpets, Skip cleaning out closets, Don't clean the laundry room, Don't pick up every last toy, Skip organizing the refrigerator

Unclean towels and bed linens are off-putting to guests, so make sure towels and sheets are freshly laundered before they arrive.

Don't professionally clean your carpets

Check for mold, Vacuum the floors, Dust visible spots, Empty walls, The entryway, The scent, Clean your windows, Give your kitchen a quick clean, Do the laundry and change linens, Don't professionally clean your carpets, Skip cleaning out closets, Don't clean the laundry room, Don't pick up every last toy, Skip organizing the refrigerator

You don't need to have your carpets or rugs cleaned professionally before guests arrive. A quick vacuum to pick up dust or debris will be more than enough.

Skip cleaning out closets

Check for mold, Vacuum the floors, Dust visible spots, Empty walls, The entryway, The scent, Clean your windows, Give your kitchen a quick clean, Do the laundry and change linens, Don't professionally clean your carpets, Skip cleaning out closets, Don't clean the laundry room, Don't pick up every last toy, Skip organizing the refrigerator

If you have long-term guests staying over, you won't need to do a full closet cleanout; just ensure they have a few hangers for their clothes and a drawer or two.

Don't clean the laundry room

Check for mold, Vacuum the floors, Dust visible spots, Empty walls, The entryway, The scent, Clean your windows, Give your kitchen a quick clean, Do the laundry and change linens, Don't professionally clean your carpets, Skip cleaning out closets, Don't clean the laundry room, Don't pick up every last toy, Skip organizing the refrigerator

If you have a laundry room, don't make it a priority to clean or tidy it if you only have guests over for an afternoon or evening. 

Don't pick up every last toy

Check for mold, Vacuum the floors, Dust visible spots, Empty walls, The entryway, The scent, Clean your windows, Give your kitchen a quick clean, Do the laundry and change linens, Don't professionally clean your carpets, Skip cleaning out closets, Don't clean the laundry room, Don't pick up every last toy, Skip organizing the refrigerator

If you have children, you may want to tidy away the majority of the toys, but your guests won't judge you for having the odd toy lying around.

Skip organizing the refrigerator

Check for mold, Vacuum the floors, Dust visible spots, Empty walls, The entryway, The scent, Clean your windows, Give your kitchen a quick clean, Do the laundry and change linens, Don't professionally clean your carpets, Skip cleaning out closets, Don't clean the laundry room, Don't pick up every last toy, Skip organizing the refrigerator

It's unlikely guests will look inside your refrigerator, so there's no need to organize it before people come over. You may, however, want to wipe away any old spills and throw out expired food.

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