Hosting is stressful, especially around the holidays when there's already so much to do. Making sure the house is clean and tidy before your guests arrive is one of the main parts of the prep, but it's easy to forget to keep certain things clean when doing a big sweep around your home.
With so much on your mind, it's almost inevitable that you won't clean everything. But, what are the top places we're all forgetting to clean? I asked an expert to share the 7 areas guests' eyes are drawn to that can make your home look gross (without you even realizing). And there's a lot of high-traffic areas you might be shocked to see on the list.
1. The couch
First up, the couch may look fairly clean, but look a little closer... All of a sudden, you might find yourself panicking at the stains and dirt hidden within your couch. For this, Kaylie says: "Don't forget to vacuum the couch cushions and seams. After that, remove cushions and vacuum underneath."
If the vacuum doesn't quite cut it, using a lint roller can pick up any excess dirt and hair. And if it's still looking dirty, remove the cushions altogether and wash them.
2. Fridge
It can be a bit of a pain if you've already stocked your fridge full of food ready to host, but cleaning it out is also essential. I'll be the first to admit, I'll sometimes throw the good food in with the bad when I'm in a rush.
But, keeping it clean will also impress your guests. For this, Kaylie advises: "Be sure to remove expired food and wipe shelves with dish soap and water!"
3. Trash can
While there's 9 expert tips to keep your trash can clean, Kaylie has her own personal tip to make sure you give your bin a good wash before your guests arrive. She says: "Make a mixture of warm water and a deodorizer like vinegar."
It's important to give it a good scrub and rinse both inside and out to make sure your trash can is looking and smelling it's best. After all, it's about to have a lot of waste fill it up with all your hosting.
4. Coat closet or entryway
It's an easily forgotten part of your house as it's often covered in shoes and coats, but it's important to remember this is one of the first places your guests will see in your home – and they'll have their own coats and shoes to add to the pile (or hopefully neat and tidy space).
Kaylie has a simple and quick trick for keeping it clean: "Straight what's already there and store off-season items elsewhere." It's a good idea to clear space ready to make room for new arrivals.
5. Microwave
Another kitchen appliance that needs your attention is the microwave. Imagine the despair when a guest goes to pop something inside your microwave and there's old grease stains and potentially an odd bit of dried on vegetable waiting to greet them, or even a bad smell.
While there's the 5 best hacks to use to clean your microwave, Kaylie says it's as simple as: "Heat a bowl of water for a couple of minutes, let it sit, then wipe everything down using a zero scratch sponge."
6. Pantry
If you've got a dedicated pantry space in your home, while it's a great place to store extra food items, it's also another area that can become messy and forgotten.
Similarly to your fridge, you want to clear it out and while Kaylie says you should "remove expired items and duplicates," she also adds that you can "group essentials so holiday ingredients are easy to find." Same goes for any general hosting items.
7. Kids' toys and/or pet bowls
If you've got kids, pets, or both, you'll know the mess that they can make. A quick clean up of the toys is always good practice around the holidays, but hosting is a perfect excuse to get ahead of it. Kaylie advises: "Set aside broken or outgrown toys. Donate anything still in good condition to make room for incoming gifts."
And when it comes to your pet food and water bowls, Kaylie says it's important to give them a good scrub and clean, as well as wiping down their mats. Because what you don't want when you're hosting is any lingering pet food smells.
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