If your family and friends are anything like mine, they like to drop by unannounced a lot. Never more so though than during the holiday season. The problem though is that I have kids and work and life so my house didn’t use to be what I would call guest-ready all the time. I kind of went with the “excuse the mess” motto for years. But, now that I have gotten older and more aware of how I present myself and my family, I do my best to keep my home guest-ready as often as I can. That is not to say it is always like this, but I do my best.
If you are ready to step up your guest readiness game, here are 5 tips for keeping your home guest-ready:
- Put laundry away immediately after folding it. I won’t lie. This one has been my downfall throughout my life and I know that I am not the only one. It’s too easy to have a stack (or a mountain) of laundry on the table or sofa and just move it from place to place. No more. This one habit can get your house in better working order in general.
- Empty the dishwasher. Right after the dishwasher completes its cycle, empty it. That way whenever a dish is dirtied, you can place it into the dishwasher instead of having them sitting on the counter or in the sink. This is an easy chore for the kids too. My 10 year old empties the dishwasher every day.
- Keep cleaning wipes on hand. Keep a container of cleaning wipes on hand in the kitchen and in each bathroom. This makes quick cleanup of messes easy.
- Have a mail drawer. Do you have one of those houses that has a never ending growing stack of mail on your counter? Make it a habit to go through this stack at least weekly and put the necessary mail into a drawer specified for mail.
Keep scented candles on hand. Even if your house isn’t perfectly clean, it’s nice when it smells good. Choose a nice, but not overbearing smell that will make your guests feel comfortable. I currently have some pumpkin spice candles that I bought on clearance and I have gotten so many compliments on how good the house smells.
