AARP Hearing Center
Having friends or relatives over for dinner or for a gathering? The menu-planning, shopping and cooking can leave even the most organized event-thrower without the time to do a deep clean.
But just because you are having company doesn’t mean you need to clean your house from top to bottom.
“Think about where your guests are going to be in the house,” says Alyssa Landrum, area representative from Two Maids, a franchised cleaning service headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.
Those areas are most often the kitchen, living room, guest bathroom, and maybe the dining room.
Keeping the focus on tidying just those rooms will make entertaining feel less overwhelming. You don’t need a lot of equipment either. A vacuum, sanitizing wipes, microfiber cloths, cleaning spray, baking soda and trash bags will get you through most of your cleaning.
Set aside an hour or two (less if you have helpers) to tackle these eight tasks to make sure your house is in great shape for guests.
1. Do the dishes
This should go without saying, but nobody wants to eat and drink around a sink full of dirty dishes. Make sure to put dishes away, rinse out any food particles and wipe down the sink. For a stainless steel sink, sprinkle baking soda and wipe down with a microfiber cloth to sanitize and retain its shine.
2. Clear the clutter
Putting things away constitutes the bulk of cleaning. Scan countertops, coffee tables and other visible areas that tend to collect stuff.
“Small appliances that are not used all day can be stored away and brought back out when needed,” says Leanne Stapf, chief operating officer of the Cleaning Authority, a cleaning franchise based in Columbia, Maryland.
Consider where guests will be putting down their food or drinks. Clear and wipe down coffee tables, side tables and even your kitchen island.
Stapf also recommends putting out coasters to avoid any future stain marks.