How to clean your house before guests arrive

Before guests arrive, clean the rooms they'll actually use: the guest bathroom first, then the entry, then the kitchen, then the room they'll sleep in. Do the deep work two or three days ahead, clear fridge space the day before, and save a quick wipe of the bathroom and counters for the day itself.

Nobody opens your hall closet. Everybody uses the bathroom. Spend the time where people look.

What should you clean first before guests come over?

Rank the house by what guests touch:

1. The guest bathroom. Every guest uses it, and it's the room people judge.
2. The entry. The first thing anyone sees, and in a lot of rowhomes the front door opens straight into the living room, so there's no hallway to hide coats and shoes in.
3. The kitchen. People gather in it whether you want them there or not.
4. The living or dining room. Where they'll sit.
5. The guest room, if anyone's staying over.

Everything else, from the basement to your own closet, can wait until after.

How do you get the guest bathroom ready?

• Scrub the toilet inside and out, including the base and behind the seat hinges.
• Clean the sink, faucet and counter, and polish the mirror.
• Scrub the tub or shower if guests are staying over.
• Mop the floor, edges and behind the toilet included.
• Empty the trash and put a fresh liner in.
• Put out clean hand towels and a spare roll of toilet paper where it can be seen.

In a trinity or a narrow rowhome there may be only one bathroom, up a set of stairs. Clean it last on the day guests arrive, after everyone in the house has showered.

How do you get the entry ready?

Clear the shoes and bags, vacuum and mop, and wipe the door, the handle and the light switch. Put down a doormat inside and out. In winter, a boot tray by the door saves your floors from road salt and slush. Make one hook or one chair the obvious place for coats.

Driving guests? If you're on a residential permit parking block, check the Philadelphia Parking Authority's rules for visitors on your block before they arrive, so nobody spends dinner worrying about a ticket.

How do you get the kitchen ready for a party?

The kitchen has two jobs on a hosting day: look clean, and work hard. Get it ready for both.

• The day before, clear the fridge. Toss old leftovers, wipe the shelves, and make an empty shelf for platters and drinks.
• Wipe the counters, stovetop and cabinet fronts. Handles and the fronts at hand height pick up the most fingerprints. Our guide to cleaning a stovetop covers gas grates and glass tops.
• Clean the sink and run hot water down the drain so it doesn't smell.
• Start empty. Empty the dishwasher and take out the trash and recycling before guests arrive. Put a spare bag in the bottom of the can so the next one is right there.
• Set up a landing spot for dirty dishes, like a tray or a bus tub next to the sink, so plates don't spread over every counter.
• Mop the floor last, then put a mat in front of the sink.

How do you get the guest room ready?

• Wash the sheets and the extra blanket, and make the bed fresh.
• Dust the nightstand, dresser and windowsill.
• Vacuum the floor and under the bed.
• Clear a drawer or a shelf and a few hangers for their things.
• Empty the trash can.

If the guest room is on the third floor of a trinity, carry up a towel set, a glass and a phone charger so they're not walking the winding stair at night.

What can you leave for the day itself?

Keep the day-of list short:

• Wipe the bathroom sink, the toilet seat and the mirror.
• Wipe the kitchen counters.
• Vacuum the entry and the main room.
• Take out any trash.
• Open a window for ten minutes.

That's it. If you did the deep work earlier in the week, this takes well under an hour.

Should you book a cleaning before hosting?

If you're hosting more than a dinner, book the clean for two or three days before, not the morning of, so you're not cooking around someone mopping. Book House Cleaning or Deep Cleaning online, and put the guest bathroom, the kitchen and the guest room in your booking notes.

Booking late? We offer same day, next day and weekends.

FAQ

What should I clean first before guests come over? The guest bathroom, the entry and the kitchen, in that order. Those are the rooms every guest walks through or uses, so they matter more than closets or the basement.

How far ahead should I clean before hosting? Do the deep work two or three days ahead: the bathroom, the kitchen and the guest room. Leave a quick pass for the day itself: a wipe of the bathroom sink and toilet, the counters, and a vacuum of the entry.

How do I get my kitchen ready for a party? Clear and wipe the fridge the day before so there's room for platters and drinks. Empty the dishwasher and the trash before guests arrive, and keep a spare bag in the bottom of the can.

Book a clean before your guests

Our service area: every Philadelphia neighborhood, plus the Pennsylvania suburbs within about 30 miles of Center City, in Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks and Chester counties. Book online at phillyscleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (215) 798-7576, 9 AM to 9 PM, every day.