There’s no rulebook for when guests come over. You don’t have to clean, but unfortunately, people notice things, and they aren’t always polite. Now, this doesn’t mean you have to go the June Cleaver or Donna Reed route in your home, but there are certain areas of your home you might not be thinking about, so we’re here to let you know what people see.
Vent Covers
One of the first things people notice, strangely enough, is the vents. If the vents are dirty, they assume it’s a sign that you’re not cleaning your home daily and that your home needs work. It’s recommended that you clean the vents at least once a month and then perform a deep clean twice a year.
Stinky Trash Cans
Most people don’t clean their trash cans. They assume that because you put a bag inside the trash, it doesn’t get dirty. While that’s good in theory, it doesn’t work; things leak through, bags tear, and trash gets smelly. Clean the outside and inside to eliminate odors, and ensure you’re taking out your trash regularly.
The Shower Curtain
The bottom of your shower curtain gets grimy and disgusting after a bit. Someone using your bathroom shouldn’t notice it, unless they’re Sherlock Holmes and they’re pretending your bathroom is a crime scene. Overnight guests, however, will likely notice it when they’re showering, so it’s a good idea to get into the habit of cleaning it.
The Stove
Stoves have always been a place that shows dirt well, and in squalid apartments and homes, people have reported seeing cockroaches inside the clock on the stove. Unfortunately, the entire stove can easily show grime, so you need to clean it from top to bottom, including the controls, to keep it looking polished.
Doors
Doors are high-traffic surfaces. If they’re not clean, people notice immediately because it’s the first thing they come into contact with. People will judge your home’s cleanliness by its doors, because if the outside is dirty, they assume the inside is worse. Be sure to clean the entire door, including the frame and the knobs.
Ceiling Fan Blades
While these aren’t fun to clean, and they’re something you probably don’t think about very often, they need to be cleaned. It’s something that people notice immediately and will judge you on just as quickly. Use an old pillowcase and slide the blade inside. Remove all the dust, and it will go inside the pillowcase instead of on your floor. If your blades are exceptionally grimy, wipe the pillowcase and continue until it’s clean.
Dirty Toilet
No one wants to come to someone’s home, need to go to the bathroom, and then walk away wondering if there was mold or grime where they just sat. Dirty toilets are highly noticeable, and cleaning the bowl isn’t enough. You need to clean under the seat and the top of the seat. You should also clean the base and tank, ensuring that all surfaces are clean and sanitary. Don’t forget the handle!
Walls
When you’ve got dirty walls, they stand out. Especially if you have a wall with light colors, a clean home will still look messy if the walls aren’t clean. Thankfully, walls are easy to clean. Get a few drops of soap and a microfiber cloth. It doesn’t take a lot of rough scrubbing. Most of it should come off fairly easily.
The Couch
The couch is a prominent place where people are likely to be seen. If there are crumbs or food on the sofa, or something that’s wedged in between the cushions, people are going to be grossed out, and they won’t want to come back. Think of that episode of Friends and the dirty apartment. The character was so disgusted that he ended their relationship. While your friends probably won’t break up with you, they will be thinking twice about coming back.
Microwave
This doesn’t just apply to the outside of the microwave; it also applies to the inside. The inside should be clean too. Polls have suggested that people visited friends, saw their microwave with mold, and immediately wanted to leave. Be sure your microwave is clean and sanitized so that your guests won’t want to avoid eating in your home.
Fridge Door
People don’t like grimy fridge doors. People seem to have no problem calling out a dirty fridge. The handles, spills, fingerprints, and dirt all attract attention and turn people off. This is another area that is easily overlooked, but not intentionally. One of the advantages of fridges is that they’re easy to clean.
Fridge Top
This is only an issue if you have tall friends. But if you have a shorter fridge, they’ll see it too. One poll found that tall people often complain that the top of the fridge tends to accumulate food crumbs, lint, and pet hair, all of which are things you don’t want people to see.
Mirrors
Mirrors and other reflective surfaces are particularly problematic when you have guests, as they’ll see everything, no matter how small. They show marks quickly, and it’s something that will always need cleaning. Be cautious when cleaning to avoid streaking or applying excessive pressure, as this can cause damage and exacerbate the issue.
Light Switches
The lip of your light switch and other fixtures can attract dirt like nobody’s business. The covers can also become grungy and filthy. People touch them without washing their hands, and it’s one of the top places where bacteria collect. If you’ve got grungy light switches, clean them carefully and bring them up to par.
Corners
Corners of your floors or walls collect dust, pet hair, and you don’t want to know what else. Unfortunately for you, your guests will see this and think that you don’t clean, even though you do. Polls have suggested that this is one of the top three things that people notice.
Keep Clean
People tend to be judgmental even when they don’t need to be. The best way to avoid this is to establish a weekly cleaning schedule and ensure you clean both the obvious and less obvious areas of your home. We may not think that it matters, but you don’t want people judging you for no reason.
