Getting Your Home Ready for Holiday Guests: A Cleaning Guide

When holiday guests are coming, you don't need to clean everything. You need to clean what they'll see, touch and use. The easiest way to figure that out is to walk your house the way a guest will: car door to front door, coat to couch, dinner to bathroom, and, if they're staying over, suitcase to bed. Here's that walk, stop by stop.

Stop 1: The Walk Up

First impressions start before anyone rings the bell.

• Clear the path. Shovel and treat the walkway if there's snow or ice. Sweep away wet leaves, which are surprisingly slippery.
• Turn on the porch light and replace the bulb if it's dim.
• Wipe the front door, storm door glass and the handle.
• Put out a sturdy outdoor mat so guests can knock off snow.

Stop 2: The Entryway

In New England in December, the entry is where winter meets your house.

• Make coat space. Empty a section of the hall closet, or set up a rack or a bed in a nearby room for coats.
• Set up a boot zone with a tray or old towel so guests aren't standing in their socks in a puddle.
• Clear the clutter. Backpacks, sports gear and the mail pile go somewhere else for the visit.
• Mop the entry floor right before people arrive. Road salt and slush will undo it within an hour, but it'll look great at hello. Our tips on protecting floors from road salt help keep it under control all visit.

Stop 3: The Living Room

Guests will spend most of their time here, at eye level, sitting down.

• Dust at sitting height: side tables, lamp bases, the TV stand, the mantel.
• Vacuum the couch, under cushions and along the seams. Pet hair on upholstery is hard to miss when you're sitting on it.
• Wipe the remote and light switches.
• Clean the radiators. When the heat cycles on, dusty radiators give off a burnt-dust smell.
• Fluff and wash throw blankets and pillow covers.
• Clear the coffee table so there's room for drinks and snacks.

Stop 4: The Kitchen

Everyone ends up in the kitchen. Plan for it.

• Clear counters as much as possible. You'll need the space, and it looks instantly cleaner.
• Wipe cabinet fronts and handles, especially around the trash and stove.
• Shine the sink and faucet. A clean sink makes the whole kitchen look clean.
• Empty the fridge of old leftovers so there's room for dishes guests bring.
• Empty the dishwasher before people arrive.
• Put out a second trash can or a large bag for party days.

Stop 5: The Bathroom

This is the only room every guest will visit alone, and they'll have time to look around.

• Clean the toilet thoroughly, including the base, the bolts and the floor around it.
• Scrub the sink, faucet and mirror.
• Wipe the light switch, door handle and the cabinet pulls.
• Empty the trash.
• Put out a fresh hand towel (or a stack of small ones for big gatherings).
• Leave extra toilet paper in plain sight. Nobody wants to search your cabinets.
• Set a plunger nearby in an unobtrusive spot.
• Clear personal items off the counter.

If guests are staying overnight and using a shower, also scrub the tub and glass, wash the bath mat, and replace the shower curtain liner if it's looking tired. A squeegee after each shower keeps the glass clear for the rest of the visit.

Stop 6: The Guest Room

For overnight guests, the bedroom is where they'll judge how welcome they feel.

Clean it like a hotel

• Wash all bedding, including the mattress pad and pillows if washable
• Dust nightstands, the dresser and lamp
• Vacuum under the bed (guests drop things there)
• Wipe window sills and switch plates
• Clean the mirror
• Check the closet for space and a few empty hangers

Stock it like a good host

• An extra blanket. Old New England houses can get drafty at night, especially rooms over a garage.
• A reading lamp that works
• A charging spot near the bed
• A small wastebasket
• Clean towels folded on the bed or dresser
• The Wi-Fi password written on a card

Clear it out

If the guest room doubles as an office, storage room or gift-wrapping station, clear at least one drawer and a surface where they can open a suitcase.

The 30-Minute Pre-Arrival Sweep

Do this right before guests show up:

1. Take out all trash and recycling
2. Wipe the bathroom sink and mirror and replace the hand towel
3. Wipe kitchen counters
4. Vacuum the entry and living room traffic paths
5. Clear the coffee table and kitchen island
6. Turn on lamps and adjust the thermostat
7. Light a candle or simmer something on the stove if you want a warm smell

Keeping It Clean During the Visit

A multi-day visit with family can undo a clean house fast. A few habits help:

• Do a 10-minute reset every night after everyone goes to bed: dishes, counters, pillows on the couch.
• Run the dishwasher every night, even if it's not full.
• Keep a basket in the living room for stray items: chargers, kids' toys, gloves.
• Wipe the bathroom sink each morning while the coffee brews.

Get Help Where It Counts

Plenty of families in Norwood, Sharon and the surrounding towns book a deep cleaning a week or two before the holidays to handle the kitchen, bathrooms and all the dusty details, then keep up with the quick resets above while guests are in town. If you're hosting Thanksgiving too, our Thanksgiving cleaning timeline maps out the weeks before.