Your Holiday Guest Cleaning Guide

No matter how clean your surfaces may be, your house will likely look messy if you have clutter on every surface. Go through several phases of decluttering between the time you know guests are coming and their arrival. Don't be afraid to get rid of broken things you've meant to repair or junk you don't need to keep. If your clutter is necessary, move it somewhere less visible.

Walls can go undetected for weeks or months on end, but spots can be all too easy for your guests to see. Take some time to wipe down the walls, especially in the entryway and kitchen, where debris tends to collect. Anywhere you have pictures or wall hangings, you'll probably want to dust down and wash the areas around them to make sure your guests see the beauty, not the dirt.

You'll also need to wash any flat surfaces that your guests may want to set something down on, like countertops, tables, and kitchen islands. Don't forget to wash your dining room table and chairs, including the seats, backs, and legs. Put out a tablecloth, coasters, placemats, or anything else that will protect your tabletops from damage. 

If you can't remember the last time you cleaned your stovetop and oven, tackle those as well, or they might give your kitchen an air of uncleanliness. Your oven probably has a self-cleaning option, so run that a few days before guests arrive. As for the stovetop, take off whatever pieces are removable and run them through the dishwasher for a quick deep clean.

Do you have leftovers taking up space in your fridge, stains from spilled liquids, or just general grime? You'll want to scrub out the refrigerator and freezer before guests arrive, especially if you think they'll bring goodies or make food while they stay with you. Don't forget to wipe down the doors and handles to keep away sticky residues.

Your pantry and kitchen cabinets could probably use a little love too, so take out the contents, shelf by shelf, and wipe out each one thoroughly. While you open doors, go through coat closets, wardrobes, and dressers your guests might use, and make sure each is clean, free of dust, and doesn't have any unwelcome visitors nestled inside.

No cleaning job will be complete until you take care of your floors. If a kid drops food on the carpet, you'll want to tackle the stain as soon as possible, but you likely have some spots you aren't proud of, and they'll often resist an ordinary sweeping or vacuuming process.

If you want your carpets stain-free, your tile and grout pristine, and your floors looking their very best by the time your visitors arrive, hire a cleaning service to take care of them for you. If you leave this one to the pros, you're more likely to have satisfactory results and make your guests' experience pleasant from the ground up.

If you need a cleaning service to help you get ready for your seasonal visitors, look to All-State Carpet & Tile Care. Our company excels in steam cleaning carpets and scrubbing tile and grout, as well as cleaning your upholstery to make your furniture like new. Contact us today to see how All-State Carpet & Tile Care can help you get ready for the holidays.