Guests are coming over. Soon. It's a common state of things during the holiday season, but maybe you're just home from a long day at the office, gift shopping, or party preparation. So you're rushing to get your home and yourself ready for company. One cleaning tip to be sure you don't forget?
Stop cleaning when your guests arrive.
This is surprisingly tough for some (maybe tougher than mopping or vacuuming). It's so easy to get caught up in preparing for guests and overlook the point of holiday get-togethers, which is getting together. So once your guests arrive, be sure to welcome them and turn your attention to being a gracious host, allowing yourself to enjoy the occasion, too.
There's no use in scrutinizing what you missed, apologizing for that one last dusty surface, or trying to get in a few more minutes of last-minute cleaning once your guests have arrived. Continuing to clean or nitpicking yourself will make guests feel secondary instead of feeling comfortable and welcomed. Your shindig will most likely be a bigger success if you drop the dusting when guests come through the door and join the party!
Image: Santan Carpet Cleaning
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Comments (13)
good tip, ridiculous photo.
Aww, that's a really sweet tip. Seems obvious, but it's a hard habit to break! Last minute clean-freaking is something that runs in my family, and it really can ruin the mood of an event...
I have to try harder at that one myself.... it really can be hard.
I've been really bad about this in the past, continuing to sweep--or even vacuum--after guests started arriving, out of a fear that my guests would judge me harshly if my house was less than perfect. This last year, I think I finally broke myself of the nasty habit, though.
I also used to always apologize for how messy the house was whenever any one came over, and I've stopped doing that, too. I realized that there were no potential positive effects of that kind of apology, only negative ones.
why on earth would you touch your head with the same gloves you are using to scrub your house? ew.
also stop nagging your spouse to do last minute cleaning and chores after your guests arrive...again tough to stop!
i have a friend who doesn't start cleaning until i get to her house, as though people in her house is her trigger to start cleaning. it really is annoying to take the time to go spend time with this person, but you are ignored b/c they are busy cleaning. i try to meet her out now...
Hmmm. At my last party, I roped the first guests to arrive into helping me mount some artwork. But I knew them pretty well.
Oh my worst is going to visit and as you arrive folk say "excuse the mess"... just say nothing - you are human after all!!!
Whenever someone just comes by, or inside for a minute before we go out, I start picking up like mad. It's a crazy impulse.
You hit the nail on the head when you said it makes the guests feel secondary. I sometimes wonder when I am invited to certain places if I am there as company, or if I am just there to admire all the host's nice things and complicated food!
"why on earth would you touch your head with the same gloves you are using to scrub your house? ew.
posted by vonponyfeather on December 8th 2009 at 4:37pm "
I couldn't even read the post after seeing that pic. GROSS
I like a cleaning tip that doesn't involve actual cleaning.