Do you have big plans for Labor Day? This holiday is a great opportunity to relax and catch up with friends and family. If you’re going to be opening your home to guests, however, there are a few extra things that you may need to do before they arrive.
Let in Some Fresh Air
It’s not just a gimmick put out by the company that manufactures your favorite air freshener; “smell blindness” really is a thing. You may notice odd or overpowering smells right when you walk into your door, but other than that, you probably have no idea what your home actually smells like. Do your guests a favor by opening a few windows before they arrive.
Freshen Up Your Bathroom
If you have time to do just one thing before guests arrive, then spend that time cleaning your bathroom! Give the toilet bowl a swipe, grab some disinfectant wipes or a paper towel and cleaning spray for wiping down surfaces, and put a fresh hand towel out. If your guest bathroom also happens to be your home’s main bathroom, then make sure that your toiletries are out of sight, and put extra toilet paper where it is easily visible and accessible.
Clean the Kitchen
Now that your bathroom is fit for a king, it’s time to check out your kitchen. Believe it or not, other people are going to be way more grossed out by your kitchen messes than you are, so even though last night’s still-dirty saucepan doesn’t bother you, it’ll probably bother your guests. Take care of dirty dishes, wipe out your sink, wipe down the counters, and locate the source of that weird smell that’s becoming steadily more noticeable by the day.
Take Out the Trash
No one wants to catch a whiff of your smelly trash, so make the rounds through your home and gather up trash from the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, and home offices. This is also a great time to purge your home of last month’s magazines, school papers, or any other clutter you’ve become blind to.
Stock the Fridge
And speaking of the contents of your kitchen, you’ll want to make sure that you’re stocked up on drinks and snacks. Maybe you and your people are perfectly happy with a few bags of potato chips, packaged cookies, and soft drinks, or maybe artisan cheese and fine wine is more your speed. Either way, ensure that you have plenty of treats on hand. Because not everyone can handle the taste of tap water, you’ll also want to be sure that you have plenty of bottled water on hand.
Make Some Space
Hosting overnight guests? Unless you want to be tripping over their luggage all weekend, you’ll want to clear out a closet and a few drawers for their personal items. If your storage spaces are already packed to the gills and you can’t afford to give up any space, then just get a large plastic tote or even a collapsible hamper; the idea is simply to designate a single space for guests’ stuff so that it’s out of your way and easy for them to keep track of.
If you’re playing the host this Labor Day weekend, all it takes is a few extra minutes to make your home ready for company.
