Time is of the essence when guests are going to be at your home in less than an hour – and with New York City traffic, you can never tell exactly when they’re going to be arriving.
If you want to make a good first impression on your guests, you need to focus on quick, high-impact ways to tidy up and make your home feel more welcoming.
Below, we’ll share priority areas to focus on before your guests arrive, as well as why you shouldn’t overlook the small details in your haste to clean.
Priority Focus Areas to Make Your Home More Welcoming
No matter the size of your NYC home, you probably can’t clean it all within an hour, even if you speed clean. You have to focus on the areas that will make the biggest impact, leaving those your guests won’t see for later.
Tidying Entryways
The entryway is the first thing your guests will see as they enter your home, so be sure to tidy it first.
- Hang up coats, sweaters, and other items that may be lying around.
- Put away or organize shoes so they aren’t just thrown around.
- Remove any items that don’t belong there, like bags, boxes, and other items that often get put there “for now” but end up staying a while.
If you don’t have time to put everything away, place the items in a box you can put in a closet or in another room. Make the commitment to put away items within 24 hours of your guests leaving so you don’t end up with a bigger mess than when you started.
Once the entryway is clean, do a quick sweep or vacuum to remove any dirt and debris that has been tracked in from outside.
Refreshing the Bathroom
Another high-impact area is the bathroom. Visitors will almost certainly use the restroom during their time in your home.
- Remove items from counters. Once the surface is clean, wipe it down, including the sink and the mirror.
- Clean the toilet inside and out. Use a toilet bowl cleaner to quickly disinfect. Wipe down the toilet seat, cover, and outside of the bowl.
- Take out any trash and sweep the floor. Remove any items that may have fallen and start fresh with the new garbage bag to remove any lingering odors.
- Ensure there’s enough hand soap and place new towels and hand towels in the bathroom for guests.
Unless your guests are staying overnight, skip the shower. They likely won’t need to use it, and guests are rarely poking behind shower curtains.
Clearing Visible Clutter
In the living area, remove any visible clutter. This could be items that don’t belong in the room, dirty dishes, boxes, bags, and more.
- Take a quick pass at your side tables, coffee table, and entertainment center. Make sure everything is supposed to be there. If not, put it in a box to attend to later.
- Put all dirty dishes in the dishwasher.
- Tidy up items that may be crumpled on couches or floors, like blankets or pillows.
Quickly dust the surfaces, then sweep or vacuum to remove any dust bunnies that may have gathered amongst the clutter.
Clean the Kitchen
Consider how much time you’re going to be spending in the kitchen before you decide how deeply you need to clean. If your guests are simply going to see it during a tour, you should spend less time than if you are going to be eating dinner in the kitchen.
- Clear out the sink. Load the dishwasher or quickly wash dirty dishes. You shouldn’t have a full sink when guests come over.
- Remove clutter on countertops. Put away your dishes or clean off the mail that’s piled up on your counter. If you don’t have time to do it completely, put it in the box you started in the entryway or living room.
- Wipe down surfaces, including countertops, stovetop, and any visible stains on appliances.
You don’t have time to deep clean your kitchen, but you can take care of the most visible messes to help remove any unpleasant odors.
Make Seating Areas Feel Comfortable
Now that you’ve cleaned the areas, go back and make sure that your guests have somewhere to comfortably sit.
- Ensure all couches and chairs are cleaned and ready to sit on.
- Place blankets and throw pillows strategically around the room to make it feel more comfortable.
- Pull chairs from other areas in your home if needed to ensure there is enough seating for all your guests.
Quickly vacuum or wipe down chairs as needed. This will be especially critical if you have pets in your home to help reduce the pet hair left on guests’ clothing.
Adjusting Lighting
You may be limited in what you can do for lighting in your New York City apartment, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still try.
Avoid harsh, fluorescent lighting. Studies have shown that this can increase tension and anxiety. Instead, opt for natural lighting where available. Open the curtains if you’re meeting during the day. You can also use warm light bulbs to help mimic natural light.
If the space is too dark, turn on lamps. Your home’s lighting can really set the tone for the entire space, so it’s important to be mindful.
Adding a Pleasant Scent
Before you sit down and wait for your guests to arrive, light a candle. This final touch helps your home feel more inviting for all, especially when you use scents like vanilla or fresh linen that can evoke pleasant memories.
Candles will also help to mask the smell of anything unpleasant in your home or harsh cleaning agents that you may have used during the cleaning process.
Be mindful that some individuals may be sensitive to smells. Overly strong candles, air fresheners, freshening sprays, and more can be overpowering, so be sure to use sparingly.
Importance of a Good First Impression
The small details matter when it comes to making your home feel more welcoming, so don’t skip over them in your haste to clean.
- Clean surfaces provide an open, uncluttered environment for guests to enjoy. It makes your space feel less cluttered and therefore less stressful, which can impact the energy in your home.
- Fresh towels not only smell nice, but they feel nice. It can also limit the spread of germs, and people may feel more comfortable using them.
- Soft lighting is more inviting. If the lighting is too harsh, it can cause your guests to feel uncomfortable or even get a headache.
- Calm music can help your guests feel more welcome in your space. Music that is too loud or too high-energy implies you’re having a different kind of party than you may have first intended.
All of these small details add up into a strong first impression that will make your entire home feel more inviting. Best of all, if you stay on task, you can do it all in less than an hour, so you have a few minutes to sit down and rest before you have to host.
Call in the White Glove Professionals
Some busy New Yorkers don’t have an hour to spare, so don’t be afraid to call in the professionals to help your home feel more welcoming.
White Glove Cleaner is New York’s premier cleaning company. We can do the heavy lifting so you don’t have to stress about how you’ll clean your home. Whether you’re looking for a quick clean before guests or a weekly maintenance clean to keep your home always guest-ready, we have you covered.
Contact us today to get started and experience why White Glove Cleaner is the professional cleaning service of choice throughout the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Areas Should I Focus On to Make My Home Feel Welcoming?
The most important areas to clean to make your home feel more welcoming are the entryway, living room, and bathrooms. If you are not planning to spend significant time in a room, you can do a high-level clean to remove visible clutter, dirt, and debris should guests wander into the room.
What Lighting is Best for a Welcoming Home?
Warm, natural lighting can help a space feel more inviting. Utilize natural lighting where applicable or use light bulbs that mimic natural conditions. Harsh, fluorescent lighting is often too bright and can be jarring for many guests.
Should I Light Candles?
Lighting candles helps the home smell nicer. However, the scent can be overpowering for some. When choosing candles, opt for soft, seasonal-appropriate scents for the best results.
Do I Need Fresh Towels?
Always use fresh towels, especially in the guest bathroom. They will smell nice and feel more hygienic, contributing to the overall guest’s experience in your home.