Your fastidious Aunt Elsie is going to stay at your house for the weekend. She likes to point out untidiness and dirt like an ill-mannered grammarian likes to point out your incorrect usage of "who" and "whom." You have a day to prepare for her stay. What do you clean, and what do you leave? Here's a bulletproof checklist of what you should clean before those white-gloved houseguests arrive.
Throughout the whole house:
- Vacuum.
- Dust (furniture, televisions, mirrors, lamps).
- Mop.
- Remove dust bunnies and cobwebs.
- Replace burnt-out light bulbs.
- Empty garbage cans.
In the kitchen:
- Throw away expired food in the refrigerator and wipe down its interior walls.
- Clean the stove (don't worry about the oven if you don't have time).
- Clean the sink.
- Wipe off food splatters on walls, cabinets, and appliances.
The bathroom the guests will be using:
- Clean the toilet.
- Clean the sink.
- Clean the mirrors.
- Clean the tub and shower.
- Clean the shower curtain.
- Provide clean towels.
- Remove personal items from towel racks, hooks, and cabinets.
Other bathrooms/powder room:
- Clean toilet.
- Clean sink.
- Clean mirrors.
- Hide those items you always leave out (e.g., toothpaste, razor, wash cloth).
The room that your guest is staying in (the one room they can really scrutinize while you're sleeping):
- Clean out closet (make room for your guest's clothes).
- Clean under the bed.
- Clean window sills/windows.
- Clean out a dresser drawer for guest's clothes.
- Remove private items (e.g., love letters, diary, leopard skin underwear).
- Put fresh sheets on the bed.
- Wash the bedspread.
- Wash the curtains (if they're really dirty).
Thanks for the handy checklist Holly!
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