SerpApi.Org
The dishes are done, the laundry’s been folded, and you’ve thoroughly vacuumed the floors and fluffed the pillows. But how many times have you looked into the same bathroom mirror and not noticed the splatter? Or the pile of bills that you’ve become junk-blind to? And what about the pet smells that your nose can no longer detect?
The problem with “white noise” clutter and grime is that it completely fades into the background, making it practically invisible to everyone—except for guests who have a set of fresh eyes. Here are the seven areas you definitely want to spiff up before your next hosting occasion.
Unkempt Plants
Most people aren't closely inspecting their houseplants every day, but leaves routinely yellow, crinkle, or fall off. Broad leaves can also get dusty. “This is easy to miss, especially on larger, fuller plants,” says Charlotte Slankard, professional organizer and founder of Char & Co. “A few dead or brown leaves can make an otherwise beautiful houseplant look like it's been neglected.”
She suggests checking on your plants every few weeks, pulling off any dead leaves and wiping away dust as needed. And don’t forget flowers in a vase; murky water or droopy buds are things guests instantly see but that you may pass over.
Dirty Switches and Pulls
Light switches, door handles, and cabinet pulls are all easy to overlook because they’re touched constantly. This buildup happens gradually; fingerprints, skin oils, dust, and grime collect a little at a time until they become part of the background.
“Guests are seeing the home with fresh eyes, and these are often some of the first surfaces they touch,” notes Robin Murphy, house cleaning professional and creator of Who Likes It Dirty? “A dirty light switch or sticky door handle can stand out quickly because it’s right at hand level.”
Weekly and as needed, use a disinfectant cleaner or wipe to clean these high-touch surfaces. Homes with children, pets, or lots of visitors may need it more often.
Smudged Appliances
Appliances do the most for us, cleaning dishes, zapping last night’s takeout, and keeping produce crisp. The ratio between how often we use them and how often we clean them, though, is pretty drastic.
“One thing I see all the time is homeowners stop noticing the fingerprints and smudges on their stainless steel appliances,” says Kellsie Zapata, cleaning professional and owner of Zapata’s Cleaning Services. “Guests are seeing your kitchen with fresh eyes, and stainless steel reflects light. Fingerprints, streaks, and smudges tend to stand out right away.”
Toilet Rings
Toilet rings develop slowly over time thanks to hard water mineral deposits and other stains. Because rings occur so gradually, they fade into the background, and it’s easy never even to notice them until they’re really bad. Wiping down the toilet or using a standard cleaner and scrub usually won’t remove these stubborn rings.
“One trick I like is doing a force flush first to lower the water level inside the bowl. That exposes more of the ring, allowing the cleaner to come into direct contact with the buildup instead of being diluted by the standing water,” Zapata says. From there, you can scrub the toilet with a product like Bar Keepers Friend or a limestone brush. Weekly cleaning also helps.
Grimy Bathroom Sink
Generally speaking, the bathroom can turn into a pretty grimy place real quick. Along with the toilet, the bathroom sink and faucet can get especially dirty—even within a few days of cleaning.
“The bathroom sink gets used constantly, so toothpaste splatters, soap residue, water spots, and hair build up. And because we use it every day, it's easy to stop noticing those small details, especially around the faucet, drain, and the area where the countertop meets the sink,” Murphy says.
A guest is almost guaranteed to use the bathroom during a visit, so this high-traffic area does require a more thorough scrubdown. Murphy says to think from their vantage point and clean everything from top to bottom. Often forgotten things include splatter on the mirror, grime around the faucet bases, and hair in the drain.
Dusty Lampshades and Ceiling Blades
With such big cleaning to-do lists, lampshades simply aren’t something most people think about when they're cleaning. “Since they're usually up high, the dust can build up without anyone realizing it. However, when a lamp is turned on, the dust becomes much more noticeable,” Slankard says.
This is true of ceiling blades and other “high up” areas that aren’t routinely seen or dusted. Once a month, Slankard suggests running a lint roller, a microfiber cloth, or your vacuum's brush attachment over the lampshade. That’s usually enough to keep them looking clean for guests.
A Neglected Entryway
Often, homeowners come in through the garage, side door, or back entrance, so they don’t see the front entry the same way guests do. Cobwebs around the porch light, dirty windows, and a tired welcome mat can all become white noise to us, but are front and center for visitors.
“Guests often spend a minute or two standing at the front door before they come inside. That gives them time to notice details like the door, the mat, the light fixture, the glass, and the area around the entrance,” Murphy explains. She suggests tending to this area every couple of weeks, shaking out the mat, wiping down the door, cleaning the windows, and addressing any other dust or grime that naturally accumulates.
