12 Things You Can Clear Away To Get Your Home Guest-Ready

Expecting visitors soon?

Nothing causes panic quite like the doorbell when your home resembles a tornado zone. Creating a welcoming space doesn’t require a complete renovation-just strategic clearing of everyday clutter.

These quick fixes will transform your home from lived-in chaos to guest-ready haven without breaking a sweat.

1. Entryway Shoe Mountain

Footwear multiplies mysteriously by your front door, creating an obstacle course for guests. Limit each family member to one pair in the entryway and relocate the rest to closets or shoe racks.

For quick cleanup, grab a decorative basket where visitors can place their shoes. This simple solution transforms a chaotic pile into an organized system while making a stellar first impression.

2. Counter Archipelago

Kitchen counters become magnetic collection points for everything from mail to kids’ artwork. Clear these horizontal surfaces first, as they dramatically impact visual cleanliness.

Sort items into three categories: trash, belongs elsewhere, and necessary counter items. Return misplaced objects to their proper homes and establish a designated spot for mail and papers. Your kitchen will instantly appear more spacious.

3. Bathroom Cabinet Avalanche

Guest bathrooms often hide a dirty secret-cabinets stuffed with expired medications, half-empty shampoo bottles, and forgotten beauty products. This area requires ruthless sorting.

Toss anything expired or unused in the past year. Organize remaining essentials in small bins or baskets. Leave extra toilet paper and clean towels visible for guests, removing the awkwardness of having to ask for these necessities.

4. Dining Table Command Center

Many households use dining tables as impromptu offices, homework stations, and craft zones. This multi-purpose area needs immediate attention before entertaining.

Clear everything except intentional decorative elements. Store ongoing projects in portable bins that can be tucked away during visits. A clean dining surface signals to guests that you’ve prepared specifically for their arrival and creates space for shared meals or games.

5. Refrigerator Science Experiments

Mystery containers lurking in refrigerator corners might be growing civilizations of their own! Before guests arrive, purge anything fuzzy, slimy, or unidentifiable.

Wipe down shelves with a vinegar solution and organize remaining contents by category. Create space for any guest contributions or leftovers from shared meals. A clean fridge prevents embarrassing moments when someone offers to help with dinner preparations.

6. Coat Closet Compression

Seasonal jackets, sports equipment, and random household items compress into coat closets until the door barely closes. Guests need somewhere to hang their outerwear without causing an avalanche.

Remove out-of-season items and store elsewhere. Keep only current weather-appropriate coats on sturdy hangers with space between each. Add hooks at different heights for bags and scarves. Empty hangers should await your visitors’ belongings.

7. Overflowing Laundry Mountain

Clean laundry awaiting folding can transform bedroom corners into textile mountain ranges. These fabric peaks signal unfinished business to visitors who might glimpse your bedroom.

Take fifteen minutes to fold and put away clean clothes before guests arrive. For dirty laundry, invest in a hamper with a lid. Even if you don’t have time to complete all laundry tasks, containing the visual evidence creates an impression of orderliness.

8. Shower Product Forest

Shampoo bottles, body washes, and half-empty conditioners crowd shower ledges, creating a plastic jungle. This collection looks messy and suggests limited space for guest toiletries.

Consolidate nearly-empty bottles and discard products you no longer use. Consider a shower caddy that keeps necessities organized. For guest bathrooms, provide a curated selection of essentials or invite visitors to bring their preferred products with clear counter space to arrange them.

9. Remote Control Collection

Entertainment centers spawn remote controls that multiply mysteriously across living spaces. Finding the right one becomes a treasure hunt for guests unfamiliar with your setup. Gather all remotes and determine which ones you actually need.

Replace batteries in essential controllers and discard those for devices you no longer own. A decorative box or drawer near your TV provides a permanent home, preventing the infamous couch cushion search when visitors want to watch something.

10. Paperwork Purgatory

Bills, forms, and mail create paper trails throughout homes, settling on any available flat surface. These document drifts make spaces look disorganized and mentally cluttered. Sort papers into action categories: to pay, to file, to recycle.

A decorative accordion folder can temporarily house important documents. For permanent solutions, consider scanning and digitally storing non-essential paperwork, freeing physical space while maintaining records.

11. Guest Room Storage Depot

Spare bedrooms often become household storage units rather than welcoming spaces. Exercise equipment, seasonal decorations, and miscellaneous boxes create obstacle courses for overnight guests.

Relocate non-guest items to appropriate storage areas. Clear pathways around the bed and ensure access to outlets, lighting, and closet space. Leave empty surfaces for visitors’ belongings and consider thoughtful touches like fresh flowers or reading materials.

12. Overflowing Trash Bins

Nothing says “unprepared for company” quite like garbage containers at maximum capacity. Full trash cans in kitchens and bathrooms create unpleasant visual and olfactory experiences for visitors.

Empty all household trash receptacles before guest arrival. Clean bin interiors with disinfectant spray and replace liners. For extended visits, consider temporarily upgrading to larger kitchen trash containers to accommodate increased waste from entertaining.