‘Tis the season to be merry! ‘Tis also the season where family members make surprise visits for the post–Christmas festivities and you’re frantically getting the house spick and span. But you don’t have to clean the whole house before they ring the doorbell – focus on keeping these three areas spotless and you’re good to go. (We won’t tell your guests…). 

Make the kitchen shine 

Your guests always end up in the kitchen at some point. Declutter and wipe down your counters with disinfectant and pack any dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Since the kitchen is often rife with different smells (looking at you, banana peel in the garbage can) mix half a cup of white vinegar with a cup of boiling water in a bowl and leave it on the counter overnight to absorb any bad smells. 

Also read: Spring clean like a pro

Keep your floors sparkling 

There is no way to hide a dirty floor – it’s the place that captures all the dirt entering your home. Keep a firm hand on your floor (perhaps literally) by regularly mopping your laminated flooring and tiles, and vacuuming carpets in your bedroom and living-room areas. When guests arrive, you’ll only have to quickly sweep away any last-minute dirt and do a spot clean to wipe away visible spots. 

Keep your bathroom fresh  

Ensure that your toilet, bath and shower are always fresh and hygienic. It’s also important to focus on the smaller details: make sure necessities like toilet paper and handwash are restocked, hang enough clean guest towels and add a diffuser to give your bathroom a pleasant aroma.  

Tip: If you have guests sleeping over, make them feel extra special by placing a neatly folded towel (or towel set) on their bed.  

Photography: Pexels

Also read: 5 places you should be cleaning in your house