10 things I always do before guests arrive

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Nothing fills me with joy like I open my home to guests. This is one of my greatest pleasures and I try to do it as often as possible. However, as much as I cherish these moments, I am an introvert at heart and get overstimulated easily. This means that in order to avoid getting burned out due to the presence of people, I need to schedule downtime after large meetings, as well as make cleaning as efficient as possible. Over the years I have acquired some habits that always make cleaning easier. Many of them have to do with what I do before our meetings, because I know that later I will be destroyed. Read below for my helpful tips.

Coffee mug on the table, multiple stains from coffee cup rings on the tablecloth. Croissant in the upper right corner with crumbs — Photo: Sydney Bensimon; Production designer: Anna Surbatovich. Photo: Sydney Bensimon; Production designer: Anna Surbatovich.

1. Pre-wash pots and pans.

Have to soak and wash pots and pans Sticky food is more work than necessary and is the last thing you want to deal with after a party! Wash the dishes before guests arrive. Not only are you defining tasks so you don’t have to do them later, but you’re also creating a clear space to work and hang out while people are there (because you know they’ll all end up in the kitchen).

2. Empty trash cans before guests arrive.

Making sure your trash cans are empty before your guests arrive will also achieve two goals: you won’t have an overflowing trash can, and you’ll ensure your kitchen is free of unpleasant odors.

3. Clean the sink.

Cleanliness begets cleanliness. A clean sink to begin with will help maintain this situation. And, as with other preparations that make post-party cleanup easier, a clean sink creates a calmer space to enjoy while guests leave.

4. Empty the pan rack.

Emptying the dish rack prepares it for dishes that will need to be placed there later. This prevents bottlenecks that can make cleanup after a meeting slow and tedious.

A woman puts a plate in the dishwasher. — Photo: Joe Lingeman/Kitchen Photo: Joe Lingeman/Kitchen

5. Run and empty the dishwasher.

Running and emptying your dishwasher means you can start loading it with dirty dishes as soon as your guests leave.

6. Prepare to-go containers.

If you know you’ll be sending leftovers home with guests, pull them out ahead of time so they’re easy to grab and fill the hustle and bustle of everyone saying goodbye and leaving. Making it easier to send food home with guests also helps minimize waste.

7. Serve food in containers that double as food storage.

If possible, serve food in the same containers that you will use to store leftovers. This way, you can simply close the lid and pop it in the refrigerator—no extra utensils required!

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8. Keep furniture in place as much as possible.

Instead of moving furniture around to accommodate as many groups as possible, consider allowing guests to spread out. In any case, small groups are more conducive to communication. In our house, it’s like having guests eat in the kitchen and dining room instead of bringing chairs into the family room so everyone can be in the same area. This allows people to spread out throughout the living room, family room and kitchen without us having to move a bunch of furniture back into place when they all leave.

9. Designate a special place for guests’ belongings.

It is good to plan a place where guests can leave their bags, coats and other belongings. Not only will this prevent your home from becoming cluttered, but it will also create a central place where people can leave their belongings and collect them when they leave. It will also reduce the number of items left behind.

10. Remember that you don’t have to clean everything right away.

No matter how much you plan ahead and want to get everything clean, you may not be able to tackle everything right away. Accept it and you’ll be much less frustrated than if you end up exhausting yourself trying to do something that would have been better off put off. Sometimes it is more important to relax and recuperate than to keep your home clean.