Six things in your home that visitors always notice

Pet hair can be very unappealing to people, especially if they don’t have pets of their own. If you have pets in the house, make a little extra effort to give the place a vacuum, and remove pesky pet hair from your sofa and other soft furnishings.

What to do:

• Vacuum your sofa and wipe over it with a damp cloth
• Put away your pet’s toys
• Clean up the area around their food and water bowl
• Change the kitty litter

Giving your kitchen a spruce and a wipe-down before guests pop around is well worth your time. Dirty dishes, grubby benches or a manky sink can be a serious ick.

What to do:

• Wash up any dirty dishes in the sink or stack the dishwasher and turn it on
• Remove any food debris from the sink
• Wipe the benches and stove
• Ensure you have some clean glasses or mugs to offer them a drink
• If you have a chance, check the fridge for anything wafting offensive smells

With life, comes clutter. Now, we’re not saying you need to go full Marie Kondo and completely rid your home of every bit of clutter, but at least do a general tidy-up.

Tip: If you don’t have time to put everything back in its right place, the linen closet and laundry are fabulous hiding spots.

What to do:

• Store away kids’ toys in simple, stylish baskets
• Create a drawer or tray for bills, letters and other life admin
• Put away that pile of washing that is waiting to be folded or better yet, hide it in the laundry
• Clean up social spots like the dining table and kitchen bench
• Create a functioning and tidy pantry with uniform storage containers

If you only have time to clean one room in your home, make it the bathroom. A dirty bathroom is not only unhygienic but just downright gross, especially when it’s not your own.

What to do:

• Wipe down the sink and vanity, if you hate the smells of chemicals from cleaning products, eco-friendly alternatives are a great option
• Scrub the toilet
• Clean the mirror
• Restock the toilet paper
• A nice soap and scented candle won’t go astray

The entrance to your home is the first impression visitors get so it pays to make it a good one.

What to do:

• Put away shoes
• Shake out your doormat
• Sweep the front entry
• Create a spot for visitors to take off their shoes and put their bags down
• Use fresh flowers or an indoor plant to freshen up the space
• Add a hallway mirror to bring light and the illusion of a bigger space

You may not think your house has a smell but it’s the first thing visitors will notice – good or bad. It’s always a nice idea to burn a scented candle or some essential oils to create a welcoming and relaxing scent that will appeal to all noses. Reed diffusers are also a great low-touch option.

What to do:

• Open up doors and windows for some fresh air
• Light a candle
• Bring in fresh flowers
• Use a home spray or reed diffuser
• Boil a pot of water on the stove with some citrus peel. Mmmm…

Make your home feel like a tropical oasis with this diffuser with mandarin, orange and bergamot top notes. The 250ml filled glass bottle is well suited to larger spaces, highly fragranced, with the strength controlled by the frequency of flipping the reeds.

Hoover up all cat and dog hair, and any dirt you can’t see, with the Pet Pro Vacuum by Shark. This appliance has the most powerful suction and hair pickup of any Shark cordless vacuum and guards against bad odours inside the vacuum with odour neutraliser technology.

Key features:

• Up to 120 minute runtime
• 2 year warranty
• Ideal for pets
• Self-cleaning brush roll
• Multiflex wand for flexible reach and compact storage

Keep all your family member’s shoes neat and tidy with a shoe rack, while adding a Scandi vibe to your hallway or bedroom. This one is made of wood too, so will stand the test of time.