10 Ways to Prepare your Home for Holiday Guests

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MerrySpritzmas #CollectiveBias

It’s the holiday season, and if you are an adult (whether you like it or not), you will probably be hosting holiday guests.

I make an effort to be the best host, and here are a few tips to make your home comfortable for your guests.

Put out Fresh Sheets and Linens

If you have a guest bathroom, bedroom or even a pull out sofa, make sure all of your linens are clean and fresh to make sure your guests feel comfortable!

When I start to clean for guests, I put all of the sheets, pillowcases, and towels into the washer. I always use fabric softener to give them a new scent!

While I am cleaning, the linens are cleaning – so it is so simple and requires little effort! I have a spray bottle of water and lavender essential oil that I use as a linen spray. This keeps all of the towels and sheets smelling extremely clean.

If you have old pillows, you can also wash them with a couple of tennis balls to freshen them up as well!

 

Add New Clean Scents

No one wants their guests to catch a bad smell, so I always put solid air fresheners strategically around my house.

I love to use cinnamon-apple scents during Christmastime because it is so seasonal and jolly. I put them in the laundry room, inside of trash cans, and drawers.

These are great because they are not a fire hazard, the smell great, and they absorb odor.

Put out Poo~Pourri to Help your Guests

Click on the image below to shop for Poo~Pourri at Bed Bath and Beyond!

One of the most important things you can do for guests is put out some Poo~Pourri Before-You-Go® Toilet Spray to save them from an embarrassment!

One of the worst things about going to other people’s homes is when you have to go number 2. I am always so afraid I’ll stink up the whole house (even though I know we are all human and have stunk up a bathroom or two in our lives)!

I started keeping Poo~Pourri in my house a few years ago after trying it at my friends. It all started after I had visited a friend from college for the weekend, and guess what – I had to poo. I discretely went to the bathroom, turned on the water and I needed to do a number 2.

Of course, I didn’t expect it to smell great, and as I was panicking, I saw the container of Poo~Pourri on top of the toilet and read the instructions. I gave the toilet a few spritz, did my business, and there was no scent! I saw the spray later at Bed Bath and Beyond, and I have kept my bathroom stocked ever since!

 

Plus, look out for special coupons on one item at Bed Bath and Beyond’s website before heading out to shop or shopping online.

In order to make it work, spray into the toilet bowl BEFORE you go. Poo~Pourri’s pure blend of NATURAL ESSENTIAL OILS creates a film on the surface of the water. The protective barrier traps odor under the surface – before it ever begins!

This holiday season, Poo~Pourri has created special gift packages that are adorable! You can use them for yourself, or they can make amazing presents for your host – they will think its practical and hilarious!

I am throwing a Christmas party, and I am going home for Christmas, so I will need Poo~Pourri for both places!

The Holiday Poo~Pourri Pull-Apart Gift Set comes with the special holiday scents Merry Spritzmas® and Secret Santa. I have the classic Lavender Vanilla for my home, but the gift set will be going to my mother!

My favorite of the holiday scents is Merry Spritzmas®, a combination of Peppermint (my favorite), Vanilla and Citrus. It is the perfect scent for Christmas, and it reminds me of Christmas morning!

Put out Special Toiletries

I am always getting mini-size of so many toiletries, so I like to display them in my guest bathroom for everyone to use! I put them in a clear container on the sink, and I am always adding new, cool stuff!

Buy/Make their Favorite Snacks

My mom loves scones, so whenever she visits, I always have to make her some (or buy her some)! She always gets so excited, and for her, it never gets old.

If you really want to be a good host, personalization is everything. Plus, I love the feeling of bringing a little holiday cheer to my guests.

Make Sure You Have Adequate Entertainment

If you are going to be hosting guests for a few days, you want to make sure you have something for them to do!

I love to keep a plethora of board games and cards. Also, I have the luxury of living in Waco, so I can always bring guests to the Magnolia Silos.

Before my sisters lived with me, I always planned fun cooking projects for them – like gingerbread or ice cream making. The main point is that you don’t want to be just sitting at the house, bored.

 

Add Comfort to the Guest Space

One of my favorite things about visiting my grandparents when I was a kid was they always had a room ready for me – just the way I like it!

Before guests arrive, I make sure the TV in the guest room is set up, and I put a spare iPhone charger in the room.

If it is a long stay, I clear out a drawer or two that they can use if they want to! No matter how much I love to be around my loved ones, I love to have me time. When my host makes my space more personal, it really helps me calm down and relax!

I always want the same thing for my houseguests!

Get Rid of Allergens

One thing people often forget is that other people are allergic to things in your house! I have two long-haired dogs, so pet hair is a constant problem.

A few ways to help eliminate allergens is to get an allergen eliminating spray, change your air filter, and take a lint roller to your furniture.

They make special air filters that are just for eliminating allergens. My best friend is allergic to dogs, so I keep a special bottle of allergy medicine for her too!

Clean up your Outdoor Space

If you have an outdoor space, it is perfect for entertaining – as long as it is well maintained! Before you have guests, make sure your lawn is mowed and treated for bugs!

I also clean up my favorite entertaining items – like my fire pit and my grill.

Keeping your outdoor space clean really opens up options for your guests!

Deep Clean your Floors

I am the first to admit that I don’t like sweeping, and I often go a week or two without doing it (even though I have a bad dog hair problem).

When cleaning my home for guests, I do a deep cleaning on my floors.

For my hardwood floors, I sweep it once, and then I use a tool to pick up dog hair. And to make sure I get everything, I take the vacuum to the floor.

Afterwards, I use hot water and hardwood floor cleaner to get the floors shiny!

For my carpet, I double vacuum it. I also get a wand and vacuum all of baseboards.

How do you prepare for guests?