How to Get the House Guest-Ready in 3 Days (a Company’s-Coming Countdown)

Step by step

1. 1

   Three days out: wash the guest towels and sheets

   Wash the towels in the hottest water their label allows, with detergent measured to the line and no fabric softener. Then dry them all the way, right away. Our sour towels page says slow drying is what leaves towels smelling sour.

   What it looks like: a stack of fluffy, dry towels that smell like nothing at all.

2. 2

   Three days out: test the smoke alarms

   Press the test button on each smoke alarm until it beeps. The U.S. Fire Administration says to test them monthly and to have alarms inside and outside each bedroom and on every level. Check the guest room too.

   What it looks like: a loud beep from every alarm.

3. 3

   Three days out: wake up the guest bath drain

   Pour about a quart of water into any tub or sink that hasn’t been used in a while. The water in the curved pipe under a drain blocks sewer gas, and it dries out when a drain sits unused.

4. 4

   Two days out: clean the toilet ring

   Put on gloves and eye protection. Coat the ring with a lime and rust toilet bowl cleaner, let it sit 15 minutes, then scrub and flush. Our toilet page has the full method, including how to get the water level down.

   What it looks like: a white bowl with no line at the water level.

5. 5

   Two days out: clear the shower glass

   Wash the soap scum off first with dish soap on a non-scratch sponge. Then spray equal parts white vinegar and water on the white spots, keep it off the metal frame, rinse and squeegee dry.

   What it looks like: clear glass you can see straight through.

1. 6

   Two days out: steam-clean the microwave

   Heat 1 cup of water in a microwave-safe glass bowl on full power for 3 minutes, then leave the door shut for 5 more minutes. Lift the bowl out slowly with a mitt, and wipe the inside with a soft cloth and a little dish soap.

2. 7

   Two days out: make fridge room and wipe the fronts

   Toss old leftovers and clear a shelf for the food that’s coming. Our fridge room page walks through it. Then wipe the fridge and dishwasher fronts with warm, soapy water, moving with the grain, and dry them with a clean microfiber cloth.

   What it looks like: no fingerprints and no streaks when the light hits the door.

3. 8

   One day out: get the grit off the floors

   Go over hardwood with a microfiber dust mop or a vacuum on its bare-floor setting. Skip wet mops and steam mops on wood.

4. 9

   One day out: set the candles somewhere safe

   Put candles in sturdy holders at least 12 inches from anything that can burn, like curtains and centerpieces. The U.S. Fire Administration says to avoid candles in bedrooms, so keep them out of the guest room. It also suggests battery candles.

5. 10

   One day out: walk in like a guest

   Go out the front door, come back in, and follow the path a guest would take: entry, bathroom, guest room, kitchen. Fix only what you notice on that walk. Set out a clean hand towel and an extra roll of toilet paper.

When it will not work, and what to do instead

Plans slip. Here’s how to catch up.

• You only have one day. Do Steps 1, 2 and 10 first. Clean towels, working alarms and a quick guest’s-eye walk matter most.
• The towels still smell sour after washing. That needs a reset, not another wash. Our sour towels page has the boil and soak methods.
• The toilet ring didn’t budge. A thin line can come off with a wet pumice stone made for toilets. Our toilet page explains when it’s safe to use one.
• A smoke alarm didn’t beep. If it takes a battery you can change, put in a new one and test it again. The U.S. Fire Administration says to replace the whole alarm every 10 years.
• A room smells musty or off. Follow your nose before you spray anything. Our mystery smell page walks through the usual causes.

Why it works

Here is what is going on. The jobs that take the longest go first, and the quick wipes go last so they still look fresh when the doorbell rings. Towels need a wash and a full dry, so they start three days out.

Safety checks go early, too. A smoke alarm that needs a battery is easy to fix on Tuesday and a scramble on Thursday.

The walk-through works because you stop seeing your own home after a while. Coming in the front door like a guest shows you what they’ll notice first.