8 Things Cleaning Professionals Always Toss Before Guests Arrive

That strange scent coming from the questionable Tupperware in your fridge? Your guests can smell it too. A survey conducted by Food Dive found that more than 46% of Americans eat food past its expiration date and according to Isabella Flores, cleaning expert and professional organizer at Sparkly Maid San Diego, guests “know immediately upon opening the refrigerator to see unfamiliar scents emanating from it” that something has expired. Tossing expired foods helps save your guests from stomach aches and ensures your fridge or pantry doesn't appear “to merely be superficially cleaned.”

The bathroom may be one of the most-used rooms in your home, especially when guests are present. While you may want to use the very last drop of your soap or shampoo, or having trouble parting with your old-faithful toothbrush, Orr suggests “consolidating and tossing empty shampoo or soap bottles,” and believes it's best to “discard worn-out tooth brushes, disposable razors that have been used and anything sitting on the bathroom counters that looks less than desirable.”

If you need a sign to hang up your green thumb, this is it. While you may have high hopes of reviving that ficus or fern, dead plants add a morbid touch to the atmosphere and lose their decorative value. A mixture of living and dead plants can give the perception of clutter, with Flores noting that “spaces with nothing but some intentionally placed, thriving items are perceived as far cleaner than spaces filled with a combination of thriving and dying items.”

Dirt, dust, and grime are three things that should always be addressed before a guest arrives, including textiles. Bacteria can live on towels for days, and the longer the time, the worse the growth and the smell. According to Fahncke, dirty towels are something that guests “might notice in a communal space,” and it's best to axe any ones that have holes or can’t be used anymore. Clean linens and towels reflect a thoughtful and fresh environment, and are an easy way to create an elevated bathroom experience.

Having an unpleasant smell in your home is the last thing you want guests to notice. When your four-legged friend uses the bathroom, bacteria break down the urine, releasing ammonia, causing a pungent odor that is not ideal for guests. Meagan W. Shepherd, MD, allergist/immunologist and founder of The Allergy Aesthetic, says that even “non-sensitive noses” can detect the smell of cat litter, and it should be promptly scooped into the trash before a visitor arrives.

Online order packaging can easily pile up. “Those Amazon purchases have to go somewhere, and sometimes they settle right in the middle of your kitchen or mudroom,” says Fahncke. Bubble wrap, tape and other packaging materials can quickly take over spaces, creating an untidy appearance. When having guests over, Fahncke says they are a “must-go" before they arrive.

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