(BPT) – Summer has arrived and vacation season is underway. With the kids home from school, and family and friends anxious to visit, you can expect the stress of getting your home ready to be in full swing. Here are a few helpful tips that will make you a successful host and give your guests a warm welcome.
Create a comfort zone
No matter what size the room, the one thing you can never compromise on is comfort. A few hospitable touches will make it feel welcoming to your guests. Make sure you’re stocked with the essentials, clean sheets and a choice of firm or fluffy pillows – then add a few extras like bottled water and specialty chocolates to take it to the next level. For a final touch, display any photographs you may have of you and your guests to bring back fun memories.
Remember that bathroom comfort is just as important as the bedroom. In addition to providing any toiletries guests may need, make sure they have plenty of fresh towels. Try following the three towel rule; leave one large towel for showering, one hand towel and a washcloth in the guest room for each person. If visitors will be sharing a bathroom with other members of your family, be sure to properly plan for the morning rush so guests don’t feel as if they are intruding on your daily routines.
Freshen up
Take the time to make sure your home is ready for visitors and conduct a thorough pre-cleaning. Pay special attention to the kitchen, entryways, and other high-traffic areas to ensure you can spend more time playing hostess, rather than housekeeper.
Once you are expecting guests, one of the most important rooms to clean is the bathroom. On an unprotected surface, bacteria can double in number every 20 minutes. To ensure your bathroom’s visual cleanliness, a new faucet can make all the difference. The new Moen Ashville two-handle bathroom faucet featuring Microban antimicrobial protection will help guard against stain- and odor-causing bacteria, mold and mildew. Microban technology is built-in to the faucet finish, so it works continuously, even between cleanings. In addition, the Ashville bathroom faucet comes in Moen’s Spot ResistBrushed Nickel finish to resist fingerprints and water spots – helping to make cleaning for guests less of a burden.
Time to eat
Cooking can always be a dilemma when you have a house full of friends and family. From deciding what everyone likes to eat and what to cook, to preparing all the meals and cleaning up, it can feel like a full-time job.
Since food brings people together, next time friends and family are visiting, use meal preparation as a time to connect. Make cooking an activity by giving everyone a job in the kitchen. When dinnertime rolls around, feel free to have guests pitch in with a few simple tasks. Ask them to pour the wine, choose the music, or set the table, and soon your visitors will be feeling right at home.
Once groceries have been purchased, messes made and the food is cooked, it’s time for the dreaded clean up. A Moen survey found that when asked what their least favorite job is following a meal, more than 80 percent of respondents agreed that hand washing pots and pans was the worst; followed by putting food away and cleaning dishes.
However, with the right kitchen faucet, cleaning dirty dishes can be more efficient and believe it or not, maybe even enjoyable. Available at The Home Depot, the new Moen Haysfield pulldown kitchen faucet with MotionSense technology offers a helping hand in the kitchen. It can sense what you’re trying to accomplish and respond to what you need, the moment you need it. With a simple hand movement, you can activate water flow gain greater speed and efficiency at the sink.
By taking the time to plan and prepare you’ll make the visit with family and friends special, not just for them, but for everyone. With a few extra steps you will lessen the stress and welcome the good times. For more information about Moen products, visit moen.com.
