9 Things Pro Cleaners Never Clean Before Hosting (and 4 They Always Do)

I love hosting for the holidays. From a packed Thanksgiving dinner to a rousing Hanukkah party, planning the perfect celebration for my friends and family is my idea of a relaxing activity. From menu planning to creating a theme, it all puts me in a state of bliss and tranquility — really! But if there’s one thing that does stress me out, it’s cleaning my house (especially the kitchen) before guests arrive. 

Since I’d much rather spend my time focusing on a tablescape with a wow factor, or creating an over-the-top charcuterie board, I turned to pro cleaners for their best advice on where I could skimp on cleaning (or skip all together). Turns out, I, and you, don’t have to stress so much because there are tons of spots that can be ignored, and no one will ever be the wiser. 

Here are nine expert-approved areas, most notably in your kitchen, that you can skip cleaning and give yourself more time to bring on the holiday cheer this year:

Unless your fridge is in the middle of your kitchen and you’re giving a tour of the house, Rhonda Wilson, quality lead cleaner at FreshSpace Cleaning, assures me that no one’s going to see what’s behind it. “Don’t waste time pulling the fridge out and vacuuming that hidden area. The front is what matters most here,” she says. 

Unless a bulb is hanging out or there’s dust everywhere, you can skip cleaning the light fixtures. “The lights are on high, and people aren’t typically going to pay attention to them,” Wilson says. “A little dust won’t hurt, and you’re not going to be spotlighting them during the gathering.”

You’ll probably toss the trash out before your guests arrive anyway, so why scrub the lid? “No one’s going to be looking at the trash can, especially if it’s under a counter or in a corner,” Wilson says. “A quick wipe is enough to make it look tidy. Unless it’s gross, it’s not something guests will be inspecting.”

Most guests won’t be poking around under the sink, so it doesn’t need to look perfect. “Sure, a quick check for odors or leaks is a good idea, but deep cleaning under there isn’t a necessity before hosting,” Wilson suggests. “It’s also a place for cleaning supplies, so as long as it’s not overflowing, it’s fine.”

This is an area that only the pickiest guests will notice, says Marye Audet, founder of Restless Chipotle, who believes if someone is eyeing your baseboards during a holiday meal, they may need a second helping of pie to keep them busy!  

Guests aren’t peering under there unless you’re playing hide-and-seek with the kids. “And don’t worry about deep cleaning behind heavy furniture. No one’s moving it to check,” Audet says.

If it’s not a mess, your microwave doesn’t need the full treatment. “Most guests don’t check unless they’re using it, and a simple outer wipe works for that polished look,” says Galia Ivanova, founder and CEO of Cleaning Estimate. 

This is another appliance where you can focus on just the exterior’s appearance. “If I open the dishwasher for guests, it’s to hide last-minute dirty dishes!” Ivanova says. “As long as it’s odor-free, a deep clean can wait.” Here are four easy ways to deal with bad smells coming from your dishwasher.

Ivanova says she stopped stressing over this spot years ago. “A quick polish on mirrors or glassware is usually enough to give that sparkling impression,” she suggests.

This isn’t to say that you’re completely off the hook for cleaning before you host! These are the four spots experts agree that you should tend to, if you have the time, before a big crowd comes to your home.

You don’t want your holiday roast infused with the aroma of last week’s pizza cheese or bacon splatters. “The truth is, a dirty oven or grimy appliances can actually make cooking slower, throw off temperatures, and mess with the flavors of the food you’re carefully preparing,” says Wilson. “For the oven, if it has a self-cleaning option, start that a day or two before. It’s effective, but the process gets hot and can take a few hours. If you’re cleaning it manually, I suggest using Easy-Off spray, wait for a few minutes, and wipe!” 

Wilson says to empty anything past its prime, wipe using a microfiber cloth and Lysol all-purpose cleaner, and organize things to make space for leftovers. 

Think of the sink as the centerpiece of all prep, so make sure it looks (and smells) good! “This is easy to clean. Wet the sink and put a bit of the Pink Stuff paste on a Scrub Daddy sponge. Make sure to get into the nook,” says Wilson. “And while I’m at it, I also scrub the faucet. Rinse and follow it up with a paper towel to dry and avoid hard water spots.”

Kitchen counters should be clean and clutter-free before guests come over, the experts say. “That’s where people gravitate, so you want it to shine,” Audet says. Here’s the best way to clean any kitchen countertop.

Which of these spots are you skipping — or not skipping — this year? Let us know in the comments below!