five tips to help guests feel welcome

Susan Fornoff (sfgate) interviews Dara Caponigro, co-author of Domino’s new “Domino: The Book of Decorating” and lists five tips to help guests feel welcome…just in time for Thanksgiving.

Two of the five tips land near and dear to Clean+istry’s heart:

1. “Cleanliness is holiness. Cleanliness is more important than a beautiful room, whether it’s your room or a separate guest room. It may seem obvious, but, once or twice, I stayed over at a friend’s house and wondered if the sheets had ever been changed. Make sure sheets are fresh and clean and iron the pillowcases, at the very least. Also, always put out a fresh bar of soap. However, don’t throw away the used bar; wrap it in plastic wrap and save it for later to use yourself.”
2. A guest room should be crisp and stylish without your personal effects, Caponigro said: nice bed, comfortable mattress and pillows (preferably hypoallergenic, just in case), clean sheets, a comfortable chair and good lighting. Hotels also provide an alarm clock, some toiletries, a robe and someplace to put one’s clothes. In the bathroom, shared or not, make sure there are clean, colorful towels.

ON the other hand, Clean+istry has 5 tips for being a CLEAN guest…

1. Suitcases or travel bags with wheels belong in airports, not homes. If you bring one, pick it up and carry it into your guest room. Avoid hitting walls along the way.
2. Upon arrival in your room, take a mental picture of it. If your memory is less steel-trap and more etch-a-sketch, take a picture with your cell phone. Your host created a clean, inviting sanctuary for your stay. Keep it that way. If closets or drawers are available for storage, use them and NOT THE FLOOR. Do not place your luggage against a wall, leaving black marks. Make your bed each morning. Avoid the temptation of simply tossing a bedspread over it.
3. Similarly, if you enjoy the exclusive use of a guest bathroom, PRETEND THAT YOU DO NOT. Wipe the sink after use. Lower the toilet seat. Hang and fold towels. Store your personal toiletries in an available cabinet or in your kit neatly tucked away. EXTEND the shower curtain after use.
4. Be kind to furniture and furnishings. House rules rarely need to be overtly stated. A simple glance about a room should suffice. Example: coasters placed on a table or countertop imply that placing sweaty glassware directly onto furniture is not cool. When in doubt…ask. Impress your host upon arrival by asking if the house follows a shoes-off policy.
5. Finally, take cues from your host. If he/she creates wall-art with greasy hand prints, then summon your inner Diego Rivera and go for it. Clean guests never “ask” if they can help tidy-up or clean after-meal dishes. They simply “do”. Such inquiries are passive-aggressive methods of signaling that “I’m on vacation.” If you are a guest in someone’s home, you ARE DECIDEDLY NOT on vacation, regardless how convincing your host may otherwise make it seem. You are enjoying the company of generous people. Treat them AND their home with respect.

If we all work together, everyone should have a wonderful holiday!