Christmas hosting comes with a lot of pressure. You want your home to feel cosy, festive and welcoming - but behind the fairy lights and table settings, guests are quietly noticing the things you might have forgotten.
Recently, a wave of conversations, particularly on Reddit, revealed the little things people secretly judge when visiting someone else's home. From damp hand towels to limescale-covered taps and lingering kitchen smells, it's actually the smaller, everyday details that leave the biggest impression on guests.
So, to help you feel confident welcoming friends and family this festive season, we've compiled this list of the most common Christmas hosting 'icks' and how to fix them before guests arrive.
5 Christmas hosting 'icks' and how to fix them
These are the small, often overlooked details that guests notice instantly but won't tell you.
1. Damp or tired hand towels
Hand towels are one of the first things guests use and one of the easiest ways to accidentally give the 'ick'. Luckily, it's also one of the simplest fixes.
Keep more than one hand towel in your guest bathroom or cloakroom and rotate them throughout the day to avoid towels becoming damp. If you have a heated towel rail, make use of it to ensure towels can fully dry between uses and feel fresh for every guest.
Fresh towels, a full soap dispenser and a heated towel rail can instantly elevate a guest bathroom.
2. Limescale covered taps
Kitchen taps are a high traffic area during Christmas with guests washing their hands, helping in the kitchen or grabbing a drink, and limescale can make even a clean space feel grubby.
A simple solution of three parts lemon juice with one part water can be just the fix. Gently scrub onto the tap using an old toothbrush. Leave for 30 minutes to dissolve the limescale then rinse thoroughly and buff dry with a soft microfibre cloth. Be mindful of only using this solution on the limescale itself as it can be abrasive to some special finish taps.
3. Smelly bins
Nothing breaks the festive mood faster than an unpleasant smell coming from the bin during dinner. Give the bin a thorough wash with hot, soapy water, paying attention to the lid and sides. Adding a small amount of ground coffee or bicarbonate of soda to the bottom can also help neutralise odours.
4. Tarnished silverware
When you're busy cooking and hosting, it's easy to forget the cutlery, but dull or stained silverware can leave a surprisingly negative impression. However, there is a quick fix that you can easily do in between the chaos of festive tasks.
Soak cutlery in a solution of one part white vinegar to eight parts hot water for five to ten minutes. Rinse well and dry immediately with a lint-free cloth to restore shine.
5. Sticky cabinet handles
Cabinet handles are touched constantly but rarely cleaned, making them one of the most overlooked 'icks' around the home.
To keep on top of this over Christmas, mix warm water with a few drops of washing up liquid and use a soft cloth or toothbrush to clean around the handles. For a grease-free finish, wipe a cloth lightly dampened with white vinegar and dry immediately.
Your 10-minute Christmas guest ready checklist
Small upgrades that make Christmas hosting easier
If you're hosting regularly over the festive period, a few simple upgrades can make a big difference.
- Boiling water taps for quick drinks and less kitchen clutter.
- Bathroom accessories like soap dispensers, towel rails and storage for added wow factor and convenience.
And to help, we're running festive deals this December with 10% off boiling water taps and bathroom accessories using code: SAVETEN.
Hosting doesn't needs to be perfect, it just needs to feel comfortable. By focusing on the small, everyday details, you can make your home feel welcoming, fresh and guest-ready this Christmas.
Looking for the perfect kitchen tap? Check out our guide to this year's best kitchen taps.
