BoomerGirl.com

People will be coming to stay in two weeks.

Having houseguests means giving people the run of private spaces you otherwise might let slide.

For starters, make sure whatever bathroom they'll be using is spotless.

"Sit on the closed toilet, then stand at the sink to see everything a guest will see, so you get an idea of what really needs cleaning," says Davida Sidrane Hogan, lifestyle director of Woman's Day magazine. Wash the bath mat, towels and, if necessary, the shower curtain liner. (If it's really nasty, replace it.)

Vacuum or sweep while the floor is dry for easier hair and dust removal, says Kathy Peel, author of "Desperate Households." Then use all-purpose cleaner, vinegar or non-abrasive cleanser on the wall tiles and tub. Peel takes a clean sponge mop to these areas "because it's easier on your back," and she uses a cloth wrapped around a screwdriver to de-gunk the tracks holding the shower door. On the door itself, use a squeegee and glass cleaner or soap-scum repellent.

Hit the faucets, sink, toilet, towel racks, vanity front and scale, because "things appear cleaner if they sparkle," Hogan says. Then wet-mop the floor. (Although many people put a clean bath mat on the floor, Hogan drapes hers over the side of the tub so it is not walked on by dirty shoes. It goes on the floor only during shower or bath time.) Finally, check supplies of toilet paper and facial tissue.

If visitors will be sharing the bathroom with family members, put guest towels on their bed "so they don't have to figure it out," suggests Donna Smallin, author of "The One-Minute Cleaner."

Preparing the guest room — or wherever the visitors will sleep — means dusting and vacuuming, of course. If you have a pet, you may need to vacuum the whole house more than once, especially areas where the pet tends to hang out. (Then, if guests have allergies, keep the animal out of those spaces.)

If the guests are staying in your home office, clear away papers and make space for clothing and toiletries, then dust and vacuum well. If their sleeping space is in the basement, open windows and doors to air it out and run a dehumidifier for several days before they arrive; keep it going until they leave.

Put freshly washed sheets on the bed, and dust the bedside table and the few necessities on it: a reading light (check the bulb), clock, tissues and a current magazine or two. Empty a dresser drawer and make room in a closet so guests can easily unpack. Extra points given for a luggage rack, Smallin says. Fresh flowers are a welcoming touch.