Ask Mrs. Clean: House Cleaning, Stain Removal and Organizing Tips

[keepinclean]

Hi there

My husband and I will be moving into a new apartment soon and I need some tips before we actually get there.
My goal is to keep a clean house at all times, I don't mean meticulous by a long shot, but just "guest ready" in case someone stops by unannounced. We have a two year old daughter, so I am sure this might present a small challenge, but I am determined to not let it stand in my way.
My first question is this: I've heard of those air fresheners that spray in intervals on their own to keep a room smelling good. My mother recently purchased one and I've watched it a few times, it seems to me that it sprays, and obviously whatever is sprayed just falls to the ground. It smells good, but just in that specific area. Are they worth purchasing? I'm sure I'd have to buy multiple units for the entire apartment and I'm just not sure it's worth it. Is there something else I can use that works better?
We won't have any pets going with us to this apartment so I won't have to deal with that. I know I can do my part to keep the apartment clean, but I want to know it SMELLS clean too, how can I achieve that? I want a home for guests to come into that not only looks clean but it smells that way too. My next question deals with our balcony. I'm sure there will be heavy foot traffic between the apartment and the balcony (all that separates the two is a sliding glass door), should I place a rug/mat on both sides of the door? or would one suffice? I was considering a mat set to the side of the door (on the inside of the apartment) to place shoes or slippers on, would that work fine? Do you have any tips on cleaning the sliding glass door besides the actual glass part?
Any tips on what I should have in the guest closet ( the only thing I can think of is just hangers) available to use?
I'm a person who pays close attention to detail (hence why I'm a cake decorator:0) ) and I want to make sure I'm not overlooking anything as far as cleaning goes that someone might notice when they come to visit.
Thank you so much for the help, I'll need it!

[poppy_dance]

Try the air fresheners that release a small 'puff'. Glade make them. Place them on a windowsill and the room will smell nice but it will only be subtle. To be honest, I use Yankee Housewarmer Candles! I light them quite frequently, and the smell lasts whilst they're not lit. Try a nice fresh one like Egyption Cotton to get that 'clean' smell you wish for :)

[keepinclean]

Thanks for the great idea!
I used to have a favorite Yankee candle I can't remember the name but it was something like "Storm" or whatever, it had was a light purpleish color and I think they discontinued it, :( I just LOVED it! Oh well, now I get to go out and find a new "sniff" (as my daughter calls it) I like :D
Maybe something that smells like fresh laundry, but not obvious like Downy, lol.
Again, thanks!

[poppy_dance]

Be sure to look out for the Housewarmers. The others smell great but once you light them the smell isn't that noticeable, especially in big rooms. But the Housewarmers really kick out a good strong smell. Try Cottage Breeze, it's light blue and heavenly. Midnight Cove and Midsummers Night are also lovely, so fresh but a bit exotic too. They're my recommendations but I know if you're anything like me you'll spend at least half an hour going round them all saying either 'oooh lovely' or 'oh how vile'! :lol:

As for the mat thing. I wonder, do you not allow shoes in your home? So do you want people to put their shoes on when they go out on the balcony and then off when they return to your apartment? If so, then the mat idea is definitely a good one. Or, perhaps one of those self assembly shoe racks. I have a white metal one by my front door because I refuse to have shoes in the main house. It looks quite tidy as opposed to just having shoes all over the place :)

The closet in the guest's room, definitely have some hangers. And a little trick I use is a car air freshener hung in the wardrobe. I use Magic Trees (Little Trees in the US), because they're nice and cheap and last ages, especially in a confined space like a wardrobe.

And the last thing from me is maybe a cotton bud (Q tip!) to get into any crevices in the sliding door. I don't know whether it has crevices, but I know some doors do, for example, my shower screen! Very irritating, has lots of little crevices which gradually go black and gunky after a few weeks. It takes a cotton bud to sort it out.

[keepinclean]

I had never thought of using a shoe rack, that is a great idea:0) And it is true about the piles of shoes, I have that problem right now matter of fact. It's just a big pile of shoes behind our front door where people kick them off.
I'd like to keep the shoe traffic in the house to a bare minimum just because I want to avoid having a carpet cleaner over frequently. The carpet in the apartment is your basic off white carpeting, so you know how easily dirt will show up on that :roll:
I'm sure I'll be called a few names (such as neurotic or a clean freak) but hey! It's my home right? I'll just laugh it off knowing it's a clean one! Thanks again:0)