Your entryway is the first thing you and your guests see upon entering, and the cleanliness can determine the perception of your entire space. That's why there are some easy cleaning wins you can claim regularly in your entryway to set the tone.
To make a good impression, professional cleaners advise removing dirt regularly, wiping high-touch surfaces and controlling odors. These are some of the seven crucial, quick and effective cleaning tips people with clean entryways always action.
7 crucial cleaning tasks people with spotless entryways always do
1. Keep doormats clean
A 'welcome' doormat is a friendly way to greet guests, but the warm and welcoming tone goes completely amiss if it's coated in dirt, leaving it looking worn and weathered. To prevent this, Will Cotter, cleaning expert and COO of HappyCleans, recommends having not one but two doormats.
He explains, 'It might seem like an overkill, but having two doormats and keeping them clean makes a big difference. Place a rough textured one outside, like a coir or rubber scraper mat, then a softer, absorbent rug inside.'
This will also make cleaning a doormat infinitely easier, as the outside mat will capture loose or wet dirt, which is why it's best to go for a heavy-duty option such as the number one bestselling Gorilla Grip Traffic Guard Door Mat available at Amazon. This also gives you the option to go for a cuter style indoors.
Will has two cats, so usually goes for shorter fiber mats because they don't hold onto fur as much – 'because, let's be real, cat hair will find it's way onto everything'. This will make keeping a home clean with cats that little bit easier.
'I vacuum mine regularly,' he adds, 'switching up the direction to lift dirt more effectively, and every so often, I take them outside for a good shake or a few solid whacks against the railing.
'But, if my mat is starting to look more like a dirt trap than a dirt stopper, I either toss it in the washer, if it's washable, or accept that it's time for a fresh one.'
Check yours for laundry symbols, and if you can't spot any, it's probably best to opt for a replacement.
All prices correct at time of publication.
This rubber-backed doormat has an anti-slip design, and is easy to clean with shaking, brushing, and vacuuming. It can also be rinsed under cold water.
This handheld vacuum is compact, making it perfect to store in your entryway for quickly removing dust and dirt on your doormat every day.
Opt for something more decorative in the entryway of your home, with this top rated vintage style design that's crafted from natural coconut fiber.
2. Wipe down high-touch surfaces daily
Your entryway an high-traffic area of your home, which means more dirt. Karina Toner, cleaning expert and operations manager at Spekless, highlights the importance of regularly cleaning an entryway and paying special attention to the dirtiest places in an entryway.
She says, 'Door handles, light switches, and railings in entryways accumulate germs and grime. A quick wipe with a disinfectant, such as the Seventh Generation Disinfecting Spray Multi Purpose Cleaner available at Amazon, or microfiber cloth keeps things clean and inviting.'
Don't forget to clean your front door, either, using mild dish soap and warm water, and cleaning glass with an eco-friendly homemade vinegar glass cleaner where applicable.
Cleaning your front door is also a great way to create good Feng Shui energy inside your home.
This plant-based, hypoallergenic cleaning spray is suitable for most non-porous surfaces, including wooden front doors, with a biodegradable formula to cut through dirt and grime and leave a fresh citrus scent.
Useful for both dusting and cleaning, these microfiber cloths can be used for color-coded cleaning all around the house, before conveniently being washed in the washing machine and dried in the tumble-dryer.
If you're in a rush, these wipes are ideal for giving light switches and door handles a speedy wipe, bleach-free to prevent damaging surfaces.
3. Regularly vacuum and sweep
It's not just your doormat that needs a regular vacuum – removing floor debris across this space and the hallway is one of the easiest ways to prevent dust in an entryway, says Polya Petrova, cleaning professional at Fantastic Services.
'Dirt, dust, and debris accumulate quickly in high-traffic areas, so regular vacuuming prevents buildup, keeping floors cleaner for longer.
'It is recommended to use powerful suction for carpets and hard floors, as well as lightweight and effective for quick cleanups.' If you need help choosing a vacuum cleaner, our value pick of the best upright vacuums is the Shark Stratos™ Upright Vacuum with Dust Package Upgrade available at Shark, with the best lightweight vacuum going to the Dyson V12 Detect Slim vacuum cleaner, available at Dyson.
And, if you're not sure how often you should vacuum, pros generally recommend doing so at least once a week, increasing the frequency if you have pets or children.
Having one of the best robot vacuums is a worthy investment. For Head of Solved Punteha van Terheyden, having the self-cleaning and emptying eufy Omni S1 Pro robot vacuum, available at Amazon reduced her canister vacuum use by 90 per cent. She says, 'It's on an automated daily schedule and my floors have never looked cleaner.'
4. Use a shoe tray
As cleaning expert Will advises, 'If you live somewhere with rain or snow, a shoe tray is a lifesaver. I have a waterproof tray near the door where wet shoes can sit until they dry – bonus points if it has pebbles for drainage,' like the Matace Rubber Small Boot Tray for Entryway available at Amazon.
To keep the mess contained, Will adds that he simply wipes down the tray as needed, and, if in a rush, throws a small towel inside to soak up extra moisture, which is a clever tip to make cleaning a mudroom quicker and easier to keep clean too.
Available in three sizes, this boot tray mat is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, with a wavy ridged pattern to minimize slipping and maximize protection.
5. Control odors
The smell of your home can have a significant effect on the ambiance, which is why choosing a signature scents and eliminating odors are things people with nice-smelling entryways always do.
Cleaning expert Polya says, 'Entryways can trap smells from shoes, pets, and outside air, and a fresh scent makes a great first impression.'
You can make use of entryway fragrance secrets used by spa directors, investing in the very best candles and best reed diffusers, and use nature's best deodorizers, like baking soda and activated charcoal, to knock back odors and keep your entryway smelling fresh and clean.
A portable waterless diffuser such as the Rechargeable Neom Mini, available at Amazon is perfect for layering fragrance or automating the scenting schedule if your entryway is small, or lacks outlets.
For a fresh laundry smell all year, this linen scented candle is non-toxic and paraben free, ensuring a clean and long-lasting burn.
These reed diffusers look as beautiful as they smell, with delicate baby's breath flowers to add a touch of stylish elegance to your entryway.
Tomato leaf is a fun, fresh and unusual scent to add to your entryway. This gorgeous candle is made of hand-poured coconut wax, a non-toxic candle and wax type.
6. Always tidy up
This one might sound a little more obvious, but cleaning expert Will points out the efficacy of simply taking the time to tidy up regularly.
'When there's clutter or too much bags, shoes and random junk piling up, the mess tricks your brain into thinking the whole area is dirty even if it's not. To make things not end up scattered everywhere, give everything a designated spot.'
Reducing visual clutter in entryways is surprisingly effective in making the space 'feel' and look better.
To keep things tidy, Ryan Knoll, owner of Tidy Casa, recommends using a wall organizer, such as the Dahey Wall Mounted Mail Holder available at Amazon, to give keys, bags, and mail a place to go so things don't pile up, adding 'A messy entryway feels dirty, even if it's clean.'
Will also suggests upgrading your entryway storage, by adding a simple bench with storage underneath. 'Aside from making it easier to take off shoes, reducing the chance of spreading dirt inside, you get extra room for other items,' he says, while successfully swerving any entryway storage mistakes at the same time.
This wall mounted mail holder comes with all the necessary hardware for installation, with two slots for holding letters and three hooks for hanging keys.
7. Keep an umbrella and coat rack handy
Wet umbrellas and coats bring wet mud and dirty rainwater into your home, so, as cleaning expert Polya recommends, having a designated drying spot prevents water damage.
This could be an umbrella stand, or coat rack, such as this freestanding, adjustable Coat Rack Stand available at Walmart. Alternatively, if you're short on space, adding some hooks is a brilliant space-saving way to use vertical storage.
Available in nine different colorful patterns, this Ming-inspired umbrella stand can hold up to 40 lbs, crafted from high-quality porcelain.
This steel coat rack with wooden pegs has a tree-inspired look, with a heavy, sturdy base to securely hold your items.
These hooks can be used alone for a sleek look, or hung together for a mixed metal effect that provides effortless vertical storage.
FAQs
How do you clean an entrance?
Keep your entryway clean by emptying it, clearing all dust and dirt using the dry/damp cleaning rule and a vacuum cleaner, before mopping the floor. Then, wash windows and doors, making the best homemade window cleaner first, before killing germs with a spritz of anti-bacterial spray, focusing first on high touch areas.
How do you make an entryway smell clean?
Regular cleaning is a surefire way to make an entryway smell good, which is why neglecting to do so is one of the things people with nice-smelling entryways never do. Then, add scents, and try fragrance layering for a unique, customizable profile.
Meet the experts
Although it's easy to copy the things people with clean entryways always do, to have the same result in your home, it's still crucial to get clued up on the golden rules for a clutter-free entryway, for a warm, homely welcome for you and your guests.
