Improve Your Home, Improve Your Relationship

By: Janell Pratt

Communications/Mass Communications

You may believe that there is nothing wrong with posters of half naked women decorating your walls, and having nothing more in your fridge but an old bottle of ketchup and the remains of last night’s thirty pack, if you’re a guy.  And of course there is nothing wrong with scented candles lining every shelf and countertop or countless framed photos of you and your gal pals adorning the walls of every room, if you’re a girl. 

However, if you are ever thinking about inviting a member of the opposite sex into your home, you may want to reconsider some of your personal décor in order to make them feel comfortable in your home sweet home - that is if you ever want them to come back.

How to Make Your Pad More Chick Friendly

• Clean.  There is nothing more disgusting then walking into a place that smells like a blend of stale beer, old pizza and gym socks.  Yes, you will have to take out (or buy) a mop and vacuum; picking up a few pieces of lint and crumbs with your hands does not count. In fact, it may be worth it to hire a maid every other week - you might find you actually like the smell of a clean home.
• Pick up dirty clothes.  No girl wants to step over piles of dirty laundry, especially when she’s just met you - at least hide them in the closet.
• Go grocery shopping.  Fill your refrigerator with something more than old take out containers and condiments. You will thank yourself the next time you are hungry. Plus, a few snacks don’t hurt; any girl will be impressed if you can offer her more than a cold Budweiser.
• Put away the half naked women.  Take down posters of models in bikinis giving sultry stares.  In fact, take down all posters. You aren’t 15 anymore. Also, put away your Playboy collection; even if she doesn’t mind you having them, she doesn’t want to see them every time she goes to the bathroom.
• Clear the air.  Open the windows, or buy some scented candles, Glade Plug-In’s or Fabreeze.  Anything and everything that will make your pad smell fresh is a good thing.
• Scrub the bathroom.  Odds are, if you are having a female over, she will eventually need to use the ladies room at some point.  Deep clean the toilet and shower to rid them of all stains and scum. Try Clorox Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner with Bleach. You just drop one in the tank, and it cleans with every flush, for up to three months. Also, this is another area to place a candle or air freshener. Also, make sure you have soap by the sink and a towel for her to dry her hands.
• Take out the garbage.  This is a necessary part of the whole “cleaning” process; be sure to remove all garbage bags from your living space. It doesn’t count if you pile them up in the kitchen and tell her you were planning on taking it out soon. Actually make the trip to the dumpster.

How to Make Your Pad More Guy Friendly

• Buy Beer.  Have some cold ones available to offer your guy when he arrives.  And, don’t buy the least expensive brand; he’ll be impressed if you can offer a Fat Tire or Corona with a lime.
• Turn on ESPN. If he wants to watch a big game, or catch yesterday’s highlights, let him. It won’t kill you to hold out on watching another marathon of The Hills.
• Keep reading material in the bathroom.  Place a few of those weekly tabloid magazines on the back of the toilet, just in case.
• Provide snacks.  Have some snacks conveniently available at all times.  Pretzels, peanuts, anything that is easy to grab and eat.
• Tone down the scents.  Of course you want your home to smell girly and clean, but you don’t want him to feel like he just walked into a perfume bottle.  Keep the smells to a minimum, pick your favorite scent and stick to just the one aroma.
• Get rid of any traces of your ex. Despite the tendency to hold on to every memory (loving or not), be sure to take down old pictures and hide teddy bears given to you by your ex. A guy wants to feel like he’s the only man who’s ever been in your home.