Being a guest at someone else’s home can be a challenge, especially if you’re a homebody or like things to be a certain way. Even seeing a sock out of place may cause a person to judge your home. The cleanliness of a home can say a lot about a person. According to a 2021 Ipsos poll, 74% of Americans judge a holiday gathering host based on how clean their home is.
But cleanliness is not the only red flag people can immediately clock. There can be smaller, less noticeable details that, to some folks, scream: “I don’t want to be in this house a second longer.” Under a recent post on Threads, folks started sharing their own picks after user @mskittenk asked everybody: “What’s a red flag when you visit someone’s house?” She then shared hers: “For me it’s the absence of books.” But the commenters didn’t hold back, adding things like interior design choices, certain smells, and even the way some hosts interact with each other.
#1
An American flag in the front yard. I’m sorry but it’s giving unsafe.
Image source: therealriex0, Brett Sayles
#2
Dog chained up outside their house and set up as an outdoor pet most of its life.
Image source: hat_nancylee, UMUT 🆁🅰🆆
#3
A complete absence of art.
Image source: woodge, Max Vakhtbovych
#4
Loads of religious stuff. It’s one thing to have a religious book on the coffee table. I went to a house once, they had religious pictures in every room. They literally had a picture of Jesus looking out the front door as if to say he flipping lived there. I guess a burglar might think hmm, maybe I will leave this place alone.
Image source: hitchlives, itsmoeyo
#5
Overwhelming pet smells. Don’t get me wrong, I love little furry friends, but if it hits me like a brick I can’t stay long.
Image source: noi_max, Tom Thai
#6
Wearing shoes around the house.
Image source: 4knitsakes, freepik
#7
Anything MAGA.
Image source: duck_diva2022, Natilyn Hicks Photography
#8
Filth and clutter.
liora_uncensored:
Extreme filth. It’s one thing if a bedroom gets a bit messy or dishes pile up… life gets hectic and cleaning gets put on the back burner I get it. it’s another entirely if it’s such filth it’s outright unsanitary.
Image source: peacedreamer6, rawpixel.com
#9
I find it kind of disconcerting when someone’s children seem afraid to speak, be too loud, walking on eggshells, etc. I understand not all children are loud and that’s not a sign of their happiness one way or the other all the time, but I just feel like kids should feel safe and comfortable enough to hoot and holler in their own home.
Image source: v, Richard Stachmann
#10
For me it’s the absence of books.
Image source: mskittenk, Nadiia Shuran
#11
MLM inventory for their “business” or they buy a lot of MLM stuff. Minus a normal amount of Tupperware.
Image source: mountcoffee, freepik
#12
Family members yelling/fighting while I’m there. Like what’s happening when you DON’T have a guest over??
Image source: thankyou_forsunshine, stockking
#13
Nothing wrong with being into anime and having merch. But if I notice a lot of posters and figures of characters that are very young and childish looking particularly ones that are clearly meant to be sexualized I’m gonna ask a lot of questions.
#14
Not having pillow cases on the bed. You know those sheets and blankets are filthy then.
Image source: TemperatureExotic631, plantsandpoison
#15
Stuffed animals on their walls. Fox news on the tv.
Image source: laceandbooks, sergunello
#16
If they collect Teddy Bears and call them their children. Taking a different to holiday each time, just pure madness.
Image source: justfifi4u, MChe Lee
#17
If you feel like you are in a lobby. No plants, no art except stock, no family pictures, no books, no shoes by the door. Just perfectly void of life and perfectly clean. That creeps me out.
Image source: tnut42, Go to Dominik’s profile Dominik
#18
It’s not even about the inside, it’s about the outside because if that lawn is unkept and that grass is overgrown i don’t even need to see the inside, the outside told the whole story.
Image source: itsantpropst, anon
#19
Dirty toilet.
Image source: tjibbehoek, Karolina Grabowska
#20
Confining animals to cages (all the time).
Image source: moonlit.rabbit.rescue, Pavan Naik
#21
Looking like a show home. It makes me nervous when I feel like sven just sitting down is going to mess up the place.
Image source: ladleshireonsea, Getty Images
#22
TV blaring in every room.
Image source: hslinnyc, Getty Images
#23
Porcelain dolls.
I had a display in my store with a vintage doll pram. This man said. “Oh this would be perfect for my doll collection..” then looked me in the eyes and said “some people think that’s creepy”
It’s me. I’m people.
Image source: katiekater220
#24
The neighbors at the old house had their basement set up like there was a party. Complete with mannequins posed all over. Some sitting with drinks, some standing “chatting”. Super weird.
Image source: good_deel
#25
No photos of family.
Image source: marycatherineegan
#26
If they have less than 10 plants.
Image source: eighthundredfiftysix
#27
“live. laugh. love.”
Image source: thatdorkpaul
#28
No pets.
Image source: bratty_swemo69
#29
Smell of cigarettes. I really don’t like the smell of cigarette smoke. Fresh it’s tolerable but once it gets in the walks it’s gross to me.
Image source: rong_er_22
#30
No hand soap in the bathroom, dishes with old food piled up, taxidermy pets/ relatives (I have seen family have each other as coffee tables & propped up on the couch), no vegetables in the home, If the home is too clean it makes me feel like you’re hiding something (a home with kids and pets should look lived in), Quality towels for you and falling apart towels for guests, too much religious stuff, urine on bathroom floor.
Image source: conciergetravelphoto
#31
Children not allowed to make noise.
Image source: geoff_boz
#32
I look at baseboards and around door handles. That tells me a whole lot
Image source: desert_carebear_
#33
Cockroaches.
Image source: starry_mist78
#34
Cat litter tray in the kitchen.
Image source: harry49hale/
#35
Books and animals. If you don’t have them you’re probably dumb and heartless. And if I see a Bible I’m leaving forever.
Image source: j.scribbl3
#36
Big dogs jumping up on me with nobody helping me out. I’m short.
Image source: booniekitterpillar
#37
Dirty washroom and dirty kitchen sink.
Image source: anna15liz/
#38
Cats on kitchen counters.
Image source: blalock_bob
#39
A voodoo doll with a couple pins stuck in it..
Image source: danielhanson007
#40
The big light is ON and it’s mid day and sunny outside.
Image source: deevaj96
#41
Not feeling like they did anything to prep for my visit. Like a a guest room without fresh vacuum lines and sheets that still smell like detergent.
Image source: alegnamediasuite
#42
Ashtrays (usually full).
Image source: lamkin.elaine
#43
Single layer toilet paper.
Image source: FairyKatsumi
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