12 Guest Etiquette Mistakes Michiganders Make at House Parties

Stepping past someone’s welcome mat is like getting a backstage pass to their life—photos hanging on the fridge, a half-read book balanced on the couch arm, the faint smell of their go-to candle.

Most Michiganders want you to kick back and enjoy the party they’re hosting. But they’re also secretly hoping you won’t mess anything up.

So, before you show up clutching nothing but your phone, be sure you’re not about to commit any of these guest blunders that can turn even the friendliest invitation into an instant host regret.

Arriving Empty-Handed but Hungry

Picture this: your friend Maya spent Saturday morning brining chicken wings, zesting limes for mocktails, and hunting down the fancy kettle chips for the party she’s hosting. You breeze in, rave about the mouth-watering smells, and plop onto the sectional with two open hands.

Bringing something—anything—signals you’re a polite guest.

Your contribution doesn’t have to be gourmet. Even a liter of ginger ale prevents that dreaded mid-party “We’re out of fizz” moment.

Finally, be mindful of leaving enough food for other invitees. An early guest who demolishes the guac without adding anything back forces a host to “creatively” stretch their seven-layer dip—translation: chip crumbs for the late arrivals.

Tracking Mud Past the “Shoes Off” Basket

If you spot a woven basket piled with Nikes, fuzzy socks, and a lonely Croc, that’s your cue: shoes off.

Yet plenty of guests glide straight past, leaving muddy prints across freshly mopped hardwood. Hosts may smile politely, but inside they’re picturing Sunday scrubbing sessions with a Swiffer WetJet.

Unsure of the house rules? Ask.

A quick “Shoes on or off?” prevents awkward glances at your dusty sneakers.

And hey, line those shoes neatly against the wall. A scattered shoe pile isn’t attractive and can be an ankle-twister.

Turning the Sink into a Science Experiment

Caked-on Alfredo, half-full coffee mugs, and forks cemented with brownie batter—sound familiar?

Dumping dirty dishes into your host’s sink “for later” guarantees they’ll be chiseling crusty plates at midnight. So, do a quick rinse at the very least and—if there’s room—pop your dish straight into the dishwasher.

Can’t tell which rack is dirty or clean? Ask before you start Tetris-stacking plates.

Even better, do your dishes on the spot. If it makes your host uncomfortable because they don’t want you to work during the party, they’ll let you know.

Treating the Bathroom Like a Dressing Room

Lounging on the toilet while scrolling TikTok may be relaxing for you, but fifteen minutes in a single-bath home means an impatient queue doing the potty dance outside the door.

Quick pit stops keep the household schedule on track—especially when kids are whisper-screaming, “I really have to go!”

Need extra mirror time to finesse that eyeliner wing? Politely ask if there’s a spare mirror elsewhere. Most hosts would rather redirect you than hold it.

On your way out of the bathroom, run a courtesy check: wipe toothpaste splatters, hang the hand towel back on its loop, and give the toilet handle a confident push.

Don’t let it mellow if it’s yellow when you’re in someone else’s home unless they specifically tell you to.

Peeking Behind Every Closed Door

Yes, that hand-carved barn-door slider is gorgeous. But unless your host swings it open, it’s not an invitation to open it.

Also, rifling through nightstand drawers “just to find tissues” crosses the invisible privacy line faster than you can say, “Nice monogrammed towels!”

If you genuinely need something—bandages, aspirin, maybe an extra roll of toilet paper—ask. Most hosts will gladly play concierge rather than wonder why their wedding album is suddenly upside-down.

Remember, even an ajar bedroom door may conceal a chaos zone of unfolded laundry or gift surprises you’re not supposed to see. Respecting those boundaries tells your host that their secrets (and their sanity) are safe with you.

Resetting the Nest to Tropical-Beach Mode

Tampering with thermostats is the silent party-killer. One guest thinks 68 °F equals “Arctic tundra,” nudges it to 75 °F, and soon Grandma’s famous fudge is melting on the platter.

Modern smart systems like Nest or Ecobee log every tweak, so the host will know exactly who turned the living room into a greenhouse.

Feeling chilly? Grab the throw blanket artfully draped over the recliner—it’s there for a reason. If you’re still shivering, ask if the host minds a degree bump.

Conversely, if you’re roasting, peel off a hoodie before you reach for the digital dial. A single layer change fixes personal comfort without sabotaging the household energy bill.

Unleashing Surprise Plus-Ones (Furry or Human)

Showing up with your coworker Dan—who the host has never met—and Dan’s goldendoodle, Mr. Waffles, might feel spontaneous.

But it triggers a mental avalanche for most hosts. “Do we have enough chairs? Is anyone allergic? Will the cat freak out?”

Always check first. A simple text—“Mind if I bring Dan? He makes killer queso”—gives the host time to say yes, adjust seating, or politely decline.

As for pets, assume the answer is no unless the host explicitly invites them.

Even the sweetest pup can knock over wine glasses or shed a year’s worth of fur on the velvet sofa. Boarding for the evening preserves friendships and upholstery.

Taking the Driveway Hostage

Hosts despise choreographing car shuffles when they have enough things to juggle with a bunch of people at their house.

So, don’t snag the prime spot at the top of your host’s driveway so you can “be the last to leave,” then only stay until 8:00 pm. Meanwhile, everyone else behind you has to leave the party to move their cars.

If you arrive late and plan on staying late, choose street parking from the start. Read signs for street-sweeping hours, and leave space so neighbors aren’t playing bumper cars to get out.

Better yet, buddy up on rideshares. One Lyft means zero parking worries and a built-in friend to debrief the night’s highlights on the way home.

Turning the Living Room into a Daycare Without Walls

Kids racing Hot Wheels across the coffee table or using throw pillows for WWE practice can turn a host’s calm den into total mayhem.

If you’re going to a party with kids, prep your little tornadoes in the car: which rooms are play zones, what “inside voices” mean, and why Darth Vader lightsaber battles are outdoor-only activities.

Bring silent-friendly toys—think sticker books or tablets with headphones—to keep them entertained.

If an accident happens? Blot that apple juice and offer to cover cleaning costs for your host. Owning the mess proves you take responsibility and ensures future invitations don’t mysteriously get “lost in the mail.”

Dousing the House in Cologne or Lighting Up Indoors

It’s tempting to refresh your perfume before guests crowd the foyer, but three extra spritzes can turn a cozy get-together into an allergic sneeze-fest.

And, yes, vaping peach-mint clouds indoors counts as rude.

Stick to one dab of scent before you leave home. If you need a cigarette break, step outside and stash the butt in a tin, not the flower bed. Double-check you’re downwind of open windows so you don’t make the living room smell.

Bonus tip: Skip scented candles as a hostess gift unless you know the family’s preferences. Coffee-shop vanilla might delight you but nauseate someone else.

Hijacking the Remote and Smart Speaker

Grabbing the Roku remote to queue up The Office marathon or commanding Alexa to crank up death-metal classics without asking feels like wrestling control of the party vibe. The host’s carefully curated jazz playlist suddenly dissolves into sonic whiplash.

Instead, float a suggestion: “Mind if we throw on the playoff game?” or “Any chance we can play that new Taylor Swift album?”

Giving the host the final nod keeps them in the driver’s seat—and avoids awkward scrambles to hide personal photos that pop up on smart-TV screensavers.

Remember, voice assistants store shopping lists and reminders. Shouting “Hey Google, what’s on your calendar?” might reveal appointments your host intended to keep private.

Ignoring Time to Go Cues

Every gathering has a gentle “time to go” hum: dishwasher humming, playlists winding down, hosts swapping sneakers for slippers.

Ignoring those cues and chatting until 2 a.m. forces the host into heroic clapper-hands—“Well, this was fun!”—just to hint that bedtime arrived an hour ago.