How to clean your house fast!
She’s lying on the couch in her living room, wearing one of her husband’s old T-shirts and a baggy pair of sweatpants, watching last night’s taped episode of Desperate Housewives, when suddenly the phone rings. She doesn’t recognize the number on the caller ID and makes the mistake of answering it. He is your long-lost best friend from sixth grade. She’s in town and she happens to be in your neighborhood. She’ll be here in 10 minutes and your house is a MESS.
So how do you clean up for unexpected guests in 10 minutes or less?
1. Keep calm!
2. Do a clean sweep. Grab a trash bag or laundry basket and gather up anything that’s lying around that shouldn’t be and throw it in the bag. Hide the bag.
3. Stuff the pillows on the sofas and chairs in the living room, fold the blankets. Give each cushion a sharp tap to remove any crumbs.
4. Stack mail, newspapers, and magazines in a nice, neat pile. Stick the stack in a corner or on a kitchen chair.
5. Give the bathroom a quick fix! Clean the sink, clean the toilet seat, and give the bowl a quick shake. Then close the shower curtain and toss the knick-knacks into cabinets or drawers. Spray on some Lysol or air freshener to make the bathroom smell clean, even if it’s far from it.
6. Rinse dishes in the sink and stack them neatly or throw them in the dishwasher. Clean table and countertops.
7. Take a look inside the fridge: what drinks and snacks do you have to offer your guests?
8. Close the doors of all the rooms you don’t want to be shown.
9. Light a delicious scented candle in the kitchen, like cinnamon buns or chocolate cake. Lighting a few scented candles will improve the mood of any home and make guests feel welcome. Throw some fruit into a bowl and place it in the center of your table. Fresh flowers work wonders too, if you have them on hand.
10. Take a deep breath. Give yourself a spritz of perfume and voila! You might even have enough time to change into something a little more presentable.
Cleaning for unexpected guests doesn’t have to be crazy, if you generally keep up with household chores. A friend of mine gave me some great advice right after my husband and I got married, she said, “The best way to keep a clean house is to have guests over at least once a month.” There’s nothing like having company come over to clean up!