Clean Your House QUICK - Strong Beginning

Do you ever have those days when your house feels like a disaster? I think we’ve all been there, maybe me more than most (I’m not a big fan of housekeeping). To top it all off, you get a phone call from your spouse letting you know his ____ (boss, old friend, fill in the blank) is coming over. Panic strikes, and maybe even paralyzes you for a few moments. Then you kick it into high gear and pray you have enough time to put the house in some kind of order before they show up. I have lived to tell, and I thought I might share with you my tips to clean your house quick!

The first thing I do is light a candle or two or plug in a new air freshener. Even if the house doesn’t look perfect (then again, does it ever), at least it will smell fresh and welcoming. Grab a basket and quickly pick up items that have been left sitting where they don’t belong. You likely don’t need to put everything in its place right now, so you can collect misplaced items in the basket and place it in the corner of the master bedroom for now or hide it in the closet if there’s any chance you’ll be giving a tour. (Your husband can put these items away in the morning as his way of saying thank you for entertaining guests at the last minute. That’s how it works at your house, right?)

Next head to the main bathroom. No, not to get sick, but to clean it. The bathroom is the one room that must be clean. I remember reading a study some years ago that said the one biggest reason people will leave is because of a dirty bathroom. I’m not sure whether it is true or not, but I believe it. You don’t need to scrub the shower (unless they become overnight guests, and then you can clean it in the middle of the night if you need to). But clean and disinfect the counters, sink and toilet. I keep a bottle of Lysol disinfecting wipes under the bathroom sink so I can quickly grab a few and make sure every surface is cleaned. I then use a Clorox toilet wand to speedily give the toilet a quick clean and shine. Lastly clean the mirror, and then empty the garbage.

Once the bathroom is acceptable, I move to the kitchen. Again, grab a bottle of Lysol wipes from under the sink and give all surfaces a good once over. I also keep a bottle of Soft Scrub kitchen cleaner. It is a spray bottle cleaner allowing you to quickly cover the sink and then give it a good wipe and rinse. If you have time, you an also clean the stainless steel appliances, but I usually save that for the end just in case company appears sooner than expected. If caught in the act, you can casually say you were just polishing the appliances, and it doesn’t give away the fact that you have been frantically trying to make your house not look like a tornado went through it.

If needed, grab a Swiffer duster and run it over the main living area (shelves, tables, tv) and don’t forget to check the ceiling for hanging cobwebs. It never fails I find one of those after the guests arrive, and I am obsessed with it the rest of the evening. This is when I ask myself why I have never hired a housecleaning service, but then I remember that even if I did, company would come for a surprise visit the night before the house was scheduled to be cleaned and I would still be in a panic. That’s just the way it works.

Lastly, grab the broom and/or vacuum and give the floors a little attention. I have two German Shepherds, so dog hair is accumulating every time I turn around. This task usually takes me the longest, but it might be different for you.

That’s it. By now all of the main living areas that your guests are likely to visit are fresh and clean. You should have a little time left to freshen yourself or at least relax a little. These quick cleaning tips have saved me a time or two. Hopefully they will be helpful for you as well. If you promise not to judge me for it, I will even admit some weeks my house only gets this quick clean and not a good scrubbing. If no one can tell, I figure it’s a pretty good system.