Have you ever had unexpected company show up with little to no warning? Believe me, I have! What can you do to make your house presentable with very little notice? {Like, 15-20 minutes notice}. You’d be surprised. With a little planning and a handy checklist, you’ll be able to transform your home from a cringe-worthy mess to a tidy, inviting space. My free quick clean checklist will show you how!
Free Quick Clean Checklist: How To Clean Your Home In 20 Minutes Or Less
Whenever unexpected company is on their way, you have a limited window of time in order to make your home presentable. Notice, I said presentable. With 15-20 minutes to work with, you shouldn’t expect a squeaky-clean home. Your goal should be clean enough. Not perfection. Here’s what you’ll need to do.
1 | IDENTIFY PROBLEM AREAS
Take a quick look around your home. Does anything jump out at you? Chances are, whatever mess you see first, your guests will see too. Most of the time, the main culprits of dirt/clutter will be flat surfaces, seating areas, and bathrooms. As such, you should focus your quick-clean efforts on these three areas.
Close-off any rooms which you do not want your guests to see. Remember, what they don’t know {see} can’t hurt them!
2 | PICK UP CLUTTER
Once you’ve identified any problem areas, it’s time to launch your attack. Grab a bag, box, or bin and quickly pick up stray clutter. Target the floors, flat surfaces, and bathroom. Your goal here is simply to gather any items you come across which do not belong in the space. Don’t worry about putting anything away at this time. You can do that after your guests leave. Hide the bag/box of clutter out of the way.
Also, be sure to pick up any trash and throw it away.
If there’s a remote chance your guests will see the kitchen, you’ll need to either load the dishwasher or stack any dirty dishes neatly in the sink.
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3 | CLEAN
Pour/spray cleaner in the toilet bowl and let it sit while you tackle other areas of your home.
Concentrate your cleaning efforts on any visible dirty areas with speed and efficiency. Grab a wet rag, sprayed with all-purpose cleaner or a container of disinfecting wipes. {I like to keep some Clorox wipes on hand for quick clean ups}. Wipe down counter tops, tables, and other flat surfaces which your guests will see.
*Don’t waste time going through your entire house. Now is not the time for that!
Turn your attention to your guest bathroom. Wipe down the countertop, sink, and toilet area. Clean the mirror, close the shower curtain, and flush the toilet. Empty the trash can.
If you have time, do a super-fast spot sweep/vacuum of high-traffic areas. {Only if they need it}.
*Don’t forget to take out the trash!
Get your FREE Quick Clean Checklist HERE!
4 | CREATE COMFORT
Create the illusion of a relaxing space for you and your guest. {No one needs to know that just 15 minutes ago, your house was a total mess}! You can do this by lighting a few candles or spraying Febreze on the couch, carpet, and curtains. Fluff throw pillows and lay out a throw or two. Hang clean towels in the bathroom and restock the toilet paper.
If you have the time, set out a tray of snacks for your guests. If you run out of time, be sure to offer them a drink/snack when they arrive.
Relax and enjoy the company of your company!
READ MORE:
- 12 Best Professional House Cleaning Tips That Will Save You Time, Money, And Energy
- Free Printable Deep Cleaning Checklist (Room By Room)
- 6 Spring Cleaning Tips For Messy People
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