Have you noticed that when your friends visit unexpectedly, it’s also when your house looks its worst? or how about your extended family calling at the last minute to tell you they’re in the area and arriving at your residence soon? I’m an expert in procrastination, and both of these have happened to me too many times. But I’ve learned how to quickly clean the common spaces of my home in 10 minutes or less. These tips are by no means the way to really clean your home, but they will give you the look of a decent home when you’re short on time.
Hide Dirty Dishes
There’s nothing like a sink full of dirty dishes to make a kitchen look worse. Put those used items in the dishwasher. If the dishwasher is full of clean dishes, store enough space to make room for dirty dishes. After the guest leaves, it is not a big problem to recycle the clean product again. No dishwasher?fill a plastic bucket with dirty dishes and hide them in a cabinet under the sink. Just don’t forget that you put it there.
Wipe, Wipe, Wipe
Use a clean, damp microfiber cloth to wipe down everything in the kitchen. Microfiber is a great tool, all it takes is a little water and elbow grease. You don’t have to spray the counter or dry it. Starting at one end of the kitchen, wipe down all appliances, countertops, and sinks. Microfiber can remove food, fingerprints, and dust all at once.
Bedroom to the Rescue
Once you’ve got your kitchen nicely furnished, head to the entrance. This will be the first area your guests see. Grab shoes, coats, and backpacks and keep them in your closet or bedroom. Your bedroom is your secret weapon to hide clutter.
Through the Nose
A quick way to make a great first impression on a guest is to spray perfume where they walk through the door. Simply lightly spray your favorite room spray on the door and you’ll have guests smell the captivating scent as they enter your home.
Don’t forget the bathroom. It should be clean and ready to greet your guests. There is no doubt that someone needs to use it. Start by closing the shower curtain and hiding all the clutter behind the shower curtain. Use a toilet brush to quickly scrub the toilet. Then use a damp finely woven microfiber cloth to begin wiping down the mirror, the top of the vanity, the sink, and finally the outside of the toilet. If your family uses soap, hide it in the shower and bring out the pump soap for your guests. And make sure to take out a clean hand towel.
Last-Minute Vacuuming
Now that you have the kitchen and bathroom ready for your guests, take a few minutes to quickly vacuum all the floors in the common room. You don’t have to be meticulous, just pick up visible dirt and pet hair. Remember, you’re just cleaning for the sake of appearance. Your guests won’t look at your cleaning skills as closely.
The Power of Flowers
If you don’t have time to clean your home, find a way to distract your guests with a nice pastime. Simple cut flowers make your kitchen look bright and clean. In addition, a classic white plate filled with colorful fruits will draw attention to what you want and stay away from what you don’t.
Dim the Lights
If you don’t have time at all to prepare for your guests, you can try this last trick: dim the lights, or close the blinds. The darker the room, the less dirt guests will see. Darkness will cover up many of your sins.