Quick-Smart Guide to Cleaning Your House in a Hurry
Last-minute guests arriving? Here's how to get your home neat and tidy in a flash
Jo Simmons
22 September 2015
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several books on design and numerous features for glossy homes mags over the years. For Houzz, I cover decorating ideas and trends and interview designers and professionals for their insights. My favourite pieces to write, though, are Houzz Tours, as I love exploring and learning about real homes. Call me curious — or nosy!
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several... More
Some people have the knack for maintaining a permanently perfect home – enviably tidy at all times. But for many of us, the daily reality of home life looks more cluttered and dusty than clean and serene. Even if you are relaxed about this, there may come a time when you want to give the impression of tidiness and order, even if you are only faking it! Perhaps friends or family are visiting? In half an hour? Quick! Follow our fast and, ok, we admit it, occasionally devious, methods for a home that looks neat (but might not be…).
Work in the direction of travel
When your home is suffering from mild neglect and you have visitors about to ring the doorbell, there’s no time for a thorough, room-by-room clean. So blitz in the direction your guests will move through your house.
Start in the entrance hall and head for the living room or kitchen, depending on where you’re all likely to settle. Scoop up shoes, clear surfaces and sweep the floor in these areas first, to make a clean, beautiful entrance, and then focus your attention where it will be seen most.
When your home is suffering from mild neglect and you have visitors about to ring the doorbell, there’s no time for a thorough, room-by-room clean. So blitz in the direction your guests will move through your house.
Start in the entrance hall and head for the living room or kitchen, depending on where you’re all likely to settle. Scoop up shoes, clear surfaces and sweep the floor in these areas first, to make a clean, beautiful entrance, and then focus your attention where it will be seen most.
Clear surfaces
Cluttered surfaces suggest a cluttered mind – or at least a level of disorganisation you perhaps don’t want to advertise to family and friends! So quickly clear all surfaces. There’s no time to sift through it all now, so just sweep the clutter into a bin bag or box to be sorted through later, and hide it out of sight.
Next, give surfaces a quick dust off for an immediately cleaner, neater vibe. The smell from a squirt or two of furniture polish while you’re there will also suggest perhaps more cleanliness than there really is…
Cluttered surfaces suggest a cluttered mind – or at least a level of disorganisation you perhaps don’t want to advertise to family and friends! So quickly clear all surfaces. There’s no time to sift through it all now, so just sweep the clutter into a bin bag or box to be sorted through later, and hide it out of sight.
Next, give surfaces a quick dust off for an immediately cleaner, neater vibe. The smell from a squirt or two of furniture polish while you’re there will also suggest perhaps more cleanliness than there really is…
Dust your TV screen
However small your TV screen, it will attract dust and look noticeably mucky. So even if you don’t tackle the other surfaces around it, make sure the TV looks pristine.
However small your TV screen, it will attract dust and look noticeably mucky. So even if you don’t tackle the other surfaces around it, make sure the TV looks pristine.
Clean your powder room
When it comes to the loo visitors will use, there’s just no corner-cutting acceptable. Clean it!
When it comes to the loo visitors will use, there’s just no corner-cutting acceptable. Clean it!
Lose the pet hair
If your cat or dog liberally sheds excess hair, and your soft furnishings are the proof, take action. Perhaps your sofa cushions are the same pattern on the underside? If so, then simply flip them over. Failing that, a throw will conceal a thicket of pet hair in an instant. If you have a bit more time, but not enough to get the vacuum cleaner out, grab some sticky tape and quickly blot it over the hairiest areas to remove some of the excess fluff.
If your cat or dog liberally sheds excess hair, and your soft furnishings are the proof, take action. Perhaps your sofa cushions are the same pattern on the underside? If so, then simply flip them over. Failing that, a throw will conceal a thicket of pet hair in an instant. If you have a bit more time, but not enough to get the vacuum cleaner out, grab some sticky tape and quickly blot it over the hairiest areas to remove some of the excess fluff.
Create the impression of order
In a living room, plump cushions quickly and line them up. Stack remote controls on top of one another or in a neat line, and straighten any items on coffee or side tables. These super-speedy moves trick the visitor into thinking you are fanatically house proud with a keen eye for detail.
In a living room, plump cushions quickly and line them up. Stack remote controls on top of one another or in a neat line, and straighten any items on coffee or side tables. These super-speedy moves trick the visitor into thinking you are fanatically house proud with a keen eye for detail.
Quickly blitz the bathroom
Will guests be going into the bathroom? If there’s a risk they will, take fast action. Put the loo seat down, chuck any damp towels in the laundry basket, shut the shower screen and wipe down the taps, basin and toilet. In that order. Always in that order…
More: How to Design a Self-Cleaning Bathroom (Well, Almost!)
Will guests be going into the bathroom? If there’s a risk they will, take fast action. Put the loo seat down, chuck any damp towels in the laundry basket, shut the shower screen and wipe down the taps, basin and toilet. In that order. Always in that order…
More: How to Design a Self-Cleaning Bathroom (Well, Almost!)
Ditch the dishes
If there’s a pile of washing-up by the sink and the dishwasher is already full, grab a big bucket, load the mucky plates and cutlery into it and stash this in the garden/under the stairs/anywhere guests won’t be visiting. Adding hot, soapy water so they can soak is a good idea, too, so they’ll be easy to tackle once guests have left.
Another possibility is to hide the offending crockery in the oven. Remember to remove it before cooking dinner, though!
If there’s a pile of washing-up by the sink and the dishwasher is already full, grab a big bucket, load the mucky plates and cutlery into it and stash this in the garden/under the stairs/anywhere guests won’t be visiting. Adding hot, soapy water so they can soak is a good idea, too, so they’ll be easy to tackle once guests have left.
Another possibility is to hide the offending crockery in the oven. Remember to remove it before cooking dinner, though!
Tweak the lighting
If it’s daytime when guests are visiting, pull up the blinds and draw back the curtains to let in plenty of natural light. This will help give the impression of an airy, bright home, which sort of implies a clean home, too. It’s especially advisable if you have Venetian blinds or shutters that have become dusty. If you have time, clean windows using old newspaper and some vinegar for a quick polish up.
If it’s an evening visit, dim the lights to create a cosy, soothing atmosphere, while also concealing any dusty corners at the same time.
If it’s daytime when guests are visiting, pull up the blinds and draw back the curtains to let in plenty of natural light. This will help give the impression of an airy, bright home, which sort of implies a clean home, too. It’s especially advisable if you have Venetian blinds or shutters that have become dusty. If you have time, clean windows using old newspaper and some vinegar for a quick polish up.
If it’s an evening visit, dim the lights to create a cosy, soothing atmosphere, while also concealing any dusty corners at the same time.
Add scent to your space
Creating a sense of order goes beyond simply making your home look neat and tidy: you want it to smell great, too. Mask stale niffs and fill the air with a scent that says, “I clean my house a lot!” by using fresh-scented products to wipe surfaces. Then spray some upholstery freshener on curtains and seating and light a scented candle, too.
Even if it’s chilly outside, air the spaces guests will visit by opening a window to eliminate stale air. You can shut it if necessary once they arrive.
9 aromas that boost your health
Creating a sense of order goes beyond simply making your home look neat and tidy: you want it to smell great, too. Mask stale niffs and fill the air with a scent that says, “I clean my house a lot!” by using fresh-scented products to wipe surfaces. Then spray some upholstery freshener on curtains and seating and light a scented candle, too.
Even if it’s chilly outside, air the spaces guests will visit by opening a window to eliminate stale air. You can shut it if necessary once they arrive.
9 aromas that boost your health
Introduce some sparkle
Have any sparkly accessories knocking about? Great! Move them into the room in which you will be entertaining. They create a bright focal point that will draw the eye to them and away from any scruffy corners. Boost their sparkle by positioning a lamp nearby, too.
Have any sparkly accessories knocking about? Great! Move them into the room in which you will be entertaining. They create a bright focal point that will draw the eye to them and away from any scruffy corners. Boost their sparkle by positioning a lamp nearby, too.
Ham it up
Answer the door to friends with your rubber gloves on, or leave the vacuum cleaner out in the middle of the hallway. Act slightly embarrassed and use this killer line: “Oh, you just caught me cleaning up!”
TELL US
Do you have any tips for giving your home a quick freshen-up? Share them in the Comments.
MORE
Unsung Spring-Cleaning Jobs You May Not Have Thought of
The Procrastinator’s Ultimate Cleaning Rundown
Tips and Tricks for Getting Windows Spotlessly Clean
Answer the door to friends with your rubber gloves on, or leave the vacuum cleaner out in the middle of the hallway. Act slightly embarrassed and use this killer line: “Oh, you just caught me cleaning up!”
TELL US
Do you have any tips for giving your home a quick freshen-up? Share them in the Comments.
MORE
Unsung Spring-Cleaning Jobs You May Not Have Thought of
The Procrastinator’s Ultimate Cleaning Rundown
Tips and Tricks for Getting Windows Spotlessly Clean
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thank you for sharing, i will keep it in mind
Thank you very much for sharing my photo!! Great article!
There are posters in my hall:
"This house is cleaned every three months whether it needs it or not."
"No-one ever reached the Pearly Gates and said: 'Oh, St Peter, how I wish I'd done more housework!'"
Or I meet them at the door saying with a smile: "I need a poster: 'Dull women live in tidy houses!'" nad they laugh...
My friends know that in the summer I have lots of commitments (actually lovely outings as well) in quick succession, and there is no time for housework when I've only just got home and am aiming to leave on time tomorrow. My ability to make a mess when I'm not there to make it is considerable.... however, I have a good set of excuses. "I had to move all that stuff for workmen to fix the radiators, and then when I tried to put it back, I put my back out instead," was originally true, but it continues to work for all kinds of situations.
Pianopanda, if I had a blitz on clutter in the summer, the statement about dull women would become true... I don't mind doing it in the winter. I have friends who agree that if the house gets tidied from time to time you really appreciate the fresh look. If you need it to look like that all the time, you've made a rod for your own back...