Unexpected Visitors? Speed Clean Before Your Guests Arrive

So you’ve been super busy and haven’t really kept up with the house cleaning – it happens.  But when a friend or relative suddenly calls and says they’re dropping by, running around trying to clean the house in a hurry can be stressful.  Fortunately, there’s no need to panic – use these tips to get your house guest-ready in 30 minutes or less.

1. Only focus on the rooms your guests will see, and close the doors to any other rooms in the house.

2. Get a laundry basket and fill it with magazines, unopened mail, and any other stray items lying around. Hide the basket in a closet until your guests are gone.

3. If you have a pile of dirty dishes, hide them in the dishwasher or slip them in a basket under the sink to deal with later.

4. Sprinkle your carpet with baking soda to get rid of any odor. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then go over the carpet with a vacuum.

5. If you have a lemon, cut it in half and run it over the faucets, microwave, etc. Then put a few rinds through the garbage disposal to eliminate any odors.

6. You can eliminate kitchen odors by mixing 1 cup of water and 3 tablespoons of vinegar in a saucepan and boiling it for several minutes.

7. To get rid of stains, mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on a paper towel or microfiber cloth and wipe away any soap drips, toothpaste splatters, hard water stains, etc. You can use this mixture on just about anything, but do not use it on natural stone, as it may etch the surface.

8. Swifter your kitchen to quickly pick up any dirt or crumbs on the floor.

9. If you wear rubber gloves to wash your dishes, you can also use them to quickly pick up pet hair. Just run the damp gloves over the couch, kitchen chairs, etc., to remove any lingering fur.

10. Walk around your house and run a lint roller over anything that’s looking a bit dusty. If you don’t have a lint roller, put a clean sock on your hand and use it to wipe away the dust.

11. Your guests will likely need to use the bathroom, so be sure to wipe down the toilet with bleach before they arrive.