You know this feeling: You get a call from family or a friend telling you that they are in the neighborhood and wanting to drop by your house for a minute to say hello. Great, except your house looks like a storm that has just passed.
Do not be afraid! Even with just ten minutes, you can turn your house even if it is a mess into a tidy house!
Simply start at the top of the list and work your way down, the lowest priorities are at the bottom.
THE ENTRANCE OF THE HOUSE
First impressions matter, and for your home that means a clean front door. The front door to your home often ends up being where shoes and clutter congregate. Make sure all shoes are tidy, and all clutter has been collected in a bag and put away for sorting later.
Time required: 90 seconds
COOKED
Some corners of the kitchen are easy to cut! If your sink has dishes that need to be cleaned, just put them in the dishwasher. This includes dishes that you need to wash by hand, such as your sharp knives, pots and pans. Do not run the dishwasher, let it hold all the dirty dishes. Then quickly wipe down the kitchen table and counters with mild soap and a damp sponge.
Time required: 90 seconds
LIVING ROOM / FAMILY ROOM
Gather all the clothes, toys and mail and put everything in a bag. Now is not the time to sort and organize. Store the bag in a closet or bedroom that will not be used by guests. Then quickly wipe down the tables with mild soap and a damp sponge. Shake the sofa pillows and put them neatly organized. Fold all the blankets and put them on the sofa.
Time required: 90 seconds
BATHROOM
Remove everything from the counter except the soap and the paper towel. Put everything in a basket temporarily. Make sure there is enough toilet paper. Wipe down the sink and toilet with disinfectant wipes. If necessary, use a toilet cleaner and brush to clean the inside of the toilet bowl.
Time required: 60 seconds
Floor
When it comes to floors, only focus on high traffic areas such as the living room, kitchen, and hallways (stairs included). For hardwood floors, dust and dirt tend to collect in corners and near baseboards. Target these areas with a handheld vacuum. For carpeted floors, use your vacuum cleaner and clean it as needed.
Time required: 150 seconds
PRACTICAL ADVICE
Close the doors of rooms that are misplaced or not used by customers. This will not only give you a place to store everything you need to hide, but will also help you stay focused on the places that need your attention.
Scented candles are an easy way to freshen up a room. Light a few and place them in a safe space near the front door and in the living room, especially if that's where you plan to spend more time.
If you have smells to mask in the kitchen, use lemon. Throw in a few ice cubes and pour some lemon juice into the trash can and run it a few times to get any food odor out of the sink.
Time required: 90 seconds
Normally, no visitor will surprise you in this holiday season. But, if they do, use these tips to turn your chaotic home into an ideal home in under ten minutes!