Tips for a neat home in 30 minutes
Picture this…you’re all curled up on the couch on a Sunday morning drinking coffee and scrolling through social media. Your house looks like a bomb hit because you were out all weekend with sports, get togethers and the like. You think to yourself, ‘I’ll give myself an hour to chill and then I’ll straighten up.’
That’s when you get THE TEXT…it’s your in-laws. They are in the area and want to ‘pop by’ to see the grandkids. They estimate their arrival to be about half hour from now. All of a sudden, you’re up and running, there’s no way you’ll let them see the house in the state it’s in. Never fear! I’m here to show you how to get your house guest ready in thirty minutes!
Each step should take approximately ten minutes to complete depending on the state of your home. Only tackle the rooms that your guests will see, you can clean the rest up later. For purposes of this post, I’m assuming the living room, kitchen and guest bath will be on display to your guests.
Clutter Clear aka The Laundry Basket Saves the Day
First thing’s first, go around collecting trash, dirty clothes and dishes. Fold blankets, fluff pillows and do a general straightening of the rooms your guest will see. If you want your house to look tidy, you need to pick up all the things that don’t belong. I’m talking that stack of library books on the coffee table, the balled-up socks that kids throw everywhere (why do they do this??) the discarded hoodies and random tchotchkes that accumulate on all available surfaces. This is where the laundry basket comes into play. Grab an empty basket, go through your rooms and gather up all items that do not belong there. Put it in your bedroom or a laundry room, anywhere that your guests will not be going and deal with it later. You may need more than one basket, but your home will look much tidier after this first step.
Kitchen Quickie
Now that your house has been decluttered, it’s time to get down to business and actually clean. Make sure the sink is empty–load the dishwasher or hand-wash dishes. Wipe down the table and countertops, take out the trash and light a candle for a pleasant aroma.
Guest Bath Refresh
Quick clean whatever bathroom your guests will be using. Get some Clorox wipes and wipe up the toilet and sink. Replenish toilet paper, soap and tissues if need be and empty the trash. Make sure you have clean hand towels.
If you have time, you can run the vacuum or sweeper but it’s not necessary for a quick stopover. As long as your mother-in-law doesn’t pull out her white gloves, you should be just fine for the impromptu visit.
Recommended Items from this post
**Some of the items posted below are from affiliate links. I get a small commission for any purchases generated from my links. However, you can rest assured that I would never recommend an item that I did not have personal experience with or own myself.**
Clorox Wipes
I usually stock up on my Clorox Wipes at Costco. If you don’t feel like leaving the house, you can order them from Amazon here. Bonus disinfecting mist with this bundle.
Laundry Basket
I’m sure you have plenty of laundry baskets, but if you need one a little sturdier to gather up all the mess lying about, here’s a good one. It folds up for easy storage when not in use.
Candle
I personally love the fresh scent of lemon and prefer the White Barn Candle Company candles from Bath & Body Works. If you’d like to try it, the link is here.
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