We’ve all been there. You are busy with all of life’s to-dos, and keeping a clean house has fallen to the bottom of your list. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, your across-town in-laws call to inform you that they have decided to surprise you for a visit … in 15 minutes! While you are excited to see them (hopefully), you are not excited by the state of your home. We’ve outlined some quick hacks and efficient suggestions to get your house ready for company in no time at all.
Don’t panic.
There are toys all over the living room floor, dishes on the kitchen counter, and clothes on the unmade beds. First, and most importantly, take a deep breath. Next, turn on some music (or try a premade mix from Spotify™ or Apple Music®) and brew some sweet-smelling coffee. Consider making a “productivity playlist” of songs that make you happy but aren’t distracting while you caffeinate, and infuse your home with the aroma of hazelnuts. Finally, stay focused, get to work, and follow our top tips for having a clean house in a hurry!
Use your appliances.
You have a dishwasher and washing machine for a reason—put these tools to work. Start by piling all dirty clothes in a laundry basket or start a load of wash. Then, load the dishwasher and get things started. If you don’t have a dishwasher, at least fill the sink with warm water and soap for the dishes to soak. Do you have a Roomba®? Pick up enough to at least have the floor clear so you can hit start and get it going while you focus on other areas of the house. Your unexpected guests won’t expect everything to be perfect, but just showing you have made the effort of starting the cleaning process will be impressive when they see how tidy your home is!
De-clutter and disinfect, fast.
If you have old mail, catalogs, or paper lying around, just pull the trigger and throw it all away (okay, take a quick scan for unpaid bills that you can place in a “to do” folder for later, and then actually “do” them in the coming days). For the most part, if we really needed that coupon, reminder post-it, or informational pamphlet, we would have already used it. Next, throw any kids’ toys in a bin (they can organize them later) and fold all your blankets, leaving only one or two nicely laid out on the couch. Fluff the pillows, quickly vacuum the main rug (no need to do the whole house), pick up any trash, and run a disinfecting wipe over the counter tops.
Extra credit.
Okay, you’ve done all of the heavy lifting, but now it’s time to take the additional step to impress your unexpected houseguests. Wipe a lint remover over the couch or other fabric services to remove any pet hair, use room spray to make your home smell extra clean, and light a candle or diffuse some essential oils to both calm you down and set the mood. Try soothing smells, such as:
- Lemon: put some lemon rinds down your garbage disposal to eliminate any unwanted odors
- Lavender: promotes relaxation and stress relief
- Eucalyptus: create a spa-like vibe while helping with nasal congestion
- Fresh linen: place fresh linen–smelling dryer sheets into cabinets and drawers to keep sheets and towels smelling fresh
- Peppermint: a pleasant scent that can even help ease headaches (in case having unexpected guests has caused one)
Get even more ideas on how to make your clean house smell great, here.
Do you happen to have a garden? Clip a few flowers to toss in a vase for ambiance or place a bowl of fruit on the table for an easy décor-enhancing effect. If you really want extra credit while cleaning, get the kids to help! This article shares tons of great tips on getting your children involved in the chores, which will make the tasks get done even quicker. Now put your feet up, pour yourself another mug of coffee, and enjoy a happy home and the company of impressed visitors.
If after all the cleaning you still aren’t feeling content where you live, this blog offers some additional tips for attaining wellness at home.
