The 10-Minute Quick Clean

Have you ever invited someone over to your house and it wasn't until you hung up the phone that you realized your house is a wreck!?  It happens to the best of us.  Here is my list of things that I do in this exact situation.  Got 10 minutes? Ready, Set, Go!

My focus is primarily on three places:  living room, kitchen and guest bathroom.  When friends/family drop by, these are the three rooms they would most likely frequent. 


Living Room:

• Check to make sure couch cushions are straightened and pillows are placed where they should be.
• Fold any blankets and put away. (I have a storage ottoman I throw them into.)
• Gather magazines, books, etc and either place them in a neat stack or take them to another room.
• Take all cups/dishes/shoes/jackets/etc to the rooms they belong in.  (If the rooms have doors, i.e. the bedroom, just throw the items on the bed and shut the door.)

Do you have a few extra minutes?  Run a dustcloth over sidetables and coffeetable.  You can also do a quick vacuum of the high-traffic areas.


Kitchen:

• Are there dirty dishes on the counter/in the sink?  Quickly load the dishwasher.  If the dishwasher is full, and it would take too much time to unload/reload, then just rinse all the dishes off to remove the food residue and stack neatly in the sink. 
• Wipe counters down to remove crumbs and smudges.
• Clear the kitchen table or stack everything neatly.

Do you have a few extra minutes? A clean sink really makes a world of difference so do this task if you can.  You can also do a quick sweep/vacuum of the floor to remove crumbs and dirt.


Guest Bathroom:

• Check toilet and maybe do a quick swipe with the brush if necessary.  Don't worry about cleaner.  You can sanitize later.
• Wipe down counter surfaces and mirror.
• Straighten towels and floor mats.

Do you have a few extra minutes?  Empty the trashcan and light a candle!


Don't be afraid to ask family members to help!  Even kids can get in on it.  They can certainly take shoes to closets or stack magazines.  Also note that most of the 'dirt' in your home only you can see.  You know what it looks like at its cleanest so that is what you are judging against.  No one is going to care at the end of the day if there was a spare sock you missed or a bowl in the sink.  You live in your house.  It's not a museum.  Relax and enjoy your company.