If you've ever flown through the house vacuuming wildly just before your relatives arrive, you're not alone. Too many of us get caught up in our own lives and leave the heavy housework for the last minute. But even when you fall behind, remembering a few quick tips will get your house looking cleaner, faster.
Start with trash and dishes. Walk around with a bag to pick up miscellaneous wrappers, bottles, or paper, while collecting dishes as you go. These types of items, and others like clothes, books, and shoes, are the ones you'll probably find the most. Quickly gathering up all the displaced things around the house instantly tidies the space; gather similar items at once to avoid extra trips. It sounds too simple but when you're in those frantic final moments it's hard not to start grabbing and throwing at will. But it's better to give an organized effort.
Check bathrooms for cleanliness. Sometimes we forget that our bathrooms aren't always private. When guests arrive unexpectedly, they can catch our bathrooms in their 'lived-in' states—you know, with towels overflowing from the hamper, and makeup spread out all around the counter. For a quick bathroom fix, check the fullness of the trash can, straighten and close the shower curtain, and put products on the counter back into drawers. Make sure there is enough soap, tissues, and other supplies. Hang a clean hand towel and remove used towels from the floor and elsewhere.
Look for noticeable blemishes in the rooms your guests will most likely see first. Pillows shoved into the couch cracks, water rings on the coffee table, or crumbs on the floor will give you away. So do a walkthrough of de-wrinkling, re-straightening, and wiping your things back to normal. But be careful not to use harsh smelling chemicals or excessive vacuuming just before your guests arrive. The overpowering scent and striped carpet will only make your procrastination more obvious!