Mady Dahlstrom
With the holidays fast approaching, guests will soon be flooding in and out of your home. Whether your parents are coming to stay for the week or friends are visiting over the weekend, prepping your house for guests can be time-consuming and stressful.
The following are a few quick ways to get your house clean before guests arrive.
1. Hang up coats and put away shoes
It only takes an extra minute to put away rain coats and neatly line up winter boots. Tuck these items away to instantly make your entryway appear more organized.
2. Load the dishwasher
Are you known for leaving dirty dishes in the sink for a few extra days? Toss those plates and pans into the dishwasher to clear the counter and clean up the sink area.
3. Clear countertops
Overnight guests can bring extra items. Make room for purses, sunglasses, keys and more by clearing off your countertops of clutter.
4. Wipe down countertops (and appliances)
A quick way to spruce up your space is to wipe down countertops and all appliances. Use stainless steel wipes to remove all smudges and smears on your fridge, dishwasher or oven.
5. Sweep and vacuum
Give your floors a quick clean by sweeping up crumbs and vacuuming any dirt or pet hair. Don't have time to vacuum the whole house? Clean up the rooms your guests will be in most often.
6. Empty trash cans and recycling
Remove any bad odors or overflowing trash by emptying trash cans and taking out the recycling.
7. Make your bed
Will your guests want a tour of your home upon arrival? Give your bedroom a quick makeover by simply making the bed.
8. Throw dirty clothes in the hamper
One of the easiest tricks to making a space appear clean is to make sure all clothing is tossed in the hamper and hidden in the closet.
9. Put away cords
Cords create clutter. Coil up your chargers, controllers and headphones and neatly tuck them away in a safe spot.
10. Clear clutter
Clutter can easily be anywhere in your home. Choose a high-traffic area like the kitchen and tuck away mail in a drawer, put appliances into place and remove any electronics or purses that might be on the counter.
11. Wipe down your bathroom sink
If your guests will be using your bathroom, give the sink a quick clean by wiping it down with a paper towel or cleaning wipe. While the whole bathroom won't be clean, it will appear fresh and neat.
12. Fluff pillows and fold blankets
Tidy up your living room with a quick fluff of the pillows and fold blankets. Stack blankets in a corner or put them away in storage bins.
13. Open up blinds
Bring in natural daylight to make your room appear clean and welcoming. Open up blinds or curtains in the kitchen and living room to brighten up the space.
14. Light a candle
Lighting a scented candle is a simple trick to make a space feel less messy. Candles can bring a sense of tranquility to a room.
15. Add fresh flowers
If all else fails, add a few flowers to your home to freshen up a room. A small vase in the bathroom or a full bouquet in the kitchen will make your house look cleaner than it is.
The writer is a freelancer
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