There may be an odd occasion when someone comes without even giving a minute’s notice, in which case you’ve got no chance of getting your home visitor-ready! Of course, if it is a close friend there is no reason to panic even though you feel an urge to not put-up your lazy side for your friend to pull your leg. But, for all those other times when a friend or relative asks to come and visit at short notice, you’ll usually have at least fifteen minutes to get the place looking presentable.
For all these occasions, here are a few things you can do to get your home ready for visitors in the blink of an eye:
Begin with the entryway
Do you pay attention to the entryway of homes you visit? Sure you do. Because it’s human nature to observe what we see in other people’s homes, right? A cluttered and grubby entrance is never going to create a favorable impression with guests. So, take a minute to tidy up shoes and coats, and squirt some air freshener around if necessary!
Move on to the kitchen
Got a sink full of dirty dishes? Hide them under the sink or stack them into the dishwasher ready to be put on later when your guests have gone. Check for any visible dirt or stains on countertops. Clean them if necessary and empty an overflowing trash can.
Tackle the living room
Living spaces are often more about clutter than about dirt. And it shouldn’t take you too long to go around picking items up that might be strewn around the place. Either put them back where they belong, discard if they’re junk, or place them in a closet until you can find them a permanent home. Give dusty surfaces a quick wipe down with a damp cloth, plump up the cushions and fold any blankets up that might be lying around.
Don’t forget the guest bathroom!
Check the toilet paper, swap the hand towel, fill up the soap dispenser and run a disinfectant wipe around the toilet and sink. If necessary, squirt a cleaning solution into the toilet bowl and light a scented candle or squirt some room spray.
Move on to the floors
You need only focus your attention on those floors that your guests are likely to use, and in most instances, running the vacuum cleaner over them will be enough to pick up any dust and debris. Mopping will likely take too long, so if you spot any visible or sticky stains on hardwood flooring, rub them out with a sponge and dish soap.
Also, if you don’t want a visitor to look inside a particularly grubby room, close the door and make it off limits!
Remember that these are all quick-fix solutions to a temporary ‘problem’, and to get your home cleaned from top to bottom (and ready for inspection!), you’ll need to put more effort in, or pay a cleaning service to do it for you.
