How to Clean Up for Guests

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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The phone rings and it's your best friend from high school who's just in town for the day. She wants to pop in and say hello! The house is a sty but you really want to see your friend. Set a timer for 15 minutes and start moving from room to room to tidy up.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Step1

Grab an empty laundry basket (or two). Move through the living room and dining room and gather up out-of-place items on the floor or furniture. Clear off the dining room table and put everything in the laundry basket. Stash the laundry basket in a closet.

Step2

Run a dust cloth over the dining room table, end tables, cocktail table and other noticeable places only. Use a bit of lemon scented spray wax on the cloth to leave a fresh smell. Plump up cushions and throw pillows. Stack magazines neatly.

Step3

Vacuum the carpets. Sweep or vacuum the hardwood. Shake out any throw rugs and replace them. Close the doors on the main floor to rooms that company can't access.

Step4

Use a wet-wipe or a damp paper towel to clean the bathroom sink and fixtures. Wipe down the lid of the toilet tank, the toilet seat. Lift the seat and wipe the rim of the toilet bowl and the underside of the seat. Swish the brush in the bowl and flush.

Step5

Polish the bathroom mirror. Pull the shower curtain closed. Empty the wastebasket into a trash bag and move into the kitchen.

Step6

Put all the dirty dishes into the dishwasher or gather them into a dishpan and set it under the sink. Wipe off counter tops, the range and the front of the fridge. Mop or spot-wipe the kitchen floor.

Step7

Empty the kitchen trash and take the trash bags to the bin. Return to the house and walk through with a room freshener spray. Light a scented candle near the front door.

Tips & Warnings

A quick way to freshen a house is to boil a 1 to 2 tsp. of cinnamon and 1 cup of water.
This method is a way to quickly clear up obvious clutter and surface debris. Take the time later to properly clean your house.