How to Make a Room Look Clean

This room appears clean after a quick makeover.

Old friends are stopping by your house in 30 minutes and your house isn't in any condition to accommodate guests. With a well-thought-out plan, a few cleaning tools and a little elbow grease, you can make your house look cleaner in a few minutes, even if you know better. Closing doors of untidy bedrooms, bathrooms or other home areas that guests won't see provides an instant fix in hiding messy spaces. Concentrate your quick cleanup efforts on visible living, dining and kitchen areas.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Laundry basket
• Spray air freshener
• Vacuum
• Glass cleaner
• Newspapers
• 2 clean white socks
• Lint brush
• Woven book basket
• Small storage bin
• Disinfectant wipes

1. Pick up toys, shoes and other loose items off the floor and toss them in an empty laundry basket. Hide the laundry basket in a closet or bedroom and shut the door.

2. Run a lint brush over upholstered furniture, removing visible pet hair and lint. Fluff toss pillows on sofas or chairs and position them to cover any spots or stains. Stack magazines or books neatly on a bookshelf, coffee table shelf or in a woven basket.

3. Place a clean white sock on each hand and wipe quickly over visible wood furniture surfaces, removing dust, pet hair and lint.

4. Vacuum carpet in major traffic areas, fluffing carpet for a clean look. A few vacuum "streaks" will make the entire carpet appear fresher.

5. Spray window cleaner on visible smudges, water spots and fingerprints on sliding glass doors, bathroom mirrors and chrome fixtures and wipe with newspaper for a streak-free finish.

6. Remove used bath and hand towels from the bathroom and replace with clean ones. Clear personal toiletries from bathroom countertops and shower by tossing them into a small storage bin and hiding it in a bathroom cabinet.

7. Shake bathroom and kitchen scatter rugs outside. Spray rooms lightly with air freshener and turn on ceiling fans to circulate air.

8. Clear kitchen countertops and the sink of dirty dishes and place them in the dishwasher. Use a disinfectant wipe to quickly wipe kitchen countertops, refrigerator smudges, the stove top and sink. Cut a fresh piece of citrus and place it on decorative plate on the kitchen countertop.

9. Take out the trash and turn on quiet background music. Softly playing music makes the room seem more organized and relaxing.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't get carried away when doing quick cleaning. You are only cleaning visible dirt, smudges and clutter to make the room appear clean -- not deep cleaning the entire room.

References

• Real Simple; How to Fake a Clean House; Kathleen Squires
• Dare to be Domestic; Finishing Touches, AKA Ways To Make It "Look" Clean, Fast!; Derrick Johnson
• Gomestic: 10 Simple Ways to Clean Your Home (Fast); Say It Ain't So
• The Inspired Room: How to Get Your House Cleaned Up in Five Minutes