Learn how to fake a clean house in just a few minutes for those last-minute visitors so it looks like you’re always on top of you house cleaning routine.
You may have had the best of intentions to keep your house clean. But then, life happened and you stopped following your daily cleaning schedule.
Over time, your home has piles of books, laundry—dirty and clean—scattered everywhere and dishes piled up in the sink.
And, that’s just the beginning…
It’s all fine and dandy until someone decides they’re dropping by.
Then, you start panicking because you don’t want anyone to know what kind of mess you’ve been living in all this time! It’s embarrassing because they’ll probably walk away thinking you’re a slob when really, you’ve just been busy.
Well, don’t worry because there are simple tricks you can use to fake a clean house and your visitors will never be the wiser. Here’s a list of seven steps to follow to make your home appear way cleaner than it actually is.
How To Fake A Clean House
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1. Clean Areas Your Guests Will See
Focus on cleaning areas in your house that guests are most likely to see e.g. entry, living room, bathroom and kitchen.
If you live in an open-concept home, walk the path that guests will follow and check out what they can see. Tackle those areas first.
2. Clear Clutter
Head to the places you’ll be focusing on and remove clutter from surfaces there.
If you have a lot of clutter, grab a basket, box, tote bag, anything really and throw items in there. Then, hide the basket or whatever container you used. You can put away the contents later.
Throw away any trash you collected while clearing the clutter. You may find it easier to carry a trash bag along with you during this step.
In the entryway, only leave the items you need when exiting the house e.g. keys, sunglasses, a handbag and a pair of shoes. Remove extra pairs of shoes, sports gear, paper clutter and anything else that doesn’t belong. Get more tips for tidying up the entry here.
In the living room, pick up toys, stack books and magazines into neat piles, flip cushions, if dirty or covered in pet hair and fluff throw pillows. Fold blankets and throws neatly. Behind the sofa is a great place to stash items that you need to pick up later. Just ensure your guests can’t easily see what’s back there!
Clear kitchen counters of the usual suspects like paper clutter and anything else that doesn’t belong. You can stash these items in a drawer or cupboard temporarily.
3. Dust Surfaces
Now that surfaces are relatively free of clutter, it will be much easier to clean them.
Dust the bigger, noticeable objects like tabletops and the T.V. Use a microfiber cloth to remove particles of dust.
If you have window blinds, turn them up instead of down. The bottom of the blinds usually holds less dust than the top.
4. Clean the Bathroom
Nothing is more offensive than a smelly toilet and a countertop covered in makeup and hair. Your guest might be able to overlook a dusty house but they won’t forget a dirty bathroom.
Pour a little bleach in the toilet and let it sit.
Remove bath and body products from the vanity counter. Either throw them into a drawer or cupboard. Pull across the shower curtain to hide the shower.
Pick up clothes off the floor and place into the hamper. Hang wet towels to dry or change them, if needed.
Use some Lysol wipes to quickly clean off the countertop and toilet seat. Remember to clean off the rim of the bowl as well. Give the toilet bowl a quick swish with the brush and flush. The bleach will remove stains and odors.
Wipe off the mirror with glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth.
5. Clean the Kitchen
Head into the kitchen and wash any dishes in the sink. If there are a lot of them, place them in the dishwasher. You can run this after your guest has gone.
Don’t have a dishwasher? Then, hide the dishes in the oven or stack them in a dish pan and place it out of sight. The goal is just to clear the sink.
Quickly, wipe the counters to remove crumbs or spills.
Replace dirty towels and dish rags.
6. Leave a Nice Scent
Remove stinky trash from the kitchen and bathroom. Place new liners in the garbage bins.
Freshen up the air in your home with one of the following methods:
- Spray air freshener
- Light a candle
- Use incense
- Plug in an essential oil diffuser
Spray couch cushions and curtains with Febreze to get rid of stinky smells. Soft surfaces are often the source of bad odors in the house.
Febreze One is a great option as it’s meant for use on both fabrics and in the air.
7. Vacuum Floors
If you still have time, get the vacuum cleaner out and quickly run it over the floor in the areas your visitor is likely to see. Use it to remove pet hair from the sofa cushions, while you’re at it. No-one wants to be covered in fur after sitting on the couch.
Close doors to any rooms that guests don’t need to enter and you haven’t cleaned. Stash all the cleaning supplies you used.
And, you’re done!
Freshen up yourself and wait for your guest to arrive.
Don’t forget to pick up all the items you hid and put them away properly once your visitor is gone! And, create a new house cleaning routine that works better for you so you don’t have to do this mad dash to clean before company arrives again.
Click here to download this Speed Cleaning Checklist.
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