How many times have guests unexpectedly stopped by?

How many times have your plans changed where people re-route and are now coming to YOUR HOUSE?

How many times have you wanted to take a picture without people knowing you’re totally fine living in filth 5 out of the 7 days of the week? ME!

There is a way to rush through your house and clean it enough to trick your guests into thinking it looks like that all the time and even make yourself feel good about having people over.

10 Steps To Quick-Cleaning Your House (with a bonus):

1. Light a candle
2. Clean Mirrors and Windows
3. Open the windows
4. Dust
5. Wipe everything down
6. Flush toilets
7. Empty sinks & clear tables
8. Empty Trash
9. Make Beds
10. Vacuum Floors

BONUS: Add Fresh Flowers

In more detail:

1. LIGHT A CANDLE OR TURN ON YOUR WAX WARMER

Before you do anything, light a candle or put wax in a warmer and get that scent flowing through your house. Since it takes just a bit of time to get it going, you’ll want to make this your first step. If you really want to make it look like your house always looks clean, blow out the candle just before the guests arrive. You can pretend it always smells good..

2. CLEAN MIRRORS AND WINDOWS

This isn’t a full-on spring cleaning. Just dash through your house, identify where there’s grime, fingerprints, dirt or whatever else happens in real life and spritz some Windex on it. You can also use your Windex-y towel to wipe down faucets, doorknobs and anything else that needs a bit of shine.

3. OPEN WINDOWS

The best case scenario is if you can open the blinds, curtains and actual window. If it’s frigid outside or Africa-hot, you’ll want to skip the actual window opening. Just brighten the place up. This will also help you see what else needs to be cleaned.

4. DUST

I use a Swiffer duster because it’s so easy peasy and works really well. Literally dash through your house and dust the key places: Shelves, picture frames, bottom of mirrors and windows, tabletops and top of lamps. Other than that, the guests will have to deal. Oh, give any chandelier or hanging light a quick swoop for good measure.

5. WIPE DOWN EVERYTHING

You’re really going to have to book through this one. Just quickly wipe down the counters in the kitchen and bathrooms. Give the toilet a once-over (be sure to get under the lid and seat).

6. TOILET

Grab  your toilet brush and swirl it around just once in the toilet. It doesn’t need to be amazing…just appear clean. Flush every toilet that might be used.

7. EMPTY THE SINK

Throw  your dishes in the dishwasher or stack them neatly in the sink. If it just appears like you’re not out of control, it will look clean. I’ve actually stacked my dishes according to size and cleaned around them. This gives the illusion of “not trying”. That way you can say, “My house? Clean? Nah, it just looks like this all the time. Little piles here and there.” Meanwhile, sweat is rolling down your back.

8. TAKE OUT THE TRASH

A room feels clean if the trash is empty. There’s no more to be said, here. Well, other than asking: Have you tried the Febreze bags? Amazing! Your 4 day old yogurt container can’t be detected. I love them!

9. MAKE THE BEDS

It’s not even necessary for all the pillows to be just right. You don’t even have to have ALL the bedding on your beds. As long as you have the cover and the pillows looking somewhat in order, you’re set to go. Add a blanket across the middle or at the end and turn on a lamp and you get massive bonus points. If it’s the middle of the day, you just look like a freak show. Keep the light off.

10. VACUUM

Just vacuum enough to where you don’ t have random strings, pieces of food, small papers or whatever else falls on your floor. When you’re done vacuuming, walk across your floors in sock-feet so it doesn’t look like you just vacuumed. You’re not showing your house…you’re having people over. Remember: Your house always looks like this.

BONUS: FRESH FLOWERS

This is if you find you have a few extra minutes or someone can stop by the grocery store and find whatever is in season and on sale. Have them grab a bunch (literally) and bring them home. Shove ’em in a vase and place them around the house. Don’t have a vase? Tell the sweet person buying the flowers to grab a pack of mason jars, too. They are in with the gelatin.

If you don’t live alone, divide and conquer. You can get your place clean in 15 minutes. Truly.

Just before the guests arrive, put on more deodorant, wipe the sweat off your brow, comb your hair and throw on some fresh lip gloss. To take it up a notch, grab something to drink as if you’ve been patiently sitting just waiting for your guests to arrive.