How to Quick Clean Your House Before Guests Arrive

The doorbell rings in an hour, and you’re glancing around your house, which looks more lived-in than guest-ready. Eek! Sound familiar?

I know I’m not the only one who’s experienced this before, scrambling to make things look presentable before family or friends arrive. Luckily, you don’t need hours to make a good impression.

With a few quick-cleaning tips, you can transform your home in minutes. From rapid decluttering and surface wiping to sprucing up the bathroom, focusing on high-traffic areas will help your house feel tidy. A couple of final touches, like a fresh scent, will add that perfect finishing polish.

How to Quick-Clean Your House for Guests in Seven Easy Steps

Let’s start with some wise words from Douglas Adams: “Don’t Panic.”

Guests won’t inspect every corner or closet, though I can’t speak on behalf of the mothers-in-law or your germophobe friend. So, focusing on deep cleaning your pantry or closet is unnecessary unless it’s a gateway to a magical land.

Instead, let’s focus on what can make the biggest difference in the shortest time. For that, you need to prioritize and draw up a plan.

#1. Start with a Plan

Starting with a quick-clean plan helps you avoid wandering the house aimlessly with a dust rag or feeling like a deer in headlights. You’re in control, and that cluttered coffee table doesn’t stand a chance!

Grab a notepad and focus on where your guests will spend most of their time visiting—think living room, kitchen, and bathroom. Highlighting these areas gives you a mini road map to avoid the dreaded “Oh, I forgot to pick up the pile of shoes by the door!” moment.

Prioritize items that make the most significant difference, like neatly stacking scattered magazines, packing away toys, and hiding dirty laundry in a basket or in the washer.

#2. Declutter First for a Cleaner Canvas

This is a big one for me: When I get home, I have the propensity to dump stuff on the closest available surface. When you realize a mountain of clutter is on every surface, your solution is the humble laundry basket.

Take your basket (or a crate or box) and toss in all the random items—books, shoes, that old, empty coffee mug—from the main areas. Trust me, a clutter-free space instantly feels cleaner, even if you haven’t started dusting.

Once everything is in the basket, hide it in a room where guests won’t visit. You’ll feel like a magician making messes disappear. For now, it’s out of sight, out of mind. And hey, when you have time later, you can deal with it properly. Just remember where you stashed it all after they leave.

#3. Dust and Wipe Down Surfaces

Like most people, guests will probably be drawn to places like the coffee table or shelves, especially if they’ve got to put down a cup or a bag. Dusting is a little chore that goes a long way, so grab a microfiber cloth, an old T-shirt, or a lint roller and dust away.

Dust any eye-level or lower surfaces, especially in spots where the sunlight hits—we want to remove dust bunnies from the limelight.

Next, wipe down any smudges or fingerprints on high-touch areas like tables, counters, and shelves. You might also want to check the TV frame and the fridge for smudges and fingerprints, especially if you have kids in the house.

Dusting is your “shiny finish” step, and you’ll appreciate how much brighter everything looks after a quick wipe-down. Plus, if you’re feeling fancy, a little shine makes it seem like you spent way more time preparing for your guests.

#4. Freshen Up the Bathroom

Bathrooms are Guest Central, so don’t skip this one! I know how I feel when I step into one friend’s spotless bathroom versus visiting that other friend with clothes on the floor and toothpaste marks in the basin. I’m guessing you’ll want to go for the “spotless bathroom” vibe.

Here are some pointers:

Wipe down the sink and the mirror, remembering that a smudged mirror is a dead giveaway of rushed cleaning.
Check there’s enough soap and toilet paper.
Give the toilet a quick once-over, wiping the seat on both sides.
Clear the counters and stash away any personal items.
Empty the bathroom bin—no one wants to see your used Q-Tips.
Put out a fresh hand towel for extra points.

Your guests won’t see your entire house, but they’ll likely remember your bathroom and how hygienic it is, so make it count!

#5. Give the Kitchen a Quick Once-Over

If your guests will be hovering in the kitchen, it’s a good idea to dedicate some of your limited tidying time to that space. If your kitchen has a lived-in look, that’s okay—we’re here to make it company-ready fast.

Start by clearing off the countertops.
If you’re short on time, load dirty dishes in the dishwasher or stack them tidily in the sink. We’ll pretend it’s out of sight.
Wipe down the counters, the stove, and any sticky spots—clean surfaces make the whole room feel fresher.

Finish off by putting away obvious messes, like the cereal box from breakfast or the mail pile on the counter. Your kitchen will look organized and polished, even if you skipped the deep cleaning.

#6. Sweep or Vacuum High-Traffic Floors

Nothing says, “I didn’t have time (or inclination) to clean,” like a floor full of crumbs, dust bunnies, and other unidentified objects. Ask me: I have white floors, and they get dirty so quickly, especially with pets and wind blowing in leaves and dust. But there’s no need to worry; you can tackle this quickly.

Grab a broom or quick vacuum and focus on high-traffic areas like the entrance, living room, kitchen, passage, and bathroom. A quick mop can also work wonders if you have hardwood or tiled floors.

Think of this part as setting up the guest path. You’ve pioneered through the dust, making way for your guests where you think they’ll walk or sit.

Skip any rooms that won’t get traffic; save your time for the quick-clean jobs that will have the most impact in the short term.

When you’re done, your floors will look fresh and make the whole place feel or appear cleaner, even if you spent only five minutes on them.

#7. Add a Final Touch with Fresh Scents

I learned this nifty trick from my mother whenever we had a showhouse. You want your guests to smell something pleasant when they walk in instead of smelling, say, smelly socks or a wet dog.

My mom’s trick was to put drops of vanilla essence in various hidden spots throughout the house, but you have other options.

You don’t need to go overboard—light a candle, fire up the diffuser, spray a little air freshener, or, if you’re feeling fancy, simmer some water with lemon or cinnamon on the stove. Fresh scents do wonders for making a home feel clean and inviting.

Just be cautious with strong, overpowering fragrances. You want your home to smell welcoming, not like a perfume store.

Also, if you have toilet spray, ensure it neutralizes any toilet smells instead of adding to them. (Here are more tips on how to make your home smell good all the time.)

Final Thoughts

And that’s it! Seven simple steps to get your place ready for guests in record time. Remember, the goal is a presentable home, not a perfect one. Guests appreciate a tidy, welcoming space; these tips let you achieve that without breaking a sweat.

Next time you’re in a pinch, follow this simple routine, and you’ll feel confident opening the door, knowing you’ve got everything under control. Happy hosting!

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