I think we have all experienced the moment of panic when you realize you have guests coming and the house is a mess.
There seems to be so much too to do and you may not be sure that you can do it. It is overwhelming and you probably have no idea where to start.
The first thing you will want to do is break things down into sections and realize that this isn’t a deep clean but instead a clean to get your house back into good shape.
By doing things in smaller steps, you will start to see that you can easily achieve the results you desire and before you know it, you will have a clean and tidy home.
Turn up the music
The first thing you will want to do is turn on your favorite playlist or even a podcast you enjoy listening to and boost your mood.
It’s no secret that a messy and cluttered home can cause a damper on your mental health and that the mess piling up can be a result of mental health issues.
You deserve to have a home that is functional and pleasant to be in. Do not let your cleaning time feel like a punishment, instead turn it into an impromptu dance party and enjoy making your space feel better.
Another way to help you stay on top of cleaning to avoid having to get the house cleaned all in one day, is to follow a house cleaning checklist and you can check out our version here.
You can also use this as your timer and see how much you can get done during one song.
Declutter
Decluttering can sound overwhelming but once you get started it may be the easiest part of cleaning.
The process of decluttering the house will require two items
- a trash bin
- a large basket
Declutter sounds exhausting and just the thought of it can be daunting but we will break it down into two steps.
- Collect the items that do not belong in that room and place them into your large basket
- Collect the items that need to be thrown away and dispose of them in the trash bin.
Once you have completed one room you can move on to the next until each room is decluttered.
Because you are using the large basket you can put things into, you can begin putting those items away as you complete each room.
If you are short on time you can place the basket of miscellaneous items and set it aside to deal with once you do have more time on your hands.
Collect laundry and dishes
For some reason, laundry and dishes end up scattered throughout the house, especially when there are children in the home.
Before you even want to think about starting either of those tasks, after you have decluttered each room, make sure you find all the dishes and laundry.
At this point do not focus too much on getting the task done. This step is more about being sure those items are in the proper place and doing that will make these tasks easier to accomplish.
Place all the dishes next to or into the sink and get the laundry into their designated baskets.
You will notice that baskets of all shapes and sizes will be your best friend when decluttering.
Walk in with fresh eyes
This may sound silly but by stepping out of your house for a few moments, you can walk back in with fresh eyes and determine which tasks should take priority after decluttering.
The sections of your home that are most used and most visible should take priority.
That being said, let’s break those rooms down.
- Kitchen
- Bathroom
- Living room
- Guest room (if you have overnight guests)
Most of the time when we have guests the kitchen and living room are the places where the visiting and interacting happen.
Of course, the bathroom is going to be used frequently as well and if you are hosting your guests overnight you will want the room ready for them.
Because of that let’s focus on getting these rooms ready to use and comfortable to be in.
Kitchen
From cooking and serving meals to sharing stories around the dinner table, the kitchen is an important room in your home.
The other thing about the kitchen is that it can be a “catch-all” place for the clutter.
So make sure you start with the decluttering process above and get all the things out of the kitchen that does not belong there.
After that is done we can focus on getting the kitchen completely clean and ready for your guests.
Let’s break it down into 3 easy steps on how to get your kitchen clean and a list of the items you will need.
- Multi-surface spray
- Paper towel or microfiber cloth
- Dish soap or dishwasher detergent
- Sponge
- Broom
- Mop
- Floor cleaner
- Collect dishes and do them by hand or place them into the dishwasher.
- Clean and sanitize all countertops and flat surfaces with a multi-surface disinfecting spray that food will be prepared or served on.
- Sweep and mop the floors
Bathroom
The bathroom is a room you should walk in and know it’s been freshly cleaned. Think of when you go to a public place and the bathrooms are a mess.
A nice clean bathroom (especially the sink and toilet) will make you and your guests feel more comfortable but we understand the task as a whole can be overwhelming.
Let’s break the room down into 7 steps that will make it easier to get it done in a timely fashion.
The items you will need:
- Disinfectant spray/bathroom cleaner
- Paper towels or microfiber cloth
- Broom
- Mop
- Floor cleaner
- First, Set aside items that are on the countertops and the shower shelves into a basket to get them out of the way while cleaning.
- Spray countertops with multi-surface disinfectant spray and let it sit for at least 5 minutes before wiping away.
- Spray down the shower with a bleach spray or shower cleaner and scrub then spray down with hot water. For a quick clean you don’t need to worry about every detail but set aside time later to clean hard-to-reach spots like the tracks.
- Clean the outside and inside of the toilet.
- Sweep the floors
- Place the items back on the countertops and the shower shelves
- Mop the floors
Living room
The living room is where meaningful conversations happen and where bonding moments are made.
You want your living room to feel warm and cozy as well as clean and tidy.
It might feel impossible to tackle the living room mess but after you have taken care of trash and items that do not belong you will only have a few short steps to complete to accomplish your goal.
First, the items you will need are:
- Multipurpose spray
- Paper towels or microfiber towels
- Vacuum
Now, let’s break the cleaning down into 4 steps:
- Be sure toys and other items are in their designated area
- Wipe down coffee tables and other flat surfaces with a multi-purpose spray
- Fluff couch cushions and vacuum furniture if necessary
- Vacuum or sweep the floors
Once the room feels cleaner and is at the standard you are comfortable with you can amp things up by lighting a candle.
Guest room
If you are hosting your friends or family overnight, to ensure they are comfortable in your home you will want to get the guest room in the best shape possible
Whether that guest room has been used for storage or just has not been touched in far too long you can get your guest room looking better in just a few steps.
You will want to start by decluttering the room like we have suggested above and take out any trash or items that don’t belong.
Let’s start with the items you need:
- Duster
- Multipurpose spray
- Paper towel or microfiber towel
- Vacuum
After you’ve done that you can break the room down into 4 easy steps.
- Wipe down any flat surfaces (such as nightstands, dressers, desks, etc)
- Dust any necessary areas (ceiling fan, window sill, etc)
- Vacuum curtains and floors
- Put on freshly washed bedding
Just like the living room, you can finish this room by lighting a candle for a short time or if you’d like to leave it unattended then you can set an oil diffuser in the room the leave it smelling great for the whole visit.
We hope that this post had helped break down cleaning tasks so you can clean your very messy home in one day.
For more great cleaning tips you can click here and read more blog posts like this.
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