How to Clean Your House in Under 15 Minutes

You know that panicky feeling you get when you find out that you have unexpected visitors coming over? Because, oh yeah, your house is a wreck and you’re still in your pajamas. I’ve had this happen too many times to count (I’m fairly certain all my neighbors have seen me in my pajamas!), so I’ve picked up some quick cleaning tips along the way. It’s totally possible to have your house looking clean without spending too much time doing so. In fact, if you work fast enough, you’ll even be able to change out of your pajamas before said guests arrive 😉

Set a timer
Growing up we always did “ten minute room rescues.” My mom would set a timer and we would each choose a room to clean up within ten minutes. It almost became a game to see if you could clean the entire room in a short amount of time. I’ve learned that I work harder and faster with a timer set and am far less prone to distractions (hello checking instagram!)

Focus only on rooms guests will see
Typically when we have guests over, they’re only in our main living areas – living room, dining room, kitchen, and if they have kids, playroom. When I pick up before guests arrive, I focus only on these areas. If I have time to straighten up the bedrooms I will, otherwise I simply close the doors. (Most visitors won’t open closed doors!)

Clear the sink and countertops When dishes aren’t piled up in your sink and mail scattered across your counter, your kitchen instantly looks cleaner! Quickly load dishes into the dishwasher, or if you’re really lacking time, at least rinse and neatly stack them in the sink. Clear off and wipe down all countertops for a fresh appearance. (This sometimes means I take all the mail piled up and shove it on top of my dryer and shut the laundry room door!)

Sweep and Vacuum
With dark laminate running all through our house, we see every speck of dust that hits the floor. When we first moved in, I was sweeping three times a day to keep up with it! Finally, we found the perfect solution for our laminate and rugs – the Dirt Devil® 360° Reach™. It vacuums and dusts my laminate floors with ease, then I simply switch the attachment and vacuum all our rugs. If I have extra time, I can also use the stair attachment (easiest way to clean stairs ever!) or upholstery attachment to rid our couch of all the crumbs (life with a two year old 😉 You can purchase the Dirt Devil 360°Reach at a special package price of $149.99. It is available here (plus it includes an additional attachment package valued at $75, while supplies last!)

Don’t forget the bathroom
Murphy’s law says that if you clean your bathroom, no one will use it. But the one time you forget that your two year old unrolled the entire roll of toilet paper and it’s still strung from the toilet to the sink is the one time your quick house guest will need to use the bathroom! You don’t have to deep clean the entire bathroom. Wipe down the mirrors and counter, make sure the toilet looks presentable, and add a fresh towel.