How to Prep for Company So That Your House Feels Tidy

You've just glanced at your schedule and realize that you're hosting a house full of people in a few hours.

Cleaning your house for company with little-to-no time can be challenging, but it’s far from impossible.The trick comes down to prioritizing, organizing, and keeping calm.

1. Take a deep breath and get organized.

The last thing you want to do is sprint around without a plan. Take a moment to outline your cleaning tasks so you can work quickly and efficiently. If possible, ask for help from your spouse, kids, or roommate. 

Here’s a basic run-down of what you’ll want to get done:

• Clear and put away clutter

• Wipe down and disinfect major surfaces

• Clean glass and windows where needed

• Put out clean towels and linens

• Dust surfaces

• Vacuum the floors

• Mop the floors

2. Gather your supplies.

If you're ready to tackle this task on your own, begin by gathering your cleaning supplies. You won't have to dig around looking for the hand vacuum later on if you have everything organized from the start. This is the purpose of having an uncluttered home. Throw your all-purpose cleaner and a handful of clean rags in a handheld carrier to move from room to room easily.

3. Prioritize rooms.

If you’re pressed for time, avoid getting sidetracked in rooms your guests might not even see. Tuck away clutter and close doors so those messes are out of sight. There's no harm in shutting your bedroom door if it's in total disarray. 

Instead, focus on the main entertainment areas of your home. Here’s a quick breakdown of what to get done by room: The entryway, bathrooms, and living room are most common. If you have to freshen up a guest room, put this on the top of your priority list as well.

Here’s a breakdown of what to tackle in every room:

Entryway:

• Wipe down tabletops

• Organize and decluter

Kitchen:

• Clean stovetop

• Wipe down counters

• Wipe down kitchen table

• Clean sink

• Dust or wipe down appliance fronts

Living Room:

• Wipe down coffee table

• Dust or wipe down side tables

• Dust TV screen

• Dust or disinfect remotes

Bathroom:

• Scrub toilet

• Wipe down countertops

• Scrub sink

• Clean mirrors

• Scrub bathtub/shower. You can skip this if you aren't having overnight guests.

4. Accomplish each major cleaning task as a whole.

Many professional house cleaners follow the top-down method: Start with the top of the room and work your way down to the floors.

In the same theme, it's best to tackle your main cleaning tasks such as mopping, vacuuming, and dusting as a whole instead of finishing one room before moving on. That way, every room will receive at least a bit of love in case you run out of time. This will help you avoid having a shiny bathroom and a hot mess of a kitchen.

5. Clean up the clutter.

Are there piles of bills hanging out on the kitchen counter? A sea of toy blocks strewn across the living room floor? Start your cleaning tasks by making space and decluttering your home. You may also want to tuck away personal items (such as toothbrushes and razors) to make the space look cleaner and more inviting.

While it’s tempting to put things wherever they’ll fit, try to avoid hastily stuffing important items into places they don't normally go. It's easy to lose important paperwork in this phase, so while time is of the essence, try to stay mindful about where everything ends up. I would rather put all my paperwork into one pile then stuff it into a drawer. Often times, we forget where we've put things.

6. Tackle common chores like dishes and laundry.

Next, make sure your standard chores are not caught in limbo or need finishing. Now is a great time to clean all the dishes in the sink, fold the pile of laundry, and clean the cat box. If your guests will see any of your bedrooms, make sure the beds are made as well.

You may want to wait to empty the main garbage cans until you're done cleaning, but check out smaller trash bins such as those in the bathroom and guest room.

7. Dust and clean surfaces.