How to quickly tidy up when guests are about to arrive

“Hi, we’re nearby and thought we’d pop in if that’s okay?”

Do such phone calls make you freeze for a moment and then frantically tidy up, throw things into the wardrobe and hide dishes in the under-sink cupboard?

We are all human, and sometimes our homes don’t look perfect. Even though we work with cleaning, we admit that sometimes a quick fix-up of the home is needed. Of course, it’s best to keep it well tidied all the time and for hygiene’s sake, the home should never be directly dirty.

So let’s say your home isn’t excessively filthy, but just a little messy and you want to make a good impression on your guests. What can you do then?

The following quick tidy-up tips will make your home look much nicer in no time! The same steps can be used every morning to ensure you always have it nice at home.

1. Make the bed

Few things look as messy as an unmade bed. It takes up a huge amount of space! Fluff the cushions and let the duvet fall neatly over the bed. Complement with a throw that you casually toss over the foot of the bed, magazine-style, and you’re done! This takes at most five minutes but makes the bedroom much more pleasant.

2. Fix up the sofa

If you, like us, love to curl up on the sofa and relax, it happens that your sofa cushions give a rather messy impression. Fluff them up and press the filling in cushions and pads so they don’t look flattened. Here, too, a throw can be slung on a bit carelessly.

3. Clear the kitchen counter

Gather the dishes in the sink or the dishwasher instead of letting them cover the kitchen counter. Even a few dishes can look very messy if they’re scattered about everywhere.

4. Wipe surfaces

There’s no time to dust the entire home the minute guests arrive, so prioritise. Wipe the coffee table and dining table as well as the kitchen counter and stove. It’s mainly on the tables that people might put things down, like their mobile phone, so if it’s dusty there they will notice.

5. Put away clutter

Are you guilty of creating piles of junk mail, forgetting to put away the mobile charger and leaving the hair straightener out? Clutter seems to appear much easier and quicker than you get rid of it. If you really don’t have time to put everything in its place, gather it all into a box or bag that you hide away. That way you don’t spread clutter to other parts of the house, but have it all collected in one place so you can calmly go through it when the guests have left.

If you have more time…

6. Spread a pleasant scent

How your home smells does a lot for the first impression. Light a scented candle, use a room spray or spray some linen water on the coats hanging in the hallway. Take out the rubbish if it smells and open windows to let in fresh air. Making coffee is also a good tip to make the home smell nice, especially if you grind the coffee yourself.

7. Quick clean the bathroom

There’s nothing worse than coming to a friend’s house and borrowing a dirty toilet. To quickly clean a toilet, equip yourself with a spray bottle and a couple of cloths and quickly wipe the sink and toilet. If you have time, you can also scrub the inside of the toilet bowl or at worst just pour in some cleaner to make it smell fresh.

8. Vacuum

If you have dusty or crumbly floors or perhaps a pet that sheds hair, a quick vacuum really makes a big difference. If you have limited time, focus on vacuuming the rooms where your guests will be. They probably won’t look for dust bunnies under your bed, but they will notice if the hall is gritty.

9. Light cosy lighting

This tip only works in the evening, but really makes a big difference. Light some candles, window lamps and other cosy lighting. If you also put on some music, guests will enter an atmosphere that makes them overlook if it’s not 100% spotless.

10. Tidy the hallway

The hallway is the first thing guests see, so it’s important it looks nice. One tip might be instead of forcing your guests to put their jackets on the bed, why not clear away so that there are empty hangers and hooks for them? Also leave space so they have a natural place to put their shoes and bags so they feel welcome.

The art of keeping tidy

Of course, it’s nicer if you don’t have to panic every time you get unexpected visitors. But many feel they simply don’t have time to keep it well tidied. There’s so much else to do. Kids to pick up and drop off, shopping, cooking, exercise. And you’re supposed to have time to work too! Cleaning easily suffers.

Many of our customers have found that their lives have become simpler by getting home cleaning help once a week. They feel it makes the situation more manageable and they’re happy they can finally enjoy being at home. Plus they don’t have to be afraid that someone will just pop by unannounced.

We understand you might have some questions if you’ve never hired a cleaning company before. It might even feel a bit awkward. But don’t worry, we understand perfectly. We have been new at this too, even if it was a long time ago now. Since we want you to feel completely safe and satisfied, we usually do a home visit where we come and discuss what it is you need help with and how everything works practically. Here you can book a first visit!

Now you have tips to do a quick tidy like a real pro!