Home by Jenn

Home by Jenn shares simple and quick cleaning hacks for an organized home that keeps the busy household running smoothly.

Clean House Tips You Can Complete In 20 Minutes

Having a clean house takes work and with some clean house tips, it is totally possible to do.  Whether you have company coming over or you want to do a quick clean up of the house it is totally possible to do in 20 minutes.

In this post, I promise to give you a step by step instruction to efficiently tidy up your home.  The clean house tips I’m sharing with you in the post is the same tips I follow to do a quick clean up of my home.  So, when someone calls up wanted to stop by you can still have a little bit of oh no fear but you can grab the clean house tips checklist and get the house company ready in 20 minutes!

Once you get off the phone with your soon to be guest you’ll want to calm down and take a breath.  Now it’s time to collect your self and get through this.

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clean house tips
With small children, it seemed like I would never have a clean house.  There were always messes somewhere in the house.  If I started cleaning, my kids would be making messes right behind me.  To say the least, I thought it was impossible.

Clean house tips

There are so many tips out there that promise you a clean home but what they don’t put into consideration is, children and their clutter.  With toys, shoes, and leftover snacks that you’re constantly picking up it seems like that is a full-time job.  However, I’ve found relief in a clean home with the following tips.

Step 1: Grab a laundry basket.

The laundry basket to place items that don’t belong in.  I like to collect as I go and put things away once I get to that room.  This way you are not wasting time by putting each item away one by one.  Keep in mind that you are tidying up quickly!

Step 2: Light a candle or open a few windows.

This will help with the stuffy smell that happens when you’re just hanging out.  Lighting a candle and/or opening a few windows will help freshen up the home quickly.

Step 3: Remember to tidy up not deep clean!

This will be a quick tidy up of the house.  Walking through grabbing items that do not belong.  Also closing off rooms that will not be in “use”.  Keep in mind that you’ll only be cleaning the common areas, close off the bedrooms, office, or any other rooms that aren’t common. With a system in place, it can be very easy to do.

Step 4: Pick a room to start in.

It’s important to start in one room and work in a loop to help make these clean house tips go faster.  I like to start in the kitchen.  The kitchen is the landing ground in my home.  Everyone gathers there.  When company is over more time is spent in the kitchen than any other room.

Below I’m going to walk you through common room by common room.  You can add or remove rooms that you do not feel that are necessary.

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Knowing what to clean where

Jumping from room to room and knowing what to clean so it’s a spot clean instead of a deep clean can seem a little counterproductive.  That’s why I’ve added what to do in each room to help you follow along with the clean house tips.

Tidy up the kitchen.

In the kitchen you’ll want to:

  • Do the dishes
  • Wipe down the counter
  • Wipe down the sink.
  • Pick up any clutter that doesn’t belong in the kitchen put it in the laundry basket.
  • Sweep the floors
  • Take out the garbage if it’s overflowing.

In these 6 short steps, your kitchen is ready to do.  Time to move on to the next room.

Tidy up the living room/family room.

If you have both then you will just follow these steps twice.  Let me show you the steps:

  • Pick up the clutter (toys, papers, shoes, etc.)
  • Wipe down the coffee tables and side tables
  • Fold and put away blankets
  • Fluff pillows
  • Vacuum or sweep

Look at that another room is done.  Time to quickly move on to the next room.

Tidy up the dining room.

I find that the dining room is the easiest because we only use this room to eat dinner.  Like all of the other rooms, let’s go through the steps:

  • Pick up clutter and add it to the laundry basket
  • Wipe down the table and chairs
  • Replace the tablecloth (if you use one)
  • Vacuum or sweep

The dining room is done and you are ready to move on to the next room.

Tidy up the main/guest bathroom(s).

If you have more then one bathroom you probably will only have to have 1 bathroom company ready.  Most homes are designed to have a main bathroom.  You know when you are having people over they will need to use the bathroom so it is a good idea to have this room well cleaned.

  • Scrub the toilet
  • Remove clutter (clothes, dirty towels, toys, etc.)
  • Wipe down the counters
  • Wipe down the toilet seat
  • Sweep the floor
  • Take out the trash if it is overflowing

The bathroom is ready to go.  Now it is on to the last area!

Tidy up the entryway.

This is without saying right.  It’s the first thing people see when they walk in.  All homes are different.  Here are the steps to tidy up the entryway:

  • Pick up clutter
  • Straighten up the shoes and coats (if you do not use or have a closet)
  • Tidy up your landing table
  • Wipe down the table
  • Sweep or vacuum

You have officially tidied up the common area.  Now there are just a few more things to take care of.

Last but not least…

Remember that laundry basket with stuff in it?  If there are items still in the basket put that puppy in a closed off room.  Your company will be here soon and you can deal with that basket once they leave.  Don’t be overwhelmed everything will be on the checklist to guide you.

Blow out the candle and close the windows.  Your house should be all ready to go!

To do this might be easier said than done and that’s why I created a checklist to help you.  This clean house tips checklist includes all of the steps I shared with you in this post so you can tidy your home in no time at all.  Click the button below to download the free checklist.

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Hopefully, this can help you the next time you have a surprise visit.

Do you do any of these things on a regular basis?  Have you been inspired to take action now?  I would love to hear all about it in the comments below.  Thank you so much for reading your support truly means a lot!

Related: 5 Things To Make Your Mornings Easier

XX

Jenn

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Comments

  3. Meredith Davison says

    February 8, 2016 at 3:30 pm

    This is a great list! I feel that if I did this every night my house would always be spotless. Putting this up!

    Reply

  9. Tina says

    February 8, 2016 at 10:44 pm

    This would also work well on those days where you’ve laid around all day and you have about a half hour until your family gets home…haha.

    Reply

    • Jennifer Slavich says

      February 10, 2016 at 2:16 pm

      I went through this 10 times and it kept getting less and less time. By focusing on the checklist it keeps you going without too many distractions. I am known for starting the dishes and then somehow end up in the garage going the Christmas decorations… Thanks for reading!

      Reply

  11. Mimi Rose says

    February 9, 2016 at 4:53 am

    Haha what a great idea! I’ve never thought about it, but it always does seem to happen where you have about 20 minutes to get your house sorted before company comes over. What a perfect checklist, thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  14. Zainab says

    February 9, 2016 at 6:27 pm

    Although I pride myself on always having a clean home (minus the dishes thing) I always tell people that if you’re going to be coming over I need at least a week’s notice. You would think they’d learn to give you at least a few hours notice but not

    Reply

    • Jennifer Slavich says

      February 10, 2016 at 2:37 pm

      A week’s notice. I wish that would happen! Then you could have everything planned out and have fresh cookies in the oven so you know for certain that your house smells amazing! However, that never happens…Thank you for reading!

      Reply

  17. Jennifer HenryNovich says

    February 10, 2016 at 4:56 am

    Are you seriously able to complete that entire list in 20 minutes? Holy moly…you’re much faster than me!

    Reply

  18. swell condition says

    February 10, 2016 at 6:38 am

    Well I keep a tidy house but if I have unexpected company when I’m in the kitchen I usually stuff my mess into the oven and hang a pretty tea towel over the window!! Works every time.

    Reply

  19. VET LEOW says

    February 10, 2016 at 8:04 am

    I don’t like surprise visits too…The first thing I must remember to do is to keep all the intimate clothing away where I hang them to dry, or else it will be so embarrassing when people see what I wear inside…lol…

    Reply

  20. Allison Jones says

    February 11, 2016 at 4:00 am

    I feel like this always happens to me! Friends call and inform me that they’ll be ringing my doorbell in half an hour when my house is a mess. I’ll definitely be utilizing these tips next time.

    LiveLifeWell,
    Allison

    Reply

  21. Denay DeGuzman says

    February 17, 2016 at 4:32 pm

    This post is right on target! I think most of us can really relate to this situation. Here at home we have an open floor plan, so I start with the kitchen, then the living room, then the guest bathroom. Lighting a scented candle or mopping the floor can leave a nice fresh scent that enhances the "clean house" vibe we’re hoping for!

    Reply

  22. Christina says

    July 1, 2016 at 5:19 am

    I have tried to download these several time for each one and I get the email to confirm. When I confirm it takes me to a thank you page and then I get no return email with the link for the printable. Could you please fix this and send me the links there are several that I would really find useful.
    Thanks

    Reply

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