Quick Tricks to Make Your Place Look Clean and Inviting

It happened to all of us. The guests are about to come for a visit and we don’t have time to clean top to bottom. It's all about the pressure to leave that positive first impression and you probably end up hiding your clothes and dusting really quick.

But there are more effective and yet fast ways to make your house clean and inviting in a matter of minutes. With the following quick tricks, your place will look spotless and paint you as the master of cleanliness.

1. Quick decluttering

Quick decluttering is basically taking a large suitcase, storage box or opening a closet and then throwing everything in there. This includes clothes, blankets, socks and basically anything that will fit in confined spaces. When it comes to items like books, lotions and other more bulky things you will have to find another storage to hide them.

Try drawers or baskets, if you can spare some. Otherwise, take a bag and put them all inside. Then hide that bag under the bed, in the closet or cupboards. Also, if you have multifunctional furniture like a sofa with extra storage space inside, definitely use it for this quick decluttering process.

2. The mop is your best friend

There are all sorts of mops out there that will make your life a lot easier. Flat mops are very popular for everyday cleaning since they don't require a lot of effort and work well with corners. Dust mops are great for a quick dusting of any surface, even light fixtures, and ceilings.

String and strip mops are great for cleaning tiles and uneven surfaces, but it will take you more than a few minutes to clean with them since they require a bucket. Spray mop is actually a flat mob with a small container for cleaning agent on the handle. It’s really practical and will clean the floors fast, just make sure you refill it regularly.

3. Use scents

Using scents won’t mask bed smells but will give your home a fresh smell. You can light some scented candles if you want to create a relaxing atmosphere at the same time. Essential oils will also do the trick as will fragrance sticks, although they can be a little too much in small places.

Air fresheners come in different forms like electric ones or sprayers so make sure that you choose the ones you find pleasant. You should also be careful where you put them so that they don't spray the food or your guests directly. Potpourri, a mixture of naturally fragrant dried plants is maybe the easiest way, so always have an unopened bag nearby.

4. What to open and what to close

It’s very important to know what to open and what to close. Open the curtains so the light can come in the room and make the ambiance more cheerful. If you have a balcony, leave the door open so your guests can take a look at the view and admire it.

On the other hand, close the doors to other rooms especially if you didn’t have time to tidy up and you don’t want guests to have a peek. Shower curtain should stay closed especially if you didn’t wash your bathtub. Make sure you closed the doors of cupboards and closets, as well as all the drawers since you might forget to do that in a hurry.

5. Replace carpets with rugs and mats

If you are not so much into cleaning your home regularly, or hiring help then simply lose the carpets. They need regular maintenance and are not easy to clean in the only a couple of minutes unless you keep vacuum always at hand. Instead, use rugs you can wash in the machine and doorway rubber mat for wiping your shoes before entering the house.

If you really want a carpet, then maybe you should try “ no shoes in the house” rule and vacuum at least once a week. It’s good for your health and appearances at the same time.

6. Use your plants for extra decoration

Flowers are an excellent way to decorate your home. They will give it relaxed feel and coziness that will immediately create a great environment for your guests. However, if you don't have time to run to the florist, use the plants you already have.

Pick the most decorative of all your plants and place it in the centre of your coffee table. Do the same for the dining room table as well, if it’s more convenient. Even the smallest plants like succulents can serve as a nice natural decorative piece, just place it in the nice saucer for display.

All in all

Your home will look the cleanest if you regularly clean after yourself and put things in their place. However, you can still make it clean and inviting with some quick tricks to welcome the unexpected guests. After all, it’s more important to be a good host than to wipe every corner with a mop for your guests.