How to Fake a Clean House for Last Minute Guests – LifeSavvy
Last minute plans were made and now expect visitors to come knocking on your door soon. However, there are dishes in the sink, unfolded laundry on the couch, and frankly, you don’t remember the last time your floors were mopped. How do you clean your house quickly?
Take a deep breath, because we spoke to some of the experts at Procter & Gamble — home care scientist Maria Striemer and fabric care expert Jennifer Ahoni — to give us professional advice on how to fake a clean house in an emergency. And don’t worry, we won’t reveal your dirty little secrets.
Here are some quick and easy cleaning tips that will have the biggest impact on guests thinking you have the cleanest house on the block.
Dust off
“No one cleans faster than knowing their mother-in-law is coming over,” said Maria Striemer, Procter and Gamble Home Care Scientist and Global Scientific Communications Senior Manager.
Dusting is a much-needed first step when you’re expecting that surprise guest. It creates a healthier environment and instantly makes the home look cleaner when dust and dirt aren’t floating in the air and on surfaces.
But did you know that there is a correct order for dusting? According to Striemer, you should always start high and work your way down.
“From ceiling fans, lights, shutters and blinds to tables and picture frames. Don’t forget the kitchen, where dust and grease meet and leave a sticky residue on the floor next to the stove,” Striemer said.
She recommended finishing the job with a floor sweeper to suck up any dust that has floated onto the floor while leaving your floors sparkling clean.
Use your dishwasher
Don’t waste your precious time washing dishes by hand in the sink – turn to your dishwasher instead.
“Your dishwasher was designed to be much more energy and water efficient than washing dishes at your sink, which can waste two gallons of water per minute,” Striemer said.
Even if you don’t have a full load to wash, you can still get rid of them by running a half load or putting them in the dishwasher until full. We know what you’re probably thinking. Driving half a load is a waste, isn’t it? Think again!
“Even half a load in the dishwasher saves water compared to hand washing,” says Striemer.
She also recommended cleaning on the go, by washing dishes or putting them in the dishwasher after cooking (or between meals) rather than piling them up for a big clean. According to Striemer, more than 60% of people clean every day.
This advice might not be very helpful right now, but it can certainly help you who might run into this dilemma later!
to make the laundry
According to Jennifer Ahoni, Fabric Care Principle Scientist at Procter & Gamble, having piles of laundry around your house can make your home look messier.
“If you’ve got a big, scary load of laundry and you’re suddenly faced with last-minute guests, don’t worry — you can still get to it quickly,” Ahoni said.
For unwashed clothes, Ahoni recommends trying the quick cycle on your washing machine. This cycle not only washes the clothes quickly, but thanks to the shorter running time you also save water in the long term.
“Also, when you combine the quick wash with a cold wash temperature, you use five times less energy compared to the average normal wash at a warm setting,” said Ahoni.
We know it’s tempting, but Ahoni also recommended not over-loading the washing machine. To make sure the machine is full enough, she advised putting your hand between the drum wall and the clothes – if it fits easily, you’re good to go! If it’s tight or you can’t put your hand in at all, you should probably remove some clothing to avoid damaging the machine.
Of course, you can put the remaining unwashed clothes in a laundry basket and stuff them in your bedroom closet. Out of sight, out of mind, right?
You can also put washed clothes in a laundry basket (of course, be careful not to mix them up with the unwashed clothes) and put that in the closet as well. Nobody will ever know.
Disinfect and unwrinkle fabrics
Bacteria can linger on any surface, including bedding and upholstery, but you can’t just throw your couch or big rug in the washing machine, can you? Ahoni recommended using a fabric sanitizer or spray to kill the bacteria and freshen up the house.
A fabric sanitizer not only keeps your home and upholstery smelling great, but also cleans it and provides a clean environment for your guests to linger in.
“Pleasant smells in the environment improve mood and unpleasant smells worsen mood,” Striemer said. “Even more, a fragrance can evoke emotions when performing routine or mundane tasks such as cleaning or washing clothes.”
So get out the fabric sanitizer to clean the furniture in your home and also make it smell delicious. But don’t stop there.
“Wrinkled fabrics also make your home look less good,” Ahoni said.
She recommends using an anti-wrinkle spray on quilts, curtains, or other visible fabric so you don’t spend a lot of time ironing.
To use an anti-wrinkle spray, Ahoni recommends spraying it about 8 inches from the fabric in a sweeping motion until it’s just slightly damp; then pull and smooth out wrinkles and let dry.
Get your linens and towels ready
One of the easiest ways to keep your home feeling clean is to always have fresh and clean guest linens and towels.
“Since linens and towels aren’t used often in guest rooms, make sure they’re cleaned with a quality detergent that’s good at removing visible and invisible soil, and use some fabric conditioners to keep them fresh from storage,” Ahoni said .
To freshen up linens and towels, Ahoni recommends washing them in cold water with a high-quality detergent to allow for a thorough cleaning of build-ups of visible and invisible body soil that reside in sheets and contribute to odors, dinginess, and dullness. Don’t forget to follow the care label for drying!
Check out products designed to provide long-lasting freshness over a longer period of time, especially when linens and towels are lying between guests in the guest room.
“Even if you need to make a bed quickly at the last minute, the linens can smell fresh, like you just washed them,” explains Ahoni.
Remove pet hair from fabrics and surfaces
Pet hair lingering on fabrics and surfaces around your home can make it appear less clean, Ahoni said.
Attack your furniture and carpet with a lint roller, mop, or handheld vacuum. It is also recommended to vacuum all carpets and rugs to remove more than just pet hair and other dirt and debris.
However, for throws and clothing, use a product like hair and lint control towels to keep pet hair at bay before it even gets stuck to your fabrics.
“The same technology that reduces static also helps shed three times more pet hair than regular dryer sheets, so you have less lint to roll up,” Ahoni said.
Just toss the dryer sheets in the dryer with your blankets and see the difference in how they collect pet hair, saving you time and energy in the future.
To get rid of these pet hairs in an emergency, you can also pull out some rubber gloves. This hack will save you time and money!
Don’t forget air care
“The sense of smell and the effects of smells are fundamental to most experiences of daily life, including memory, mental and physical well-being, motivated behavior, and social behavior,” Striemer said.
And fragrances play with the “sense” of cleanliness and the perception that others have of your home.
“Odor is a fundamental part of everyday life, with a unique ability to arouse emotions and influence our mental and physical well-being,” Striemer said. “Nevertheless, it is still underused in the design of our homes.”
She recommends using an air freshener to create the perfect atmosphere for each space’s specific needs, smells, and style.
According to Striemer, a bad smelling home can negatively affect a space, no matter how nicely decorated or clean.
“Although scents are intangible, scientific evidence continues to show that they have an impact on people’s moods and emotions,” Striemer explained. “Scent styling builds on the art of interior design by incorporating that often-overlooked sense – smell – to enhance the way we experience our homes.”
When in doubt, spritz some Febreze, light a candle, make a saucepan, or plug in an air freshener. A nice smelling home could be the life-saving answer to making your home appear clean (although it really isn’t).
And if you still have some time left after “fake cleaning” your house, check out these quick and easy cookie recipes so your surprise guests can enjoy your clean house and a delicious dessert. After that, you’ll have to tidy up your kitchen a bit, but it’s an easy prize for happy guests!