How to give the illusion of a freshly cleaned house?

Okay, I am looking for ideas on how quickly spruce up the house that takes 1-2 hours when I do not have much time. What types of things do people notice when they enter a home? What can give the apprearance of really clean without doing a deep clean? I have on my list a quick vacuum and and always keeping restrooms tip top. Just trying to keep my home in shape for those pop in or unplanned visitors. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

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4 COMMENTS

  1. Try this:

    Walk into your front door like you are walking into someone else’s house. What is the first thing you see? Is it the clutter by the doorway? Dropped shoes, caps, keys, mail, etc? Keep this area clean and neat.

    What else catches your eye?

    A few other things to keep clean…

    -The glass on your front door (if it has any)
    -Fingerprints off the door
    -The front porch/steps
    -Piles of paper/magazines
    -Movies need to be kept put away
    -Dust dark furniture that shows the dust more than light furniture
    -Keep candles lit or potpourri simmering on the stove (can also just simmer some slices of apple and cinnamon, use your imagination on what smells good)

  3. Keep horizontal surfaces clean from clutter and dust, and see that all toys are kept in there place. and don’t leave all the mail and newspapers in a heap.

  4. Make sure countertops and sink faucets/hardware are squeaky clean and shiny. You can keep an antibacterial spray handy and just wipe everything down before you go to bed each night.

    I agree with vacuuming and keeping the bathrooms clean, but one other thing that I do is take two minutes before I go to bed to tidy up the living room—put books back on the shelf, fluff pillows, etc. It takes just a minute, but it is so much nicer to wake up to a clean living room.

    Also, I keep a junk basket handy. If someone is coming over, I throw all of my bills, keys, whatever is on the counter–into the junk basket and hide it in a cabinet. Then, on the weekend, I clean out the basket.

    Lighting fragrant candles is also good—Jo Malone makes a pretty orange scented candle that burns forever–it is clean without being too overpowering.

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