There are few things I dislike as much as cleaning. While our home doesn’t get deep cleaned nearly as often as it should, I’ve mastered a quick cleaning list for when we have last minute company stopping by. Here is a run down of the most important things to tidy up before guests! You can run through this in about 30 minutes- you can even get your kids on board with helping!

Step 1: Declutter

Grab an empty laundry basket and run through your home picking up clutter. Our island is always topped with baby shoes, loose papers, pieces of bottles, etc. Don’t even worry about putting everything in it’s place- hide that basket away and deal with it later.

Step 2: Guest Bathroom

Give the powder room a once over- wipe down the mirror and sink, hang a fresh hand towel, and refill toilet paper and soap. If you have a shower, pull the curtain closed. Lighting a candle is also a quick way to make your guest bathroom feel nice and cozy. Leave the door open.

Step 3: Wipe Surfaces

Give the countertops and appliances a quick wipe down.

Step 4: Straighten Up

Straighten throw pillows and blankets. Make sure dining chairs are tucked in to the table.

Step 5: Vacuum

If you have carpet or rugs, vacuum them quickly to get rid of any loose dirt or crumbs. Vacuum the floors in the kitchen as well.

Step 6: First Impressions

Take a peek outside and sweep away any dirt or loose leaves from your entryway. Turn on a porch light if you have one, and look over the entryway for any last clutter. Turn on some lighting, and close rooms to doors you don’t want company in.