Tip of the Day

Keeping a clean home is a key part to having a happy home.  However, cleaning and keeping up a home can be a painstaking and exhaustive process.  Each day, Kelley and I will provide you with a Fabulously Clever quick tip that will help cut down on your cleaning time.

Today's Tip of the Day:  Cleaning for last minute guests.

Your sweet husband just called from the golf course to say that he and his buddies are heading over so he can show them his new man cave.  The little noodles trashed the house while you were catching up on the Facebook drama.  You panic!  Take a deep breath.  Fabulously Clever has you covered for this one!!

Now that you are breathing again.  Let's start with the "Panic" areas.  Kelley and I call the Family Room, Kitchen, Guest Bathroom, visible Stairwell and Foyer the panic areas.  These are areas that guests are most likely to encounter during their visit.  We also encourage you to clean a "runway" area.  This is the area that includes the central strip through your house linking front door, hallway, stairwell and kitchen. 

Focus on removing all visible items like toys, books, and clothes.  A laundry basket is perfect as a catch all for these items. You can place the basket in a bedroom or laundry room until after the guests have left and can put away later.  For dirty dishes, just toss them into the dish washer unwashed.  You can rinse them later when you have more time. Straighten pictures.  Remove visible dust, dirt and finger prints.  Quickly run the vacuum.  Attempt to leave vacuum "cuts" in the carpet throughout the runway area.  Nothing screams clean like a nicely vacuumed floor! 

Finally, head over to the Guest Bathroom.  Wipe sinks.  Close the toilet lid.  Ensure hand towels are folded with military precision.  Lastly, fold the toilet paper into a little "V" like they do at hotels.

See what you accomplished in less than 15 minutes?  Of course, this is no substitution for a typical full cleaning.  Watch our upcoming tips for that!

Now, go slap on some fresh coat of lipstick and enjoy your iced coffee until your guests arrive!