Tips and Tricks to Fake a Clean House
"Tips and Tricks" is a series of tried and true hacks to make your day- or your life- easier! Leave a comment if you have done any on the list, or if you have anything you would add!
It happens to all of us. We really mean to clean a little each day. We want to plan and make sure our house looks great just in case someone decides to drop by. We try to stay on top of things like dishes, vacuuming, scrubbing the floor boards...
Then, of course, life happens. We get sick. We have a project at work that comes home. We sit down and binge-watch Castle for 5 hours.
Slowly buy surely, in the privacy and sanctity of your own home, things to awry. The table is cluttered with mail, groceries sit on the counter, and your bedroom looks much like it did in high school. This, if you can live with it, isn't an issue until you accidentally make plans to have dinner (at your house) in 30 minutes. What were you thinking?! (That's right, you weren't. You were binge watching Castle and lost track of time.)
Luckily, I'm here for you.
Here are 5 Tips and Tricks to Fake a Clean House
1. Clear Surfaces
Get those counters cleared! I don't care if you have to shove 13 boxes of cereal in your pantry- get them cleared. Surfaces, especially in the kitchen, are big, bright eye catchers. If they are cluttered, it will make the whole house seem cluttered. If they are clear, it will trick wandering eyes away from the stain on the carpet.
2. Wipe the Kitchen
Even if the surfaces are clear, if they are dirty you aren't going to get any brownie points. Take a wet cloth, maybe some spray (we are faking a clean house, not actually cleaning it), and wipe everything down. This should take 2-5 minutes depending on how hard you need to scrub. A sparkling kitchen will keep those eyes for good reasons!
3. Make the Beds
You never know when the party will trail into the bedroom.
No, not like that! Get your mind in a better place!
Coats will need to be stashed somewhere, someone will ask to see your new shirt, and a baby might need a changing surface. If your bed is unmade, you will feel much more frazzled walking someone into your room. The whole making-your-bed-while-you-joke-about-it thing isn't as cute as it may seem. A made bed will make the whole room appear clean, even if it's not.
If you don't have time to really make the bed, just make sure the top layer covers everything and is smooth. Smoothing it really is the key.
4. Clear the Clutter
Clutter isn't just on surfaces! It can build up on the floor by the front door, on the couch, on bookshelves- anywhere. Don't have time to find the correct place for each an every item out of place? Grab a bag, box, or bin, stuff everything in, and shove it in a place no one will look. I usually go for Jake's closet. Who really wants to look in a dude's closet? After everything is stuffed away, promise yourself you will sort it as soon as everyone leaves. (Yeah right)
5. Display Something Fresh
Once your house is fake-clean, display something fresh. This can be flowers, house plants, or produce. Put it in cute bowl, vase, or container, and stick it somewhere super obvious that everyone will see. Fresh things require maintenance, and therefore make it look like you pay attention to every detail in your house on a consistent basis. You will look like the houses in magazines! And on Pinterest! And on HGTV!
So there you have it. 5 tips and tricks to fake a clean house. Just remember- while this may take you only a few minutes, and while your house will appear clean- it's not. Find the time when things calm down to sort the clutter bags, disinfect the counters, and straighten the sheet under the comforter.
Then, of course, back to Castle.
Have you ever been caught off guard and have ad to clean up quickly? What are your tips and tricks for faking a clean house? Leave a comment below!
It happens to all of us. We really mean to clean a little each day. We want to plan and make sure our house looks great just in case someone decides to drop by. We try to stay on top of things like dishes, vacuuming, scrubbing the floor boards...
Then, of course, life happens. We get sick. We have a project at work that comes home. We sit down and binge-watch Castle for 5 hours.
Slowly buy surely, in the privacy and sanctity of your own home, things to awry. The table is cluttered with mail, groceries sit on the counter, and your bedroom looks much like it did in high school. This, if you can live with it, isn't an issue until you accidentally make plans to have dinner (at your house) in 30 minutes. What were you thinking?! (That's right, you weren't. You were binge watching Castle and lost track of time.)
Luckily, I'm here for you.
Here are 5 Tips and Tricks to Fake a Clean House
1. Clear Surfaces
Get those counters cleared! I don't care if you have to shove 13 boxes of cereal in your pantry- get them cleared. Surfaces, especially in the kitchen, are big, bright eye catchers. If they are cluttered, it will make the whole house seem cluttered. If they are clear, it will trick wandering eyes away from the stain on the carpet.
2. Wipe the Kitchen
Even if the surfaces are clear, if they are dirty you aren't going to get any brownie points. Take a wet cloth, maybe some spray (we are faking a clean house, not actually cleaning it), and wipe everything down. This should take 2-5 minutes depending on how hard you need to scrub. A sparkling kitchen will keep those eyes for good reasons!
3. Make the Beds
You never know when the party will trail into the bedroom.
No, not like that! Get your mind in a better place!
Coats will need to be stashed somewhere, someone will ask to see your new shirt, and a baby might need a changing surface. If your bed is unmade, you will feel much more frazzled walking someone into your room. The whole making-your-bed-while-you-joke-about-it thing isn't as cute as it may seem. A made bed will make the whole room appear clean, even if it's not.
If you don't have time to really make the bed, just make sure the top layer covers everything and is smooth. Smoothing it really is the key.
4. Clear the Clutter
Clutter isn't just on surfaces! It can build up on the floor by the front door, on the couch, on bookshelves- anywhere. Don't have time to find the correct place for each an every item out of place? Grab a bag, box, or bin, stuff everything in, and shove it in a place no one will look. I usually go for Jake's closet. Who really wants to look in a dude's closet? After everything is stuffed away, promise yourself you will sort it as soon as everyone leaves. (Yeah right)
5. Display Something Fresh
Once your house is fake-clean, display something fresh. This can be flowers, house plants, or produce. Put it in cute bowl, vase, or container, and stick it somewhere super obvious that everyone will see. Fresh things require maintenance, and therefore make it look like you pay attention to every detail in your house on a consistent basis. You will look like the houses in magazines! And on Pinterest! And on HGTV!
So there you have it. 5 tips and tricks to fake a clean house. Just remember- while this may take you only a few minutes, and while your house will appear clean- it's not. Find the time when things calm down to sort the clutter bags, disinfect the counters, and straighten the sheet under the comforter.
Then, of course, back to Castle.
Have you ever been caught off guard and have ad to clean up quickly? What are your tips and tricks for faking a clean house? Leave a comment below!
Comments
Post a Comment