Quick Housecleaning Fixes: Make Your House Look Clean When It's Really Not

If you're in a hurry because you have visitors coming over within minutes and just realized your house isn't as clean as it could be, you don't need to worry about cleaning the entire house and missing out on what needs cleaned the most. You'll find that a few quick fixes can really have an impact on how clean your house looks, whether or not it's really clean. Although they may look your home look cleaner, quick fixes will not take the place or regular cleaning.

Don't panic. Remain calm and become focused on your goal. You want a cleaner looking home, without having to clean the entire place right now. Set a time, which will be your cleaning goal. Make this 10 minutes or whatever you feel is right. Make sure you have plenty of time to clean before your guests arrive and have plenty of time to put your feet up and have some time to yourself. Once you have your goal set, get to work.

Clean up the clutter. If you have a lot of items around that are just taking up space, try centralizing them to one location. Even something as simple as straightening up all the papers and knick knacks can really brighten up a room and make it look cleaner. Organize the magazines on your coffee table; straighten up the daily newspaper, whatever it takes to make the room look less cluttered and disorganized.

Dust. Many people neglect dusting during their daily or weekly cleaning routines. A thick layer of dust can make a room look dull and lifeless. A quick swipe with a feather duster (or any type of duster) can really make a room look cleaner because noticeable layers aren't visible.

Vacuum. Vacuuming a small room will only take a few seconds, but the impact a clean floor can have on a room is phenomenal. If you have a few extra minutes to wait, try sprinkling a scented carpet cleaner on the floor and then go about your other duties and wait a few minutes. By the time you're finished cleaning up everything else, you can vacuum and have a clean floor and a nicely scented room.

Add a distraction piece. If you've cleaned and straightened up as much as you can, but are still worried about the state of your home, try adding something to a central location that will distract your guests and take their focus away the clutter. One of the simplest things I can think about adding is a candle or two. Jar candles and pillar candles work well for this. You can wait to light them when you hear them coming or you can light them as soon as you'd like.

Put larger items where they won't be seen. Instead of worrying about cleaning everything up all at once, stash larger items where they won't be seen and clean those up once your guests have left. These larger items can be moved and then replaced with candles or other items that will help add a homier feel without looking like you're trying to cover something up.

Add scent. I don't know about you, but whenever I enter a place that smells wonderful, I automatically feel like it's a cleaner place. Try adding your favorite scents with candles or potpourri oil. You can either use electric oil burners or buy ceramic burners that use tea light candles on the bottom and a few drops of the oil on top. The latter would make a great distraction piece, and since you're adding scent with a candle, you'll make your guests feel more at home and add to the cleanliness feeling you're trying to obtain.

Use a fabric spray in your living room. If your guests are going to spend most of their visit in your living room, spray the room and your sitting space with a fabric spray of your choice at least 20 minutes before your guests arrive. This will allow the fabric time to dry and allow the scent to travel throughout the room.