If you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, you probably have a LOT on your plate. Obviously, food prep is the most important detail to stress about but having a spotless house shouldn’t be. Chances are, your guests are here to see you, not your dust bunnies :).

Here is how to get your house company clean in just 35 minutes:

 

5 Minute Surface Blitz

The thing that makes the biggest visual impact is having cleared surfaces. Go through the public areas of your home and clean off all the surfaces — bookshelves, floors, coffee tables, counter tops, etc. I like to fill up a laundry basket (or 2, lets be honest) and put it in the laundry room.

5 Minute Floors

If you have carpet in your public areas, give it a quick vacuum now that your floor is clean :).  This isn’t the time to get your baseboards, unless you see something. Just give it a quick once over unless you have small babies coming. Then you might want to be more thorough.

5 Minute Bathrooms

Start by putting toilet bowl cleaner in the toilet. Again, cleared services make a big impact so take everything off the counter.  I stow mine in a plastic shoebox in the linen closet. Give the counter a quick wipe clean. Finish the toilet & put out a fresh hand towel.

5 Minute Sweep

If you have hardwood, tile or linoleum floors, give them a good sweep. If they are in the kitchen/dining area like mine are, I wouldn’t bother mopping. Stuff will get spilled or the baby will drip spit up on it anyway. Unless its completely disgusting to start with, I’d clean it after the guests leave.

5 Minute Prep

Take 5 minutes to prepare for your guests. I set up TV trays for drinks & appetizers around the sitting areas. You might need to get out kids toys or books. Think about where your guests will be able to put their coats & bags. Hubby turns on the football game. If games or puzzles are your family’s tradition, get those items out. Have drinks & snacks ready for pre-dinner munching.

5 Minutes For You

Before you get too deep in the cooking & before your guests come, get ready. Shower, change your clothes, do your hair, put on some mascara, lip gloss & earrings, and get ready to enjoy your family & friends. Then throw on an apron before you get back to work.

Are you counting? I only included 30 minutes of cleaning because everyone needs a buffer. In my house with three small children, I’d need another 5 minutes to put away stuff/clear surfaces or to deal with the littles. Someone else might need another 5 minutes for a second bathroom. Or 5 minutes to do another some other task on your to do list.

What would you do with your extra 5 minutes to get ready for your guests?