Hypothetically, let’s say the turkey’s in the oven, Thanksgiving guests are on their way, and we’ve procrastinated on cleaning the house. Oops.
We’ve got exactly one hour now to get things somewhat sparkling! As professional house cleaners, we know how to make every minute count. Here’s what we’d do.
Declutter first (10 minutes)
Before we grab a cleaning product, we’re getting a laundry basket and making a quick lap around the house. Anything that’s not in its home is going into the basket. That includes the shoes by the door, mail on the counter, and dog toys scattered across the living room. We’d focus on the entryway, living room, kitchen, and dining room – the areas our guests will actually see.
House cleaning tip: Always declutter before cleaning. It’s much faster to wipe down an empty countertop than to clean around a dozen things that don’t belong there.
Touch up the guest bathroom (15 minutes)
Realistically, a full deep clean takes way longer than 15 minutes, even with the best tools and products. Instead, we’re going to do a quick wipe down, focusing on the mirror, sink, countertop, toilet, and pulling the trash. That’s all we have time for. Then, we’ll pull the shower curtain closed, apologize to the tub for neglecting it, and quickly stage the towels. Ideally, we’d handmop our way out since it’s a small space and packs a big punch.
House cleaning tip: Pay attention to reflective surfaces, like mirrors and stainless steel faucets.
Tackle the kitchen (15 minutes)
The kitchen is probably working overtime already, so we’re going to make every minute count.
First, we’d load the dishwasher and clear any dirty dishes from the sink. Then we’d wipe down the countertops and any obvious backsplash splatters. Next, we’d give the sink a quick scrub, rinse it, and polish the faucet.
Vacuum the floors (10 minutes)
We’ve got 20 minutes left, and it’s time to get after it! We’d grab the vacuum and make a quick pass through the high-traffic areas, especially the corners of each room where crumbs and pet hair linger.
If there are any sticky spots on the hard floors, we’d grab a damp microfiber cloth and spot-clean them.
Final touches (10 minutes)
Now we’re making the house feel welcoming. Here’s our final checklist:
- Fluff the couch pillows, with the zippers facing down, and straighten throw blankets.
- Push in dining chairs and tidy the table.
- Make sure there’s room for guests’ coats and bags.
- Open the curtains and let in some natural light.
- Set out extra toilet paper
- Light a candle that smells incredible, unless the turkey already does.
If the weather allows, we’d crack a window for a few minutes to bring in some fresh air. Finally, we’d do one last walkthrough from the front door to the dining room.
What we’d save for another day?
Even professional cleaners have to prioritize when we’re working against the clock. This hurts us to say it. Here’s what we’d save for after Thanksgiving:
- Baseboards: A thorough baseboard cleaning can wait.
- Windows: Save the full window washing for another day.
- Bedrooms: Unless guests are staying overnight, we’d focus on shared spaces.
- Inside the oven: The turkey has already claimed that real estate.
- Closets and cabinets: Today is not the day to reorganize the pantry.
- Showers and bathtubs: Unless guests are using them, we’d save the deep cleaning for later.
These are all important parts of maintaining a clean home, but when guests are arriving in an hour, we’d prioritize the spaces they’ll see and use most.
Time’s up, Happy Thanksgiving!
And that’s 60 minutes. We’re ready for guests.
Would we love another few hours to really make everything sparkle? Absolutely. But the doorbell’s ringing, the turkey needs checking, and we’ve got more important things to do. Like eat pie.
If you’d rather leave the cleaning to the professionals next time, Lemon Fresh Cleaners would love to help you get your home holiday-ready.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Lemon Fresh Cleaners!
