There is something about having people over that suddenly makes every speck of dust in your house impossible to ignore. The cushions that have been sitting crooked for a week are suddenly unacceptable, the fingerprints on the kitchen cupboards that you haven’t noticed become the focus of your brain and the bathroom you were perfectly happy to use yourself that morning now needs a deep clean.
We’ve all been there, frantically shoving clutter into cupboards, wiping down surfaces and running the hoover around minutes before the doorbell rings, convinced our home needs to look like nobody has ever lived in it to host.
But according to Lynsey Crombie, also known as the “Queen of Clean”, you don’t need to deep clean your entire house to make it feel welcoming for guests. The expert and author of The 15-Minute Clean, who has cleaned thousands of homes and has built a following of 345,000 on Instagram by sharing her practical cleaning hacks, shares the things she would do if she had just one hour before guests arrived.
Focus on the entrance
The entrance way or hallway is what people see first, so Crombie always starts with making sure it’s clear, and people can actually get in the front door easily. “Make sure the shoes are neatly put away or are in some sort of basket and give the doormat a shake outside so it’s tidy.”
To avoid the awkward take-your-shoes-off conversation, Crombie has a basket near the door with a pair of shoes in so people “take the hint” and don’t walk their muddy shoes into the hallway she’s vacuumed for their arrival.
Focus on chairs and sofas
Every house has their hosting spot where people sit around a chat, and these are the chairs that Crombie will keep her attention on. “I would advise chucking some nice colourful throws that match the decor over the sofas. That way if people spill a drink or drop crumbs it doesn’t matter and you can chuck them in the washing machine when they’ve gone.”
Hide clutter
People notice clutter more than clean, says Crombie. “If people walk in and there’s stuff everywhere, they will instantly turn their nose up but they’re not going to go around touching the tops of door frames for dust. If it’s clutter-free, people presume it’s clean so if you’re in a rush, it’s more about tidying so people get the impression of clean.
“Hide stuff. Get a laundry basket and anything that’s not in its place, like kids’ toys or piles of magazines, chuck them in and stick it in a cupboard, because you can deal with that when they’ve gone.”
In the kitchen remove any dirty dishes, by putting them away and cleaning them or throwing them in the dishwasher, and make sure the sink area is tidy with no clutter. “That carries the rest of the kitchen,” she says.
Lighting can hide dirty spots
The debate of the big light and small light isn’t just about the ambience in the room. Crombie says using smaller lights and lamps can hide the cleaning spots you’ve forgotten about like dusty skirting boards or door handles.
Have fresh scents and skip the dusting
“I wouldn’t bother with dusting, I’d just open the window very quickly, let some fresh air in and get any smells out. I think smell’s important so clean the bins, get rubbish out, have a fresh bin bag and try to avoid any cooking smells.”
The most important thing for smell is fresh air. “You can’t beat fresh air, just a good 10 to 15 minutes of a window being open is enough.” She doesn’t recommend plug-in air fresheners, especially around pets or children, but uses vegan-friendly candles.
“In the bathroom guests will use have a fresh hand towel, put bleach down the toilet, light a candle, empty the bin and make sure there’s enough loo roll and a hand wash. If guests are desperate for the toilet, they’re not going look at the skirting boards or catch any dust.”
Look at the high-touch points
Some of the dirtiest places in the home are the ones we reach for everyday without realising, like handles on the fridge or doors and light switches. Crombie says not to have any sticky finger marks on the switches or door handles, especially if guests will probably touch them.
Have everything out
“I would already get a load of glasses out as that stops people going in their cupboards and helping themselves, because if your cupboard’s messy, you don’t want people seeing that. Get your glasses out ready on the side so people can just pour and take a drink. And the same with food or snacks, give the front of the fridge a wipe down to get rid of any finger marks to make it look clean and persuade people not to go in the fridge if it’s untidy.”
Spot clean, don’t deep clean
“Don’t worry about mopping the floor if you’ve not got time, just spot clean. If you see a mark on the floor where someone’s dropped a tea bag or there’s been a spillage, just spot clean those areas very quickly,” she says.
Look for what people can see. “If you have got a bit of a dirty oven just clean the glass door because that’s the bit that people can see. As long as the door’s clean, people will see past the filth that’s inside.”
Prepare for overnight guests
If hosting becomes an overnight stay, it doesn’t need to add more time onto the obsessive cleaning ritual. “Make sure the bedding is fresh first of all and spare towels on the end of the bed. Get that window open, and I would just dust areas that they can see like bedside cabinets and leave a bottle of water and a couple of glasses there for guests.
“Get any clutter out of that bedroom, chuck it in your bedroom or a cupboard so there’s no clothes around. Keep it as clear as you can and never forget fresh bedding, because people always want fresh bedding.”
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