How To Tidy Up Your Home In A Rush

When I get home from work, I try really hard to do a little housekeeping. It might be cleaning the light switches, making sure the children's room is tidy before bedtime, or hoovering the lampshades. These small tasks save me time at the weekend. I also do the washing up, give the kitchen a quick clean and always sweep the kitchen floor at the end of the day.

Remember: a little bit every day makes your day off a proper day off!

But I know not everyone can work this way. So if you've let things slide at home and suddenly remember that your mum, a friend or someone special is arriving in a couple of hours, and you start noticing everything that needs doing, don't panic! This is what I used to do to give the house a quick tidy (and sometimes I still do!).

Before you start:

1. Turn the TV off

2. Put your phone on silent

3. Put the radio or a playlist on (my favourite station is Radio 4!)

Then follow these easy steps and you'll be fine.

Entrance hall

Start with the first place your guests will see, and tidy it as best you can. Make sure there are:

• No coats on the floor

• No shoes lying around

• No bags

• No rubbish

Sitting room

• Pick up any books

• Fold the blankets

• Collect mugs and glasses

• Straighten the sofas and cushions

Bathroom

• Wipe the toilet with wet wipes

• Pour in a little bleach or Flash so it smells fresh

• Wipe the taps with a cloth soaked in a little vinegar to make them shine, then rinse them afterwards

• Wipe any toothpaste off the sink

• Check there are no rings around the bath

• Give the shampoo and bath bottles a quick wipe

Hoover the house

I'd recommend a cordless vacuum cleaner. For years I didn't want one because I didn't think they worked properly, but then I fell in love with the Dyson V8! On days like these, it's a lifesaver.

Go around the house and give the floors a quick hoover. There's no need to be thorough; just run over the carpets and pick up any obvious bits.

Kitchen

This is the hardest part of the house!

• Put the recycling out

• Tidy the worktops

• Wipe down the worktops and the cooker (when I'm short on time, I use wet wipes!)

• Clean the fridge door

• If you have a dishwasher, load everything into it, including any removable parts of the cooker (just check they're dishwasher safe first!)

• Do the washing up by hand if you don't have a dishwasher, or for anything that can't go in it

Bedroom

If you have time, do it. If not, just close the door! (It's very naughty of me, but I've done this a few times in the past.)

• Make the bed

• Pick up any clothes from the floor and sort them into clean and dirty. IKEA does a brilliant bathroom cabinet with two openings in the doors, one for whites and one for colours.

• Collect any glasses and mugs (if you remember to do this every day, it's one less thing to worry about!)

And that's it! Hopefully your house will be clean and tidy in no time at all.