Things You'll Need

Instructions

1

Put the kids on toy duty. Tell them they don't have to put all their toys away, but that they need to gather all of them up and take them to their rooms. This should keep them busy and out of your hair for at least a few minutes. Light a candle or plug in an air freshener.
2

Turn your focus to the rooms your guest is most likely to enter: the living room, the kitchen and the bathroom. Set a timer for three to five minutes and work on clutter control. Carry a laundry basket and throw as much clutter into it as you can, recommends "Quick and Simple" magazine. Stow the basket away and tend to it later.
3

Gather up all your dirty dishes and put them in the dishwasher or the oven, recommends Nickeldeon Parents Connect. Don't waste time washing them right now. Once you've hidden the dishes, give the counters a quick wipe down.
4

Take a basket or empty shopping bag into the bathroom and gather up all the toothbrushes, lipstick tubes, hairspray bottles, empty toilet paper tubes and wayward magazines. Swish the toilet clean with a quick 30-second swipe of the toilet brush. Wipe down the sink and stash your bag or basket below it.
5

Vacuum if you have time. A freshly vacuumed floor makes a room look and feel clean, even if it isn't spotless. If you don't have time to clear all the clutter, vacuum the areas around the couches or guest seating areas.