How To Clean Your Apartment Before Last-Minute Guests Arrive

We get it—between schoolwork, a part-time job, and getting enough sleep, you have zero time to keep your apartment clean. We’re not here to judge. However, you’re likely here because it’s time to fix that, and you’re on a time limit. Whether it’s because you’re trying to tidy up before your third date or you have some friends coming over to pre-game before you hit the bars, your place needs to get cleaned, and it needs to get cleaned now. Fortunately for you, we’ve made a guide on how to clean your apartment before last-minute guests arrive, so take a second to breathe and read through this article.

De-Clutter the Rooms You’ll Be In

The number one thing people notice when they walk in is all the stuff you have lying around, so if you have no time at all to clean, be sure you complete this one. Start by putting all of the stuff away that you know where it belongs. If you’re unsure, find a new home for it, even if it doesn’t make sense.

In the worst-case scenario, throw everything in your roommate’s room. There’s really no reason that you should be going in there. Your roommate will likely understand if you’re trying to impress a date.

Wipe Down and Dust Everything

Dealing with sticky and filthy surfaces is the next step. No one is going to want to touch your kitchen if it looks like a radioactive wasteland. Get the heavy-duty stuff because that grime has got to go. If most of the problem comes from crumbs and other dirt, just push it all onto the floor. Out next tip will cover that.

Pull out the Broom and Vacuum

It doesn’t matter if you’d rather sweep it all up or set up the vacuum—getting those floors clean is a vital step unless you want your guests to be wearing their shoes all night. A dirty floor is pretty noticeable, so cleaning it is a necessity, but luckily, it shouldn’t take you very long to tidy up.

Get Rid of Those Dirty Dishes

You’re not done in the kitchen quite yet. You can’t forget those stacks of plates and cups from the last week of meals. If you have a dishwasher, you’re in luck! Throw everything in there, even if it’s not dishwasher safe. You don’t actually need to run it. You just need to get them out of the sink if you have any plans on using it. On top of that, dirty dishes are gross and an easy turn-off to anybody who lays eyes on them.

Give Areas the Old Sniff Test

The couch, your bed, yourself—you need to sniff out any unpleasant smells and eliminate them immediately. If you’re the source of the stench, that’s at least an easy fix. If it’s a piece of furniture, that will be a bit more challenging. A bottle of Febreze can do the job, but depending on the material the item is made of, you might need to do something more to clean it thoroughly. All we ask is that you check the fabric to see which cleaning option is best. After that, you’ll be as ready as you’ll ever be.

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