Speed Clean Your Home for the Fourth of July
The Fourth of July is just around the corner and if you are feeling overwhelmed and are having guests for a cookout or just cocktails before a neighborhood fireworks show you are going to need to have a tidy, shiny, clean home. Follow this list to save time and headaches. The Fourth of July House Cleaning Checklist.
- Do not skip your morning routine. Make the beds and have the children help if they can. Get dressed and put on your momma face. This includes hair, make-up, teeth and whatever else makes you feel put together. Pretend you are about to go out to lunch with the girls. It will be easier to just touch up your make up later than to try to do the whole face at the last-minute.
- Gather Your Tools: Vacuum, Mop, Dusting cloths, Spray Cleaners, Rags and the dreaded toilet brush.
- Now to the fun stuff. Utilizing some good music ( I enjoy Broadway show tunes for these occasions) and a timer do a 5 minute pick up of clutter and trash through the house in each room. If you feel as if there is not time to put away the items then put them in a hamper, box or bag and stuff it all in your closet. Guests will think they are bags of gifts hidden from the children if they happen to get so nosy that they end up in your closet.
- Clean the kitchen as best you can. You may be in the middle of prepping coldsalads or cooking sides for the Barbecue. Just clean up as much as you can and put away as many items as possible. Clean for 15 minutes and then move on.
- Now grab the dust rag and dust the main rooms. Just the obvious places in the entryway, dining area and living areas.
- Next: Vacuum up only the stuff you see, usually this is the high traffic areas in the main living areas. Then a damp mop and mop up only what you see as dirty in the guest bathroom, entryway and kitchen.
The Bathroom: Wipe down the sink, shine the mirror and clean the toilet with the toilet brush.
- Empty Trash: Empty all the trash cans. There is something about a full trash can in a bathroom that just makes the room look dirty.
- Just before you company arrives light a few candles that are in safe places, high enough to keep toddlers from toddling them over. Turn down the lights and perhaps have some tea.
- For the Out Doors: Sweet the front porch and clean the cobwebs off the doorway. Clean the front door, light fixtures and front windows closest to the door. Add a colorful potted plant or a bit of potted foliage. I also enjoy home with Patriotic Bunting
adorning the front porch. - Sweep the back porch and add touches of colorful pots with a small american flagor two in each for even more color.
where you can. Wipe down all out door furniture and clean the backdoor along with any windows close to the back entrance
adorning the front porch.
or two in each for even more color.Have a rocking day!
Well written post…When guests came then we are happy or little bit worry about the welcoming of them. Making a checklist is a good option which reduce lots of stress of cleaning. By the shared tips I do this task properly and with more ease. Thanks
Great tips! This wouldn’t be bad to do every day!
I do as little as possible, keep the important parts of the most used rooms clean and cheer myself on with chocolate and coffee1
Pam, I was too busy cleaning to read this before the holiday! I too use a timer. I look at a room and determine how long I intend to work on it. If the timer goes off and I am not done I then decide whether it is enough of a priority to stay in that location and continue. We had a huge party on Saturday and I was surprised at the things I got done! My laundry room was freshly organized and all appliances cleaned. I laundered every rug in the house and the biggest thing of all was I got my office in pretty decent shape. I say have a party if you want to get something you’ve been procrastinating done. Then another and another and pretty soon the house is getting totally organized and decorated and maintained! love your decor on the back porch btw.
That sounds fantastic, not sure if my introvert husband would dig a party a week. lol
Pam
That’s an awesome list! Unfortunately, that’s my usual cleaning routine, hahaha! The other day I spent an entire day in the first room you walk into in my house and I told my husband I must have eliminated a foot of dust! I like how you set a timer and just tidy up for that long- it still is going to look better than if you hadn’t done that right? Progress, not perfection.
Exactly Melony!