This post is all about the cleaning routine you need to try!
It can be tough to find a cleaning routine that really works. That’s why I’ve put together a few simple, realistic checklists. Now, I’m happy to share another one with you.
I made this cleaning routine for those times when you need to get your home ready for guests in a hurry, or when life just feels extra busy. These are the must-do tasks that help keep your home looking presentable, even on tough days or weeks.
When I say “guest-ready” cleaning routine, I don’t mean your home will be spotless, or that it’s only for when people visit. It just means your space will feel comfortable and tidy enough for you to relax, even if you’re having a tough week or surprise guests drop by.
In this post, I’ll share my exact 20-minute cleaning routine checklist. You can also grab a printable version below.
This post is all about the best cleaning routine you won’t want to miss.
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20 Minute Cleaning Routine
View 20 Minute Cleaning Routine
Here is my easy cleaning routine to use when you’re having a busy week or dont have a lot of time to clean before guests come over. Ready? Set the 20-minute timer!
Quick Dust top to bottom
If your eyes see it, dust it. Grab a duster and start in the main areas—where guests are likely to enter, such as the kitchen, living room, dining room, and bathrooms. Don’t worry about bedrooms, etc., at this point. Always start dusting at the top and move downward as you go.
Clean only the areas visible to you and your guests. If you spot something, your guests will likely notice it too. This should take just minutes. If it takes longer, you may be overdoing it.
Speed clean the toilet bowl, bathroom sink, and mirror, and change out the Towels
I begin by spraying cleaner on the outside of the toilet bowl and letting it sit while I clean the inside. If you find it easier, you can use disinfecting wipes on the outside, but I prefer to spray and wipe with paper towels. Disinfecting wipes sometimes just move dust around and can take more time, so I keep this step quick. After applying cleanser to the inside of the bowl, I scrub it down and let it sit, then wipe down the outside of the bowl, then move on to the sink and mirror while the cleaner sits inside the toilet bowl.
Next, I move to the sink and spray it and the faucet with my cleaning spray, then wipe them with paper towels. I also spray the mirror and wipe it down. The goal is to get things clean enough, not perfect. After finishing the sink and mirror, flush the toilet.
At the end, remove any used towels and put out fresh ones.
{Related Post: Places Most People Forget To Clean In Their Homes}
Miscellaneous Stuff In Catch All Basket
Take a large laundry basket. Walk through the main rooms and pick up anything that doesn’t belong or looks messy. Place these items in the basket and store it in the bedroom closet.
Remember, this is just a temporary solution. Instead of stressing about sorting right now, focus on gathering everything in one basket to revisit later, when you have more time.
However, avoid leaving the basket there for too long. Make time soon to return items to their proper places. For now, your main goal is a quick clear-out.
Quickly collect all the trash
Empty all trash bins in the main rooms. Take a fresh trash bag and walk through each room. Pick up all trash, including recyclables.
Use two bags if you want to separate trash and recyclables. Move quickly since this is a 20-minute speed clean. Check the fridge for anything that smells. Keep the trash bag nearby in case you find more to add.
Wipe Main Surfaces
I keep things simple. I grab a few rags and start in the kitchen. I use a quick, easy sprayer that’s safe for most surfaces, but any cleaner works. I quickly spray and wipe the kitchen counters.
I also wipe the fronts of the microwave, dishwasher, stove, trash bin, and fridge. This is a quick wipe, not perfection. I switch rags and move to the dining and living rooms. I quickly spray and wipe the dining and coffee tables.
That’s it. If you spot other surfaces to wipe, now’s the time. Keep it to the bare minimum.
Spot Wipe Floors
You have 20 minutes—enough to spot-clean, not mop. Grab some cleaning wipes and walk through the main rooms, wiping any visible spots. This takes a few minutes. Don’t aim for spotless floors—just the obvious messes. I drop the wipe and use my shoe, so there’s no need to bend down.
Vacuum where necessary + Tidy the Couch
Next, I vacuum the spots that need it. With a dog, I can’t skip this. If you don’t have pets, you might be able to skip this step.
I move room to room, vacuuming only high-traffic areas. In the living room, I vacuum the couch and straighten pillows and blankets.
{Related Post:15+ Tried And True Kitchen Cleaning Hacks You’ll Want To Try Immediately}
Light up a few candles.
After I finish most of my cleaning, I like to light a few candles around the house. We get used to the smells in our homes, even bad odors. Candles can really make a difference.
Dishes and the kitchen sink
If I still have time, I’ll do the dishes and clean the sink. I leave this for last because, unless it’s only a few dishes, it can easily take you the entire 20 minutes. And if you’re actually preparing for guests, that won’t work out. So I leave it for last, as I prefer to be in the middle of washing dishes if they arrive rather than doing them first, but my whole house is a mess.
If you are preparing for guests:
If you’re following this cleaning routine to get ready for guests, here are a few more tips.
If you have extra time after cleaning, try these optional finishing touches. Don’t worry if you can’t finish them.
- Quickly wipe the top of the stove,
- Spot wipe inside fridge.
- Wipe the glass sliding door of fingerprints.
- Open windows to let fresh air in.
What if You Feel You’re Always Resetting?
This has always been my go-to 20-minute routine whenever life gets hectic or things start to feel overwhelming. It’s meant to give quick relief.
But if you find yourself relying on these “emergency resets” every single week, it might not be a matter of motivation at all. It might just mean you need a little more structure behind the scenes.
That’s why I eventually built a full cleaning rhythm that separates tasks into daily restes, weekly upkeep, and rotating deep cleaning tasks.
The 20-minute reset handles the surface clean. The full system handles the long-term maintenance.
One gives you quick relief.
The other gives you a rhythm,
If you want to see how I organize everything so I’m not always starting from scratch, check out the Complete Home Cleaning System here.
Free Cleaning Routine Download
Download FREE Cleaning Routine
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