I’m a Cleaning Editor—Here’s How I Fake a Spotless House
It’s very possible to convince people your home is neat and tidy with this low-effort, high-impact game plan.
Perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions about me as a home editor who’s written extensively about cleaning is that I’m an incredibly tidy person. Whenever guests swing by my apartment, or when I post glimpses of it on social media, I’m often bombarded with comments about how organized and pristine everything looks. The truth is that I’m not especially neat—my husband can confirm this. (Though I enjoy geeking out over the science of cleaning, which might partially explain my fastidious reputation!)
In fact, there are tons of other things I’d rather do than clean, and often, I don’t have the time to do a thorough job. But because I’ve interviewed so many cleaning and organizing experts throughout my career, I’ve learned and put into practice many of their time-saving strategies to essentially fake a tidy house (and stretch the time between those deep cleaning sessions). The key is to target the zones guests would notice when they enter your home.
So, I’ve compiled a list of hot spots you can spruce up quickly before visitors stop by, or whenever you just want some semblance of neatness without the hours-long cleaning frenzy. Without further ado, here’s how I fake a clean house—and how you can too.
Related: How to Clean Everything
Wipe Down Large Glass Surfaces
I have a clear glass coffee table that I adore because it has sentimental value for me, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a pain to maintain. Glass, especially if it’s crystal clear, shows every speck of dirt and dust, and it displays fingerprint smudges galore. This is one of the first things I check off my list when I’m doing a speed cleaning session—it takes less than a minute to clean but really makes a huge difference because it eats up quite a bit of real estate in my sitting area.
On that note, polish off the television and any hanging mirrors if they’re dusty, especially in the entryway. I always use my favorite microfiber wipe on glass to ensure a streak-free finish, but I’ll usually pass a Swiffer duster over my electronics. A house cleaner I interviewed once pointed out that black surfaces will show the most dust, so definitely don’t skip the TV.
Hide Clutter In Baskets (Temporarily)
People often observe that I don’t have a ton of stuff in my place. It’s certainly not bare, but it’s not cluttered either. The biggest reason? Baskets. Professional organizers are not kidding when they say these are essential in a tidy home, and this underrated product has been a godsend for me.
I have so many pretty woven baskets stashed throughout my apartment that contain all the clutter I don’t have time to deal with—I’ll shove random odds and ends into them when I’m in a bind, then place a beautiful folded throw blanket on top to mask the mess.
While I’m decluttering, I use this time to straighten things up like pillows and tabletop decor. (I do make it a point to eventually return everything to its rightful home at a later point in time.)
Clean Off Kitchen Counters
There’s a good chance you’ll have people hanging around your kitchen, and lingering crumbs and food spills are the first thing they’ll spot if you’re not careful. One of the best things I’ve ever tested for work to maintain my kitchen counters is this mini brush pan set. I use it all the time to very quickly whisk off dirt from my countertops, and because it’s pretty, I actually leave it out next to my utensil crocks.
And don’t forget to hit up the stove too! Because it doesn’t have a smooth surface, sometimes I’ll use a hand vacuum, which makes getting into crevices a little easier. Then, if I want to impart a pleasant scent (and possibly eliminate any surface stains), I spray the countertops with a multipurpose cleaner.
By the way, I don’t stress too much about dishes in this situation. Unless you have a massive pile of them, it’s okay if there are one or two dirty plates in the sink. People are generally understanding about a few unwashed dishes, but filthy countertops? Less so, for some reason.
Related: The 9 Best Handheld Vacuums of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
Vacuum and Pay Attention to Corners
I don’t necessarily mop when I’m doing this quick fix. Since I generally clean up spills ASAP (which you should be doing anyway, especially with hardwood), there are no real stains on my floors. However, I shed more hair than a corgi, and my husband has a habit of leaving behind crumbs all over our kitchen, so vacuuming is crucial.
I do a quick pass throughout the areas I know guests will lounge in, but I make sure I cover all the corners of those spaces. Cleaning professionals have pointed out to me that hair and dust balls have a tendency to migrate to room corners, so if you just leave them piled up there, it’ll be really obvious you haven’t cleaned in a long time. (Bonus points if you vacuum or sweep off dust from the baseboard!)
Zoom Through the Bathroom
In a perfect world, I’d do the deepest clean ever in the bathroom each time I’m prepping for guests—I like to thoroughly scrub down the bathtub to really get rid of any mildewy smells. But the reality is that this task alone can take a while! So when I’m pressed for time, I’ll often switch out the towels—which might be contributing to the odors—for fresh ones and wipe off gunk that collects around the tub drain with a Magic Eraser.
I have glass doors now that I squeegee down after every shower but in my old apartment, I’d quickly spray the shower curtain with a bathroom cleaner.
I wipe the mirror, faucet, and sink to get rid of soap scum and mineral deposits (these are tells you haven’t cleaned in a while), then scrub the toilet. Any countertop clutter I just shove in the medicine cabinet or vanity drawer. Done.
Related: Complete Bathroom Cleaning Checklist
Take Out the Trash
If your trash cans are more than halfway full, I suggest emptying them. This includes the one in your bathroom, as well as any other wastebaskets throughout your home. I like to do this mostly to ensure they’re not emitting any odors, but also because I have this irrational fear guests will poke through my garbage (or at least spot something weird on top). I know, it’s absurd, but at least it keeps me on the straight and narrow!
Open the Curtains and Light a Candle
Finishing touches for me always include spreading open the drapes throughout my apartment to let in as much light as possible—natural light really tricks the eye into thinking a room is cleaner than it actually is. It brightens up a space and just makes it feel airier.
I also always light a candle so guests are greeted by a pleasant scent as soon as they walk in—the bright light and nice aromas are a powerful combination, and this alone will do so much to convince people you’re on your A game. And please, close any doors you can! If folks aren’t hanging out in the bedrooms or your study, don’t bother sprucing them up. Just shut the door and guests will be none the wiser.
Related: How to Make Your House Smell Good—Experts Share 19 Secrets
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