We’ve all been there. You get that text: “Be there in 10!” And just like that, your casual scrolling session turns into full-blown panic. The dishes are piled up, pet hair is staging a coup, and there’s a weird smell whose origin you dare not investigate. Deep cleaning is not an option—but faking it? Oh, absolutely.

This guide is your new secret weapon. In just 10 minutes, you can transform your chaotic cave into something that screams, “I totally have my life together!” without breaking a sweat. Ready? Set? Pretend clean!

Minute 1: Prioritize the Visual Zones You don’t need to clean the whole house—just the parts your guests will actually see. Focus on:

• Entryway
• Living room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen (if it’s open plan)

Quickly assess these spaces and ignore everything else. Clutter in the bedroom? That’s a problem for Future You.

Minute 2–3: Grab a Laundry Basket and Sweep the Chaos Anything that looks out of place? Toss it into a laundry basket: shoes, mail, empty cups, kid toys, mystery socks. Do a quick sweep through your visual zones and collect anything that screams, “I live here and it shows.”

Bonus move: Hide the basket in your bedroom closet. It’s the adult version of sweeping things under the rug.

Minute 4: Fluff and Fold Now that the clutter is gone, give the illusion of tidiness. Fluff pillows, fold throw blankets, and straighten anything that looks like it’s had a hard day.

Pro tip: If you have time for one aesthetic cheat, it’s lighting a candle or turning on warm lamps. Cozy lighting hides a multitude of sins (and dust).

Minute 5–6: Speed-Surface Clean Dampen a microfiber cloth or use cleaning wipes and hit the following high-visibility zones:

• Coffee table
• Countertops
• Bathroom sink
• Toilet seat
• Mirror (just the spots)

These spots get the most judgment, so focus your energy here. Don’t deep scrub—just a clean swipe to erase obvious grime and toothpaste crimes.

Minute 7: Handle the Smell Scent is your invisible host. If your home smells fresh, guests will assume it’s clean. Fast ways to deodorize:

• Light a candle or incense
• Open a window for 2 minutes
• Simmer cinnamon or citrus peels on the stove
• Spray a fabric refresher on sofas and curtains

Minute 8: Kitchen Sleight of Hand Stack any dirty dishes neatly in the sink or shove them in the dishwasher. Wipe down the faucet and stove if they’re visible. If you’re really short on time, toss a dish towel over the mess—it’s not cheating, it’s visual misdirection.

Minute 9: Tame the Bathroom A dirty bathroom can ruin the whole fake. Do this:

• Close the shower curtain (no one needs to see what’s in there)
• Replace the hand towel with a fresh one
• Close the toilet lid
• Light a small candle or spray air freshener

Minute 10: Final Sweep Do a quick walk-through and fix any last-minute messes. Adjust a crooked rug. Close closet doors. Straighten shoes by the door. Check yourself in the mirror—you’re not just faking a clean house, you’re faking being calm and collected too.

Bonus Hacks for Next Time:

• Keep a “guest emergency kit” with wipes, candles, and fresh towels
• Hide a fresh-smelling plug-in air freshener near the entrance
• Train your pets to nap in places less visible to visitors

Life’s messy. And that’s okay.

But when surprise guests strike, you now have a game plan to stage a Pinterest-worthy illusion of cleanliness in just 10 minutes flat. Will your house actually be clean? Not really. But will anyone know? Absolutely not. Welcome to the art of the fast fake—your secret’s safe with us.