You’ve just gotten off the phone with an old friend who happens to be in the area who has asked to drop by. It’s been several years since you’ve seen them, and you’d like to make a good impression. However, you’re currently standing on a living room floor full of children’s toys, cast off pillows, discarded backpacks and school books – and the rest of your home looks quite similar. Somehow you need to transform your home in half an hour or less – but how? Luckily, we’ve compiled a handy guide to speed cleaning.

First, gather all of the primary cleaning materials so you don’t have to spend time running back and forth to the cupboard. A couple of clean rags, rubber gloves, toilet cleaner, a broom and all-purpose spray ought to be everything you’ll need. Then begin tackling each area.

• Kitchen – Stack up all of the bills, magazines, junk mail and other clutter littering your kitchen counter and stick them in a drawer or cabinet for later sorting.  Put your dirty dishes in the dish washer and rinse out your sink. Give it a quick spray and wipe to clean out any food debris. Then, spray and wipe down your counters, stove top and the fronts of your appliances to cut any grease and food splatter marks. Sweep as much of your kitchen floor as possible.

• Living Room/ Family Room – Grab a couple of empty baskets and toss all children’s toys into one and all other items strewn across the floor into another. Hide them in the closet to sort through and clean up later. Fluff the pillows and fold the throw blankets.

• Bathroom – Choose the bathroom or powder room in your home where you’ll be directing your guest when they ask to use your restroom. Clean the toilet. Quickly spray and wipe down the mirror, countertops and fluff the hand towels and rugs.

Finishing Touches – In the last couple of minutes, quickly spray some air neutralizer, light a few candles and brew a fresh pot of coffee to cover the cleaning chemical smell. Your guest will be none the wiser and your house will look, feel (and smell) spotless.