Photo: Wikimedia Commons You can get your home ready for last minute guests in exactly ten minutes by focusing only on what people see. Grab a laundry basket, a fresh hand towel, and a microfibre cloth right now. Follow these simple steps in order to clear the mess before your doorbell rings. How do I clean my house fast before guests arrive? Start by setting a timer on your phone for ten minutes so you stay moving and avoid getting distracted by deep cleaning tasks. Take a quick sweep through the main paths your guests will walk through, starting at the front door and moving straight to the living room, kitchen, and half bathroom. Ignore all closed rooms like your bedroom or home office for now, because your guests will not be walking into those spaces today. Use a single laundry basket as your catch-all bin for stray clutter that belongs in other rooms. Put loose mail, stray shoes, children's toys, and random items directly into the basket without taking the time to put ea...