How To Clean Your Apartment In 30 Minutes Or Less

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We've all been there — a friend or relative texts to say they're popping over in half an hour, and your apartment looks like it hasn't been cleaned in months. As you glance around in dismay, feelings of panic start to emerge. You don't want anyone to think you're a down-and-out-slob; besides that, your guests should feel comfortable. No need to freak out, because your place can look clean in 30 minutes or less if you focus on the most important tasks. Deep cleaning is unnecessary, and the results will be good enough if no one goes over things with a fine-toothed comb.

What are the red flags of an unpresentable apartment, though? According to Capital Hire, two of the most obvious signs are an unpleasant smell and moldy food in the refrigerator. And if you see insects crawling and flying about, also nip that in the bud well before someone is on their way over. Having your kids' or pets' toys scattered on the floor and dishes that need to be put away is different, though. That is considered to be messy but not necessarily dirty if things can just be moved out of the way. Most people won't mind seeing that kind of stuff.

Cleaning hacks like making your bed each morning after you get up can save time and are good habits to get into. They also prevent the need for 30-minute apartment clean-ups. Not everyone subscribes to this lifestyle, of course. So what do cleaning ninjas do when they have merely 30 minutes (or less) to spare? Find out below!

Nothing turns off guests more than an unsightly toilet bowl, so this should be your second priority. Molly Maid recommends pouring the toilet cleaner into the bowl and letting it sit while cleaning the outside with a disinfectant. Cleaning under the rim is also recommended, but we'll skip that for now. No one's going to look under there with a flashlight (except for your mom, maybe).

If you're really pressed for time, a drop-in toilet cleaning tab can do the work for you; all you need to do is place it in the tank. Scrubbing Bubbles Drop-Ins is one version, but you must flush the toilet first for the water to go down and then drop in the tablet. You'll need to wait 10 minutes, so set a timer and clean up elsewhere until it goes off. Then, just flush again. Be careful with these because toilet cleaning tabs that contain bleach can damage toilet bolts and rubber seals, according to North Carolina Consumers Council. When used repeatedly over time, the tabs can also block up plumbing pipes. To stay on the safe side, use the tabs in a pinch and do regular cleanings more often.

Proper furniture dusting involves removing everything from your countertops, dusting the surfaces and items, and then returning things to their proper places. Nope. You're in a hurry, so the abbreviated version will suffice here. What's the best kind of duster, though? Speed Cleaning advises against using feather dusters that aren't made from ostrich feathers, claiming that synthetic ones don't pick up the dust. Say you don't want to create a dust cloud,d and there aren't any ostrich-feather dusters in your apartment. Now what?

Try using microfiber dusting cloths. You won't have to spray on any cleaner, and the dust won't puff up all over the place. And there are other benefits to using microfiber, according to Corvus Janitorial Systems. The cloths are made from polyester and nylon, and the latter attracts dust. You needn't dampen the fabric for dusting, but you can add water if you'd like. Remember that microfiber cloths don't disinfect surfaces, but can be used with disinfectant products. ProHousekeepers adds that these cloths don't leave lint on surfaces or scratch furniture, so you don't have to worry about making quick swipes or going back to remove debris. Toss the cloths into the laundry basket when finished. They're also cheaper than paper towels because you can wash and reuse them repeatedly.

You don't want your friends and family to leave your apartment with pet hair all over them, especially if they wear black clothes. So if you have a cat or dog, take a few minutes to remove that hair from anything people might be sitting on or using (tabletops, sinks). My Brown Newfies claims that dampened rubber gloves and sponges will do the trick, but that might leave fabric too wet for sitting. Try this on countertops, but keep the hair out of the drain to prevent clogs.

Insider prefers lint rollers for pet hair clean-ups and recommends ones with super-sticky adhesive because they can pick up more hair. Get one with extra rolls so you'll always be ready when friends come a-calling. You can also find non-adhesive lint rollers that work like mini-vacs, like this one on Amazon. If you don't have any of these specialty products handy, a Reddit contributor swears by duct tape and claims it works even better. Just be careful, because duct tape can leave residue on fabrics if you're not careful.

Apartment doorknobs get a lot of attention from constant use, and you wouldn't want someone to get grossed out or sick if yours are dirty, sticky, or covered in bacteria. Custom Door Hardware recommends cleaning them with a water-and-vinegar mixture, but everyone knows that vinegar has a strong smell. You also shouldn't use abrasive cleaners (even natural ones like baking soda) because they can scratch the knobs. 

Isn't there a better way to do this? Yes, we got you. You may have some disinfecting wipes in your apartment, and now's a good time to grab them. Since they sanitize surfaces, they're especially good for bathroom door knobs and handles (hello, pottys). And if your visitors are sniffling and sneezing, repeat the process after they leave. The cleaning/disinfecting solution is already in these products, so you save the step of spraying everything before wiping. And while you're in there, get the light switches too. Bunzl Canada suggests using these convenient wipes on all high-touch surfaces. Besides bathrooms, also use them on phones, keyboards, and sinks.

If you've ever been faced with dirty bathroom or kitchen towels in someone else's apartment, you know how gross that can be. This is just as bad: Would you want someone else to use your bath towel after you used it to dry yourself off? Don't do this to a friend if you can help it. According to American Cleaning Institute, bathroom towels should be washed after three to five uses and not reused when wet. If you've used it once or twice, toss it in the hamper. Otherwise, hang it up and leave a clean one by the sink.

Kitchen towels can be even dirtier than bathroom towels, according to Cleveland Clinic. Since most people don't wash them as often as other towels and clothing, they are hotbeds for germs. It is fairly common for used kitchen towels to harbor staph and e.Coli. You can prevent this by spraying kitchen surfaces with disinfectant and cleaning sprays, and wiping them with microfiber cloths or paper towels. This way, your kitchen towels won't accumulate as many germs. Change them out once a week and put out new ones for visitors.