00:01:00:

Get a big empty box and a wastebasket. Make a space and place them in the center of the room.

00:02:00:

Grab any dishes and glasses around the room and take them to the kitchen. Put them in the dishwasher, out of sight.

00:03:00:

Scoop up any rubbish (newspapers, wrappers, old magazines, etc.) and throw it into the wastebasket.

00:04:00:

Pick up anything that doesn’t belong in the living room (clothing, toys, mail, project equipment) and throw them in the box.

00:05:00:

Take both the wastebasket and the box to the garage, basement, closet or any other out-of-the-way spot. Don’t put the items away now, just get them out of sight!

00:06:00:

Take two dishcloths – one damp, the other dry. Quickly wipe off picture frames and mirrors, first with the damp rag, then the dry.

00:07:00:

Wipe all objects and tabletops – again with the damp cloth, then with the dry.

00:08:00:

Neatly stack magazines or books on the coffee table and rearrange any decorative objects to an attractive position.

00:09:00:

If you have some around, bring in a fresh flower arrangement or plants and place them around the room.

00:10:00:

Quickly vacuum the visible bits in the room.

00:11:00:

Squirt some air freshener around.

00:12:00:

Turn off the TV, flush the toilet (to give your neighbors a good excuse as to why you took so long), brush your hair, take a deep breath, and then graciously welcome your guests. Though all this may seem just a bit of fun, when doing a proper weekly clean, you do much the same things in the same order. The only differences are you vacuum under furniture, not just around them, wipe things over with a little household spray, and put away items and wash any dishes when you’ve done.