How to Clean Your Room in Ten Minutes

Step 1

Gather all the soft and bulky fabric items on the floor, the bed and other surfaces. This means clothing, hats, towels, linens, shoes, rags, even diapers. Stash your bundle out of sight, either in a closet or in the laundry hamper. Leave one pillow, one pillowcase and one quilt in a heap on the unmade bed.

Step 2

Dump any small items resting all surfaces---tables, floor, bookcases, chests, vanities, stools---into a large box. Don't organize. Don't stop and think, just sweep everything in and shove the box in a closet to deal with later.

Step 3

Sweep or vacuum the floor briefly to get the visible rubble off. Don't be thorough---don't go for a fluffy carpet or a shining surface---and whatever you do, don't mop. Just do a quick once-over in the obviously troublesome areas.

Step 4

Cover the unmade and stripped bed with a bedspread, quilt or duvet. Stuff the one pillow on the bed into the pillowcase and lay it out saucily at the head of the bed. Wipe your forehead.