Guide to Crisis Cleaning + Free Crisis Cleaning Checklist

Is your home overwhelming you? Are people coming over soon? Crisis cleaning can help you get back on track and your home ready for guests. 

This post was originally shared in 2019 but has been updated to include more helpful information and to make sure links are all active. Last update was May 21, 2026.

We all have gotten that phone call asking if you are home. If your home is messy you likely immediately felt a sense of horror. You quickly run around the house cleaning it as much as you can and shutting all the doors you can shut. This is crisis cleaning.

It’s not ideal to clean this way. It’s anxiety-inducing, not terribly effective in the long run and it’s better to have a clean home all the time. However, let’s be real, we all fall behind.

I try to stick with daily habits to keep my home clean but some days (most?) are just so busy. My to-do list is a mile long and never seems to get done. Sometimes my house suffers.

Once your home is messy and has been neglected it’s so hard to get motivated to clean it. The to-do list is just too long, you get that “I can never do it all so why bother” feeling. Soon you are on the sofa watching Netflix and pretending you will really get busy as soon as that episode is over.

So how can crisis cleaning help? When you crisis clean you stay busy, you don’t get distracted by the jobs that need to be done but can wait longer. For me, I like to start an organizing project. It’s something that needs to be done, and is on my list but isn’t something people really notice or is as urgent. These kinds of things are also ones that can leave you still feeling overwhelmed because they are less noticeable.

I challenge you, next time your home is overwhelming you, follow the steps below and do a crisis clean. Your to-do list won’t be done and your home won’t be spotless but you will feel like your head is above water. And bonus, your home is at least last-minute guest-ready!

How to Crisis Clean (with or without a crisis)

Set a Timer and Stick to That Deadline.

I tend to do one or two hours depending on the level of mess and how much time I have. Try and act as if guests will be walking in your door when the timer goes off. The idea is to make this a challenge and push yourself. If it’s a real crisis cleaning your guests will set your deadline.

Have a Reward

With real crisis cleaning the reward is a home that is ready for your guests. If there is no crisis a reward can help keep you motivated. It can be a cup of tea, binging a couple of episodes of your favorite show, whatever will motivate you.

Use Laundry Baskets

Carry a laundry basket with you. Quickly put everything in it that doesn’t belong in that room. In each room also take out the things that you gathered that belong in the room you are now in. This prevents a lot of back and forth trips from putting things away.

Clear Countertops and Tables

Clearing your large surfaces like tables and countertops instantly makes your home seem cleaner. Remember that laundry basket and if needed also keep a trash bag and recycling bag with you.

Stay Focused

Don’t get distracted by messy cabinets or closets. If it’s behind a closed door it can wait. Once your most seen areas are picked up and in order, you will feel less overwhelmed, and then you can get to those tasks.

Using the emergency cleaning checklist can help you stay focused, it’s especially useful if you have last-minute guests on the way and a very limited time to get things done.

Once you are done, look around at all the progress you made in a short time. Now keep up with daily cleaning habits and start slowly adding your bigger projects to your to-do list. It will be much easier to accomplish these things since you will feel less behind.

More Resources Cleaning Resources

These are some more cleaning resources to help you keep a clean house. The first is from my mom’s blog and the others are ones you will find here on Retro Housewife Goes Green.

• Company Ready in 5 Easy Steps
• 1950s Cleaning Routine
• Seasonal Cleaning List
• 10 Ways to Keep Your House Clean Like a 1950s Housewife