Company is coming in 10 minutes. What do you do first?

[*bejeweled*]

I:
*take out the trash and open the windows
*spray some EO air freshener or boil some cinnamon and cloves
*wipe down the bathroom and check the toilet
*clear off vertical surfaces and throw stuff in the bedrooms
*throw the dirty dishes in the oven
*brush my hair

How about you?

[philomom]

I check the foyer, the bathroom and fluff the cushions on the couch. If I still have a minute .. I hide the dirty dishes and wipe the counters with a sweet smelling spray.

[Lovesong]

Freshen up the toilet and take out the trash and make sure there's nothing in my sink.

[MonkeyPrincess]

Depends on the company. :)

If its a friend dropping by unexpectedly, I don't mind if they see my house being lived in - dishes in the sink, blankets strewn around the living room, books on the table, shoes kicked off by the couch. That's okay. (Although I'd totally make sure the bathroom is wiped down.)

As long as the house is clean underneath, I don't mind if there is "life" visible - it didn't used to be that way, though. Its only been since my house is decluttered, and very manageable for me. I know when I go to other peoples homes, I enjoy seeing their homes in their natural state. I love when I do homevisits with families, and the house is absolutely spotless. Then we come when she's in labor, and the house is totally normal lived in...so real!

If I am inviting someone over to hang out and spend time in my space, I think thats different and I try to make the space should be pleasant for them. Freshly cleaned bathroom and kitchen, straightened and clean living area. I usually do incense, but I love the idea of something bubbling on the stove!

[kibba]

I wipe and clean off the counters, clean up the tv room (pick up a blanket, bring any dishes to the kitchen) and then I clear off the kitchen table..usually random things end up there.

[*bejeweled*]

I too love visiting homes in their natural state. It's comfortable (usually).

[*bejeweled*]

I notice most of us check the toilet first.

[Callimom]

Depends on how many kids can I order around

We can actually do a pretty thorough clean in 10 minutes if everyone is working together.

Priorities for me

1) bathroom - swish toilet and wipe down sink and other surfaces

2) clear kitchen island hot spots, dishes in the dishwasher and wipe down - we have white counter tops and they get grubby looking very fast

3) check mudroom, take out compost and recycling.

That's probably my 10 minutes

With kids, one would vaccuum, one would tidy living room (which rarely needs more than pillow fluffing and do a main floor pick up and tidy), one would be assigned bathrooms, and the 4th mudroom, while I did the kitchen.

[Ruthiegirl]

I make coffee and see if I have anything to serve (cookies, biscuits, cheese).  

Show's you how concerned I am about having a messy house!   

[Mom31]

I have a panic attack.... then I throw stuff in the kids rooms and close the doors.

[ollyoxenfree]

1. Wipe down bathroom counters and toilet. 

2. Tidy kitchen and take care of any dirty dishes. 

3. Sweep - we have a big, hairy dog. Even if I vacuumed earlier, fluff always collects immediately. A quick pass with the broom in the living room and hallway is always worthwhile. 

[sunnysandiegan]

About the only thing I do is make sure folks can get in the front door. Sometimes I pile up stuff there for me to take out the next time I go anywhere. Our foyer is very small, so it doesn't take much to prevent the door from opening. If they are big things, then I go ahead and take them to the car and I check the mail on the way back and then meet & greet the company as I head back towards my place. If they are small things, then I toss 'em in a canvas bag or two and hang them on the door or put them in the hall closet.

Everything else will have to do.

We are mostly in the habit of dusting and vacuuming the house, and cleaning bathrooms, weekly...so it's not THAT bad. Dishes and laundry are just part of life and I doubt anyone is going to freak out if mine are in some state of non-perfectness (is that a word?). Most dishes are confined to the kitchen and laundry is usually in the laundry room or in one of our bedrooms. If, by chance, the laundry basket was elsewhere, then I would put it in one of those places - mostly due to space. We live in a small home and I want guests to be able to move around comfortably and have a place to sit.

[clutterwarrior]

Since my cleaning habits are now pretty regular, I am amazed (at myself!) to be able to say that there is usually very little to do at short notice.

If the kids have been in the lounge (living room) then I might have to quickly run the vacuum over the floor, and tidy the cushions

Also would quickly give the toilets a quick flush/swish with the brush, and put a new hand towel out for guests to wipe their hands.

May have to sweep the kitchen if we have just been cooking.

[Callimom]

Originally Posted by Emilie2 

I have a panic attack.... then I throw stuff in the kids rooms and close the doors.

lol rofl - yay for honesty!

[clutterwarrior]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karenwith4 

lol rofl - yay for honesty!

lol yes indeed...

I must admit that after I posted my own answer, I thought for a moment that I hoped it didn't read like I was bragging about not having to do too much, but then I thought well I am only answering honestly!

I have always had such an issue in the past with housework, so it is new for me to have it relatively under control and it is a good feeling.

  I really don't know if i could keep things under control though if I had to go out to work as well. I am a SAHM and that luxury enables me to organise my time as I wish. 

[Callimom]

Originally Posted by clutterwarrior 

Quote:

lol yes indeed...

I must admit that after I posted my own answer, I thought for a moment that I hoped it didn't read like I was bragging about not having to do too much, but then I thought well I am only answering honestly!

I have always had such an issue in the past with housework, so it is new for me to have it relatively under control and it is a good feeling.

  I really don't know if i could keep things under control though if I had to go out to work as well. I am a SAHM and that luxury enables me to organise my time as I wish. 

It didn't sound that way at all. And I totally get where you are coming from. Our new (bigger) house is much easier to keep tidy because there is a place for everything which makes daily chores easier (and my kids help). In theory, every weekday the bathrooms and cleaned, mudroom tidied, and floors vaccumed so it doesn't take long to make the main floor company ready (kids' bedrooms are a completely different story - lol). But before we moved, I would stash stuff baskets of stuff in my room before company came. Or just keep them on the porch - lol. It was hard to clean because the place was packed to the rafters. We homeschool so the kids were working on projects, there were books, there wasn't room for my sewing stuff so it travelled in a couple of baskets from the linnen closet to the dining room where I sewed (and we ate, homeschooled, played etc.)

[Rainey Daye]

I straighten the living room and entry, toss stuff into the master bedroom and/or the home office and shut those doors, and try to have the diapers in the guest bathroom bagged up and out to the garage and spray air freshener (EO/vinegar mix) in there. I then run to brush my hair and make sure I and the kidlet are somewhat presentable. 

If I have time after that, it's try to have the breakfast bar and kitchen counters clean (even if there are dishes in the sink). If I have a bit more time, I will stash dirty dishes in the dishwasher (if it's empty) or under the sink!!

I try though to have the main living areas of the house (at least during the week) to the point that I CAN do a quick pickup...and if there are dirty dishes in the sink...well, that is a sign that we do eat!!

[OkiMom]

Get the children dressed Then crate the dog since hes skittish around men (if a man is coming over.. which the only men that come over are my FIL and BIL if I forget to crate the mutt it will be fine).

Then if I have time straighten the living room and close the doors to the other rooms.

Honestly, I tell everyone if they want to see my house clean stop by either before 7am or after 7pm. Otherwise my house is likely to be a complete mess, my dog will likely jump on you, my kids might be naked and you might step in something (nothing bad but I have had people walk right into finger paint that the kids were using to paint with their feet, glue that we were using to make an art project etc).

[Nicole730]

Clear off vertical spaces, put in a bag or box in my bedroom.

Put quilts back over the chair and couch

Wipe off counters and table

Wipe down bathroom counter and put out clean hand towels. 

Toys and dishes I usually leave showing.  Toys are always strewn about the place!

[familycastle]

Oh, what a fun thread! I do what the majority of you seem to do: bathroom check, kitchen counter check, throw clutter somewhere, spray an essential oil mist, and make sure things look presentable. I wish I didn't care, but I do!