Ainu to ask what you would clean in 20 minutes?

[Fishface77]

If you had a message/call from someone to say they would be at your house in 20 minutes, what would you clean?
Especially if the whole house is a tip and you decided to drink tea and eat chocolate because you didn't know where to start.
Where would you start and what would you do?
I need to be prepared for next time!

[JonesyAndTheSalad]

I would throw all the crap that doesn't belong into the bedroom, then wipe counter tops with something that smelled nice.

Then the loo....check it's clean and nice smelling.

[Derlei]

Pick up crap in downstairs rooms

Make sure downstairs toilet was clean

Let any dishes soak in the sink with hot water/washing up liquid

Plug in air fresheners (or spray)

Oh, make sure the porch/hallway is tidy (first impressions are the most important)

[QueenMortifauxcado]

Quick clean up of living room then the bathroom/loo. Then don't let them in any other rooms. Dishwasher goes on first if the cup situation is really dire.

[2017SoFarSoGood]

yep, quick run around the living room (hall if they have to pass through - and shut other doors as checking) and guest bath. Then clear off the kitchen table and dump dishes in sink or dishwasher.

Had experience with this. 20 minutes on high adrenalin can do miracles.

[Liiinoo]

Clean the loo. Clear kitchen worktops. Leave vacuum cleaner and mop casually on display to give the impression that you were busy doing housework so are delighted to be interrupted.

We have a holiday home in a part of the world where people often drop in. I leave the vacuum permanently plugged in and on display in the hall hoping it gives people the idea that I am a model housekeeper always on the go. I tuck my Kindle and my wine glass out of sight so they don't give the game away.

[ijustwannadance]

Get a big plastic tub and chuck anything that can be sorted post visit in it and put it in a room they won't be going in.

Fill kitchen sink with hot water and put any dirty dishes in. (Or put in dishwasher if ypu have one.

Hoover. Everything looks better once hoovered. Fluff couch cushions.
Pour some bleach down loo.

Put kettle on.

[ZilphasHatpin]

I would decide what room I was bringing them into (usually living room- least messy one!) and get cracking. Flash wipes, straighten cushions/throws, chuck everything lying around upstairs, cordless vac visible areas of floor, spray perfume or whatever was handy to make it smell nice. Quick flash wipe round downstairs loo.

[ScarlettFreestone]

Clean loo, clean hand towel.
Wash any dishes/fill dishwasher.
Remove any clothes/shoes from family room
Tidy any papers into a neat pile.
Plump sofa cushions.
Quick wipe of kitchen counters.

If you have two people or have more time a quick hoover is also good.

If you do nothing else so the loo. I don't judge mess, I do judge dirt toilets.

[gettinfedduppathis]

Hide all random crap (or at least straighten it in the neatest pile I can manage), plump cushions, clean loo, wipe down kitchen worktops and put the cat's litter tray outside.

If the central heating's on I spray a little furniture polish on it - makes the room smell like you've dusted lately

Collapse in a heap with a coffee.

[gettinfedduppathis]

... spray furniture polish on the radiators...

[GreyStars]

I am a neat freak but have been known on occasion to let my hallo slip usually when I get these calls

I would be more worried about the fact I'd likely be in my holey leggings, I should get a new pair but I love them :) so I'd shove on jeans and carry on eating my biscuits :)

[TeacupsAndDaffodils]

Light scented candle & open window for 10 minutes to air the room.
Clear somewhere to sit down & fix cushions.
Gather dirty ware and put in dishwasher/sink.
Bleach down toilet, toilet roll on holder, clean hand towel on sink, wipe sink.
Gather dirty laundry & hide basket in another room until visitors have gone again.
Clean down surfaces/worktops.
Quick hoover or brush the floor.

[DropZoneOne]

Pick up all the crap from living room and chuck into bedroom, closing door firmly. Quick clean of bathroom - focus on loo and sink (pull shower curtain across so no need to do bath ).

[FairytalesAreBullshit]

I would make sure the toilet was clean and spruce up the living room/kitchen quickly. Although we never really have mess as DH is OCD about it.

So I could send DH around, he loves a challenge. But you'd have to maintain it after I guess, so not sure if that would work.

Even DC have to make sure nothing is left out, so it takes training.

[Nellooo]

Clean up the ever present little boy whizz from around the loo.

Tidy the sitting room and plump the cushions.

Put dishes in the sink to soak and wipe down surfaces.

Shut all bedroom doors.

[RaeSkywalker]

Clean the downstairs loo (wipe round with anti-bac wipes, bleach down loo). Put post that DH has inevitably left laying about into his study. Wipe over sofa, (which is leather, and gathers dust).

[Melaniaspilatesinstructor]

Chuck all crap in bedroom, wipe surfaces, burn essential oils

[Supermagicsmile]

Dp will clean the kitchen and load the dishwasher, I tidy the lounge and dd1 will
Hoover it. I then bleach the toilet and put the kettle on.

[MidniteScribbler]

I'd probably polish off a bottle of wine, then open another ready for friend to come.

Anyone who comes to the house is here to see me, not comment on the state of my housekeeping.

[ChocolateSherberts2017]

Open all windows
Spray kitchen / bathroom surfaces & loo
Take all stuff up to bedrooms
Quick wipe down of kitchen & bathroom
Quick vacuum if needed

[Justanothernameonthepage]

Open windows, quick wipe around in bathroom, dishes in dishwasher (or oven if dishwasher is already on). Quick sweep with binbag in hand for magazines/papers/empty bins. Put any toys/random crap in basket. If time quick polish.

[icelollycraving]

Clean downstairs loo. Change cat litter. Kitchen sides. Quick hoover if time and whoosh some glass cleaner over the tables where they will put their drink.
No one gives me 20 minutes notice. The only person who doesn't do planned visits is my sister. Her home is like a show home,never any clutter or mess. She just knocks and walks in. If I've worked maybe 6 days in a row,it'll be carnage. I love it when my home is clean,tidy and organised.

[DonaldStott]

Loo first, quick wipe round with some dettol wipes or such. Clean hand towel.

Quickly hoover and puff cushions in living room and throw any crap off the table into a drawer or cupboard.

Wipe down surfaces in kitchen and anything off the side, into the dishwasher.