When you invite someone round to your house for coffee, to what extent do you tidy up/clean before they arrive?

[GryffindorGHOSTY]

For me it depends on who is coming round to what extent I tidy up or clean ...
For a good mate, who knows me very well I don't do anything bar check that the toilets are flushed and DS hasn't left pee dribbles on the seat.
For a friend I am getting to know and wish to get to know better I will have a quick tidy up, may run a hoover around if the carpet looks like a bird table, check the bathrooms look respectable.
For a new friend that I have invited round for the first time I will have a proper tidy up, vacuum all over and clean the bathroom properly.

I will always, always, always check the toilet, though no matter who they are.

What about you? Are you a "Take me as I am, no matter who you are" type or do you have 'levels' like me?

[popsycal]

i need massive advance notice as my house is a bloody bombsite

i need to SOrt It Out

[skirmish]

always check toilet (downstairs one, don't think guests will use upstairs loo!), run hoover rounds always (cream carpet, the dirt just chases the hoover anyways!), tidy kitchen - stack dishwasher/wipe counters/ possibly mop floors.

It really depends how much time i have - might clean mirrors etc

[slinkyjo]

im a take me as i am lol my my dp is like you

[slinkyjo]

lol i have a typing stutter this morning

[BillWeasleyBeast]

Ghosty I do exactly what you do there are definately levels

[Budababe]

Toilets and kitchen "done" - quick wipe over with a wipe.

Piles of crap lying around tidied into neater piles!

Some of DS's toys tidied.

Voila!

[GryffindorGHOSTY]

For those who are 'take me as I am' ... do you check the toilets?

[mymama]

Same as you ghosty. I do have some friends who are clean freaks though so I do a thorough clean for them even though we have been friends for years. On the other hand, have some old friends who are absolute pigs. My worst slobbiness is their best cleanliness iyswim so I love them coming over as I don't worry at all.

[GryffindorGHOSTY]

LOL mamama ... they are the easiest mates aren't they?

[GryffindorGHOSTY]

oops mymama

[mymama]

Always check toilets. 6yo and 3yo dss. I can guarantee there will be wee on the seat and floor.

[mymama]

ghosty, I almost feel superior when the slobby ones come over, like I am Martha Stewart. Probably helps that they never cook a meal for us either and always do takeaway. Which leads to the question...do you have the same standards for providing meals? Do you have friends you will always home cook for and then have friends where you will bung something out of the freezer?

[Berrie]

I have to hide all our crap in my our bedroom. I had a friend for lunch yesterday and the place was acceptable...you'd never know now.
I clean the visible bits in the fridge if I'm feeding them, the water stains off the kettle and make sure it's a cold meal so I don't have to open the oven.

[Berrie]

Something always gives me away though...they;ll helfully get some cutlery out the drawer and see all the crumby bits or I'll open a cupoard and all the pans/tupperware will fall out

[FlameDelacour]

I'm like Popsy.

I miss FLYing... I remember last summer when people could drop by unannounced...

[GryffindorGHOSTY]

LOL ... I get DH to do the cooking if we have people round for dinner. He's the ponce of the family when it comes to entertaining - he does poncy crudites and suchlike and home made melba toasts with dips ...
I can do a mean lasagne and garlic bread though which I dish up for people if they are coming with kids ...
Or we do the good old fashioned NZ/Aussie barbie and pot luck (we provide meat and bread - DH does poncey stuff with marinades and I do garlic bread and get guests to bring salads and puds)

[GryffindorGHOSTY]

Berrie ... the toilets though, do you check the toilets??????

[Berrie]

Oh yes definatly it's usually vile and the floor around it! If I ever see anyone coming down the path unexpectedly, I will rush up to the bathroom. I also have to remove pants and knickers off the bathroom floor anyway!

[FlameDelacour]

Not just me with the pants then!

[FillydoraTonks]

I don't really, tbh

I don't have time for such things

my house is messy but a. its clean mess and b. its kids mess (toys etc) and theres no point cleaning that up really, also it pisses off the kids.

Do keep "our" bit of the front room clean (its 2 rooms knocked into one, the kids can do what they want with the back bit, but the front is kept relatively ok)

[edam]

I scramble round tidying up and trying to find somewhere to shove all the mess. Always have clean worktops in the kitchen anyway but I don't bother putting the drying up away - my mother taught me that leaving stuff to dry on the draining board is more hygenic than using a tea towel.

The real pigsties are my bedroom and study so I keep those doors firmly shut. Have been known to wedge things against the study door to prevent children wandering in!

[edam]

If needed, I hoover too. But don't go as far as mopping the kitchen floor.

[babygrand]

I hoover, throw all kinds of clutter into cupboards, check bathrooms and kitchen, even check the beds!!

[lillypie]

I have to keep things tidy because I'm practically living in one room because of all the building work going on at home and if my one little sanctuary was messy it would drive me mad.
However, my housemate never cleans up and we quite often have to go on forages into her bedroom to look for cups and things that she just shoves under her bed until they start growing things on them.
Then if her boyfriend is going to be staying she has has this mad flurry of cleaning activity and is never seen without a cloth in her hand and the hoover running when he arrives.
He believes her to be a domestic goddess
He's in for a big when they move in together

[prettymum]

i leave it till the last minute to chuck all the junk in cupboards, do a quick hoover and make sure kitchen and bathroom aren't too cluttered.