Would you feel embarrassed if a friend turned up right now?

It's going to vary hugely.

I wouldn't mind. If I wasn't in a state to receive guests (dunno...just had a sad phone call, blazing row with teenager, fallen asleep), I'd ignore the door.
Otherwise I'd answer and either be quick if I was doing something or ask them in for a cuppa.

Friends should know each other well enough to know what they're OK with.

But is this assuming everyone is a SAHP? Surely people wouldn’t just show up and ring the doorbell of someone WFH! and if they don’t WFH, they’d usually not be there during the working day, unless you know them well enough to know they work four long days or something and are always in on Thursdays? No one would show up at my house unannounced because they would know it’s unlikely I’d be at home.

Usually:
Five of us live here, four just leave dirty dishes, mugs, plates etc either in or by the sink.
Teens make lunch and don't wipe surfaces.
Teens and kids bring stuff back from school/college/town and just leave it lying about.
Post gets opened and then left on the side.
Nobody does anything about used batteries except me, so they stay on the side until I go mad and take them to the shop.
Teens and kids take hoodies/jumpers off and just leave them wherever they took them off.

It is HARD WORK to get anyone to put away the things they have used.

Not really, not embarrassed about my house. But pissed off to be caught off guard. I'd be inclined just to chat briefly on the doorstep. If they looked like they were angling for an invite in for tea, drinks etc I'd be annoyed.
I would know that if you don't give people notice, they can't expect your home to be spotless, or that you'll be allowed inside!
If I really wanted to see them I'd probably just say, let me grab my coat, we'll go to the pub/caff across the road for a quick one. If there's nowhere like that nearby then I guess it could be awkward!

I wouldn’t be embarrassed but other than very close friends I would not like dropper inners. Not something I would ever do to anyone else either.
A text or a call before visiting is just good manners.

No, because I don't work on a Thursday, and I have spent the entire day cleaning because I have book group here tonight. I would casually pretend it's just always like this.

Normally, absolutely yes. We have too much stuff and I don't like cleaning 🤣

Honest question to you who says your house is a huge mess, not judging. Do you just leave things where you are after having used it instead of putting it back, is it dirty plates etc or what is the mess? Just curious.

No.

Even if it were a friend or family member and I were inviting them in, then they take me as they find me, but in your example, this was someone you don't know well, dropping something off, so she wouldn't even be coming in, surely ?

Why would anyone giving back bits they'd borrowed do any more than hand them over at the door?

Do you expect the postman to send you a text 10 mins in advance if he needs a signature?

Why would you expect her to say anything to her colleagues?

I've had a day of housework today.

Other than mooching round in DP's basket ball shirt I'd be fine if a friend showed up!

Yes it looks like a maniac lives here (she does) and I wouldn't let them in. Hate dropper inners.

😂😂

TLDR but honestly I would be embarrassed because I haven’t really cleaned all the rooms

Our house is not a show home, but it is never ever messy and it is clean. We’re in Scandinavia so that sort of style I guess with no clutter. Everything has a place and things go in the dishwasher as soon as we’ve finished eating. We have a laundry room, as it’s standard here so no washing out.

I don’t care what other peoples houses look like, but we keep it like this because it’s the way we want it. I wouldn’t care if I was your friend, she was probably just happy to chat to you.

House yes, it's usually fine. But I would most likely be in dog walking or gardening clothes...scraped back hair and no make up. Which on some people is a smashing look - but on me more Myra Hindley.

A colleague wouldn't get over the threshold.

And my house is fine and I'm washed and dressed.

At the state of how I look...yes 😄

I wouldn't care so much about the tidiness even though I'm a bit messy but I just hate people turning up unannounced as I'm a massive introvert and I don't like being forced to socialise when I think I've got some alone time.

I like people turning up - hate ones who make appointments

I'd probably just drop a text to let someone know. But I'd also like to think people can just drop in on me without having to worry about doing that. People always used to. Don't worry what anyone thinks, it's not the reality when you go round to someone's house and they know you're coming and cleaned etc! We all live in a shithole sometimes! (Me a lot of the time haha- blame kids)

I’d feel the same. If it was one of my friends then that’s ok, but a work colleague then no I wouldn’t just drop round without it being arranged.

No. The carpets need hoovering but I would just corral a colleague in the front room if they came round and friends can take me as they find me.

No, it’s rude. I wouldn’t even just turn up at our DS’s house without ringing first.

Downstairs of the house is reasonably tidy. Tidy enough to not bother rushing around before answering the door. But, I am in shorts, and a bra sat outside in the sunshine with an hour left before the school run, so I hope nobody knocks as I may just ignore it 🤣

I would never turn up unannounced if it really was something I had to just pop over for I'd still call to check and I would not go in I would just drop what ever it is at the door.