Arghhh please help

[CaptainFuckedUp]

10 days until guests arrive and house is a shit hole and I am working - so three hours max per day, how do I get it sorted please?

One room per day, unless you have more than ten rooms.

30 hours? Is there DIY to be done? Or "just" tidying and cleaning?
This morning: go round whole house with a big bag, and pick up all the rubbish.
This afternoon: go round whole house and put everything in the right room.
Tomorrow: go round whole house, and put everything away.
Tues: dust the whole house, then vaccuum
Wed: clean bathroom(s)
Thurs:clean kitchen
Fri: do anything that looks worse than the rest
Sat:menu plan
Sun:food shop

Thank you - no DIY but does include garden.

Ok thirty hours seems more doable.

I am totally having a meltdown here

Need to find storage for things as well

Probably start on the area you find most in need, OP.
i'm trying to have a cleaning & tidying day myself.

no DIY but does include garden

It doesn’t have to. Yes it’s nice to have a lovely looking garden but “the garden isn’t at its best, we’ve had dreadful weather” is fine. Take the garden off your list and only think about it again if you get the house sorted the way you want.

Garden definitely does need doing - it's a long story as to why but I will never hear the end of it if it's not at least presentable....

Thank you for all the tips. I have got rid of the rubbish

Tell them you thought they could help with the garden...

@CaptainFuckedUp

Garden definitely does need doing - it's a long story as to why but I will never hear the end of it if it's not at least presentable....

Thank you for all the tips. I have got rid of the rubbish

If it's doable, I'd hire someone to get the garden done for you. I hate gardening in this kind of weather, and it's one thing off your list at least!

Stand and look at the back garden from the house, and the front garden from the road; and just do what's obvious. No one is going to inspect the garden at this time of year.
You can improve the look of most gardens by doing 3 things;
cut the grass.
bag up any rubbish and flowering weeds.
tidy up or cover toys and furniture.
If you have time then also edge the lawn, at least the bits that show from the house. You could pay someone to do all of those if you can afford it.

Who are these guests that are getting you so anxious?

There’s only ever five things that need tidying:

1. Rubbish
2. Laundry
3. Dishes
4. Things that have a place
5. Things that need a place

Then you just clean each room by starting in the corner and work your way round. Finish with a hoover.

Tidying means finding areas that need cleaning (dust & grime). Cleaning adds more time.

If you can afford it, get a gardener to sort the garden, lots are quieter now winter is coming so you may have a chance of getting one at short notice.

We've found 10 min timed tidying bursts with all 4 of us tidying work well to get you started and break the daunting feeling. Plus you can get a surprising amount done.