To think I can clean my house to an acceptable Guest standard in 3 hours? HELP!!

[HopefulAnnie]

Help MN!

I'm currently at work, but will be home at 6pm....I have very very last minute guests coming over from abroad tonight at 10pm.

House is a TIP, seriously like a bomb hit it....In my defense, I'm really really snowed in at work (evidence: me working till 6pm on a Sunday!) Though I have become inexcusably lax and slobby lately - trying to change that though .

Hallway and living room are cluttered with my shoes, clothes, general stuff

Kitchen: Behind the oven is filthy- I haven't looked there in months weeks, fridge needs to be cleaned, last night's dishes are still in the sink, floor needs to be mopped, bin needs changing.

Main Bathroom: filthy

Guest room and guest bathroom: Thank God! the only place that is spotless - managed to do that yesterday.

Front patio: leaves, paper bags, moss growing in places.

AIBU to think I can speed clean like a demon in 3 hours and still have an hour to beautify myself before 10pm???!

masses

I think you may have to forget beautifying yourself. Concentrate on stuff the friends will see tonight or first thing tomorrow. Can you keep them out of the kitchen? They're definitely unlikely to look behind the oven, I hope, and presumably they don't need to look in the fridge. Chuck stuff from the hall and living room into a bin bag and into your room. Get the paper bags out of the front, ignore the rest.

You can tell that I'm a fellow slob, can't you?

You can if you prioritise. The bathroom and hall are essential as they will be seen first. Behind the cooker is not important as no-one will be looking there. Stuff mess in cupboards or even your boot if you need to. Do dirty jobs first then hoover. Get your shower and then do the bathroom. You can then tidy until your guests arrive.

hoover through top to bottom, clean main bathroom thoroughly, make sure their bedroom is clean, do dishes, clean kitchen, mop floor, chuck all clutter into your room and keep that door shut, pick up rubbish from outside, keep windows open to air right through, don't worry about back of the cooker - who looks there. You only need a shower and hair combed, clean clothes so don't waste time on yourself. Sort food out, they'll be hungry.

Anyone at home now?!

Can you call in an agency cleaner? Mine would send three cleaners for a 1hr blitz for £40 - worth it in an emergency!

Anyone at home now?!

tidy and hoover and make sure thd bathroom and kitchen are clean.
behind the oven, well don't bother.

Just clean public areas like the hall and living room, the bathroom your guests will use and a one over of the kitchen. No need to clean behind the oven or in the fridge. They won't be in your bedroom, so you don't need to tidy that either.

Get in, spray bathroom with cleaner - sink, loo, bath/shower and leave that to work while you crack on with other stuff
Bin bag - go round and tip all rubbish in
Clear surfaces etc first so you can then wipe them down
Concentrate on the big stuff, don't get distracted (like I do!) by things people won't see

Yes of course.

Get in the door, get a box. Start at the front door and throw anything that shouldn't be where it is into the box. Stash the box somewhere it won't be seen.

Bathroom. Get disinfectant spray and a roll of tissue. Lift the toilet seat and spray the entire toilet then wipe thoroughly with tissue, throwing into the toilet as you go. Do the same with sink and bath. Flush toilet, then clean toilet. Takes about 5 mins. Use current hand towel to wipe the mirror (with glass cleaner if you have it), all dusty surfaces, shower screen if you have one, and floor. Throw towel in the wash and get a new one.

Forget behind the oven, who on earth is going to look there??

Wipe the fridge with kitchen roll and disinfectant spray.

Change the bin.

Wipe the floor with a damp tea towel.

Leave the dishes, dishes in the sink are normal.

Run the hoover around.

Note: this is a wasteful way to clean, I only do it when pressed for time.

Sorted.

Yep, you can do it.

1. Grab paper bags off patio when you come home - 5 mins.

1. Take your clothes, shoes, etc. from living room and hall and fling into your bedroom; shut door.

1. Vacuum at top speed, including running attachment quickly over really dusty coffee table, etc.

1. Stack dishes in sink and cover with water and copious amounts of suds for pleasing illusion of tidiness.

1. Sweep and mop kitchen, wipe counters, empty trash can. Ignore fridge and behind oven.

1. Clean bathroom.

1. Fix hair and put on decent shirt.

1. Go outside with glass of wine, place on patio table (or ground), sweep patio but with one eye out for guests. If they appear, fling broom into bushes and grab wine; lounge casually on patio chair (or ground). Pretend moss is landscaping.

No one at home, DH has been away for the last month and will not be back in the UK till mid June, so just me, no DC's

Food is thankfully sorted out, after begging asking my mum, she's prepared enough for an army, just need to collect everything from her house on my way home.

ignore the outside, ignore behind the cooker

the rest would take me an hour

MN

I luffs you all very much!!

Have made a plan of action, will be on full speed the second I get home!

KeatsePie pretend moss is landscaping

Of course you can! Our house is a bomb site ATM, the kids having been having a water fight in the garden so the kitchen floor is like a swimming pool with grass everywhere. There is two days worth last night dishes on the counter, toys everywhere etc.

We have someone coming over at 5...I'm currently sitting here m netting and dh is asleep on the sofa. 5 minutes and I'm getting going. Dh and I can do the whole of downstairs in half an hour if we both go like demons!

Agree with all others, shouldn't be too much of a stretch for 3 hours. Definitely stick stuff in bags and place in rooms that they will not be going in! Your bedroom, guests don't go in there!!
Cupboards are your friends.
Do all dusting and then vacuum then mop (I love mopping!). Try mopping yourself out of rooms so you don't have to traipse over your clean floor leaving footprints!
PP said dishes are normal - agree, but to an extent! Last nights plates are one thing, all of yesterday's dishes (breakfast and lunch too) aren't!
Stick some music on, it'll be done in no time. Try and get it done before your playlist ends!!
Let us know how you're getting on at 9.30!!

I'd be really if guests started looking behind my cooker !

Clear the surfaces, clean the surfaces. Bung shoes, clothes etc into huge pile for later

I think behind the cooker might mean the wall/tiles above it if that makes sense. Mine gets splashes of cooking on it.

Good luck OP -you will amaze yourself at what you achieve in 3 pressurised hours.

It would take me 3 weeks months to get my house guest ready. . Good luck!

Oh i would love a cooker lid.

Hope it's going well OP

Yep, I agree, dirty jobs like bathroom first, tidying can be carried on until they arrive.

Bathroom and hoover are your priority.