To think most houses aren't 'visitor ready'?

[Pandrawerschangedmylife]

Got friends coming to stay this weekend. MIL just phoned to speak to DH, I explained he'd taken the kids out so that I can get the house sorted (change bedding, put the hoover round, clean the bathroom etc...) She sounded very surprised and made a comment along the lines of the house being pretty untidy if I need a few hours to clean it, as she just cleans hers as she goes (of course she does, there's only two of them living in the house!)

AIBU to think that most houses aren't tidy enough for overnight guests? There always seems to be things to sort and put away. Or am I actually living in squalor without knowing it?

Yanbu. Mine is never visitor-ready until 5 mins before visitors are due to arrive! I think your MIL must have too much time on her hands. (she could spend it wisely working on her tact and diplomacy).

I don't know, my house is as ready as can be. If people come for diner, I get the kids to get their toys out of the living room, but that's about it. I like my house for me, if it's not good enough for visitors why would it be good enough for my family?

Guest bedding are immediately washed after departure and beds remade so they are ready. Bathrooms are never filthy, why should they be? Windows are open daily, rooms are hoovered regularly.

I like my house in a general tidy state, so I clean and tidy for us, not specially for visitors. If you pop in announced (which I absolutely hate), I might be in the middle of ironing, or a kid doing a project taking over the dining table, but that's it.

I genuinely don't understand why you would make more of an effort for visitors than for the permanent residents.

There are only two adults in m6 house and it’s still never visitor ready! Sometimes I need visitors to come to motivate us to really clean and tidy!

I actually invite my MIL over to make us tidy up!

Ours was when we were expats once. Full time maid.
Never before or since!

I genuinely don't understand why you would make more of an effort for visitors than for the permanent residents

^this

It’s nice to live in a tidy clean house! If you don’t want visitors to see your house in it’s cirrent state why is that good enough for you?

God, I can now identify as a scurryfunge. The joy

Our house was visitor-ready only during the time that it was on the market, and hell it was a strain. DH and I both heaved a sigh of relief when we got a buyer and could revert to our normal slovenliness.

We only clean for adult visitors, by the way - I am perfectly happy for the DC's friends to witness our squalor as surely they will only add to it

Erm, WTF is a 'deep clean' of a house?

Sounds like something you'd do if you were trying to hide forensic evidence.

I wouldn't say we're a bit casual about housework but when we start cleaning up our son always want to know who's coming. 😂

I have lower standards than a lot of people so am quite happy living in mess and chaos, but I want visitors to feel comfortable so I tidy up for them.

When I hear of anyone coming here I go into mad cleaning mode. The house probably isn't that bad but for some reason I feel I have to prove something to visitors, even if the visitors are my parents Infact especially if the visitors are my parents

Clean to the stage of sparkling taps you could use as a mirror, rather than normal clean.

I have even been known to go over paint sometimes when visitors say they will be here in a day or two. Thats how bad I am

If we find out we are having a visitor it’s all hands on deck. Panic breaks out on my part. I have to have the house spotless.

My mother-in-law never understood this. She, and my step-mother-in-law, would have people over no matter the state of things. Their homes were always untidy and dusty. My step-mother-in-law was a filthy pig and would shout “come in” every time someone knocked on the door, even if she was sitting there in a tiny transparent nighty or sitting on the toilet.

“Come on in! I’m back here on the pot” and then expect the visitor to go back there to talk to her as she poo’d. I’m not kidding. We still laugh about it 30 years later.

Yeah so, they never understood my need to make my home presentable for some reason, lol.

Depends what you mean really. The only thing I would normally feel I needed to do for most visitors is just check the toilet is respectable! If someone is staying the night we might have to make up beds, but that can be done after they arrive if need be. Our house is generally OK and I don't feel a need to put on a special show for guests.

It’s nice to live in a tidy clean house! If you don’t want visitors to see your house in it’s cirrent state why is that good enough for you?

I will give you an example of why tidying is needed. I find it nice and convenient to have my mooncup, pantyliners and haemaroid (sp?) medication all out on the bathroom counter in easy reach, and DH also keeps his spot medication there. These are all things which I wouldn't care to see in another person's home, hence the flurry of activity if anyone comes round!

The fact that you MIL would say something so obviously judgemental to you makes her sound a bit of a bitch really. Why the need to say something like that except to make you feel bad.

And no, my house would not be overnight visitor ready all the time either.

It sounds like your MIL is just being nasty. Does she often make comments like this?
I don't think many people would feel ready to gave guests to stay without having a good tidy around the house. I wouldn't take any notice of her, she has probably said it just to make you feel bad, and it sounds like she has achieved her objective.

"What a ridiculous thing to do: compare an adults only household to one with children it it."

I agree. I'm often surprised at the memory loss that seems to happen to so many people whose children have long moved out. It's as if some people simply lose all memory of what it was like.

My house is cup of tea visitor ready but I'd need a proper deep clean (insides of cupboards, inside radiators etc because I am depressingly worried about being judged) before anyone visiting longer than that (dinner or over night). Also making up visitor bed with fresh sheets as I leave it with a throw etc.
But your MIL sounds ingenuous and plain rude.

My house is clean but untidy and stuffed from the shed to the cellar to the rafters. I simply couldn't do a house swap (for holidays - something I'd love to do as I live in a big tourist destination) or air b and b. Shame as we'd save ourselves a fortune on holiday accommodation!

My dog barks when we clean the house. He always expects people to turn up when we’ve finished 😂

My MIL once tried to come and refuse to visit because I was changing the beds ready for her visit - apparently it should be ready for her at all times.
When we stayed at hers we had to sleep on the floor and sort our own beds I should point out.

DH complains our house isn't like MILs, tidy all the time. If I had no children and never went ANYWHERE, my house would also be super tidy all the time too.

YANBU op. I like things to be cleaner than usual for guests. I feel it's polite to make them feel really comfortable. I'm guessing MIL doesn't have as much going on in her life as you?

When my son was lots younger i said we needed to tidy up, he replied "who is coming round?"

Since my hyper-critical father died and doesn't visit any more, our standards have definitely slumped