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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wish my house was permanently guest ready?

186 replies

apples83 · 29/02/2020 16:38

DH and I have some friends coming over for drinks tonight. As ever in this situation, I’m frantically cleaning the house to try and get it looking half presentable for when they arrive (DH did upstairs and the front room earlier and has now gone to visit his mum). Cue mad dusting, vacuuming, mopping and a big tidying away session. I’m now slumped on the sofa shattered and am only halfway through!

Every time this happens I vow that I won’t be in this situation ever again and that if someone is coming round, my house will be such that I simply need to tidy away a few bits and bobs give the kitchen surfaces a cursory wipe. As it is I have to give up half of my weekend doing some sort of deep clean like a crazy woman.

Does anyone have a guest ready house at all times and if so, how do you do it? (Cleaner not an option here as budget doesn’t allow sadly).

OP posts:
DontTouchTheMoustache · 29/02/2020 17:38

I was a train wreck but when i moved i vowed to be different...so i hired a cleaner 😬😬😬 (i know i will never change)

JoshArcherStoleMyTractor · 29/02/2020 17:41

This is subjective, I do what you do OP but SIL popped in unexpectedly last night to drop something off. I thought oh shit I've not cleaned and she said how is your house always so tidy! (She didn't see the guest bedroom/giant ironing pile....)

Delbelleber · 29/02/2020 17:42

I wish my house was always guest ready! Not with kids and pets living here though.

paintedfences · 29/02/2020 17:42

Get a robot vacuum - and if you can afford it, a robot mop - seriously, game changers if you buy a good one.

Also think team tomm is great - alas haven't managed to keep it up but to be fair we live in a half renovated shell so I'm giving myself a break, but it is very good. Think you need to join the Facebook group to work it out properly though (or maybe that's just me!)

paintedfences · 29/02/2020 17:42

Get a robot vacuum - and if you can afford it, a robot mop - seriously, game changers if you buy a good one.

Also think team tomm is great - alas haven't managed to keep it up but to be fair we live in a half renovated shell so I'm giving myself a break, but it is very good. Think you need to join the Facebook group to work it out properly though (or maybe that's just me!)

Nighttimefreedom · 29/02/2020 17:45

Look up The Organised Mum on Facebook. Easy daily routines to follow, it worked for me.

paintedfences · 29/02/2020 17:46

I think it also depends on the energy you have... when the young child is not sleeping well and you are all so tired your hair aches, it's not going to happen, it's more survival mode imo.

Kelsoooo · 29/02/2020 17:47

2 DC, 2 Adults the work full time and an au pair (that doesn't clean)

My house is always guest ready.
And I don't spend all my free time cleaning nor does my DH.
Just little bits often, never leave the kitchen dirty after dinner. Put away as we go. Good storage etc

Original poster
apples83 · 29/02/2020 17:49

@1moreRep can I ask what your detail clean involves? I often find that by the time I’ve got the house looking clean and tidy on the surface, I’m too knackered to do anything like cleaning inside cupboards, decluttering and that sort of thing.

I don’t have a robot vac but I have just invested in a Dyson cordless, which has already made me do lots more hoovering as it’s so quick and easy to use.

The downstairs is now completely guest ready bar the dining room, but I can close the door on that and make sure everyone stays in the lounge and kitchen area. Bathroom was cleaned by DH so not quite up to my standards (ha - sorry DH) but I think it’s perfectly passable for guests.

Now I just need to make sure I maintain this level of cleanliness and not let it get out of control again!

OP posts:
Betterversionofme · 29/02/2020 17:51

My house is always guest ready. Not particularly clean and tidy, but guest ready. Either my house is cleaner than my guest's house or it makes them feel better about their house.

Original poster
apples83 · 29/02/2020 17:52

I think as previous posters have said, we need to be strict with ourselves and make sure we clean and clear away as we go. It’s something we used to be better at and it makes a massive difference.

OP posts:
PeterPanGoesWrong · 29/02/2020 17:53

I feel you op. Dh and I live alone, yet there always seems to be something in need of attention,
I wish my home was always immaculate and guest ready but.... I have an actual life.
Don’t sweat the small stuff, at least you and Dh have managed to pull your home back into some sense of acceptance.

A home is a place to live, not something to show off. (I wish)

adaline · 29/02/2020 17:56

Ours is always tidy but we don't have children!

Before going to bed each night, we make sure the downstairs is sorted out. So, all dishes washed up, sofa cushions straightened up, throws folded. All clothes get taken back upstairs etc.

We also keep it tidy "as we go" as well. So when we get in, shoes straight off and put in the shoe cupboard. Coats hung up on the hooks. Bags put away. We also have lots of storage so everything has it's own "place" and nothing gets dumped anywhere.

Dishes are done after every meal and sides are wiped down. Rubbish put in the bin when necessary. Bin kept in a cupboard which makes the kitchen look neater. The kitchen floor is swept twice a day (cats and a dog so it needs doing) and downstairs is also vacuumed daily. Laundry kept on top of - I normally do a load most days so there's never a full basket hanging around either. We also have a tumble dryer which helps massively!

It really doesn't take long, I spend maybe an hour a day on housework but this is spread throughout the day. So maybe 30 minutes in the morning, and then the rest spread out through the day as necessary.

adaline · 29/02/2020 17:57

I wish my home was always immaculate and guest ready but.... I have an actual life.

Are comments like that really necessary? You can keep a tidy home and have an "actual life".

Fallowfield · 29/02/2020 18:00

I do one cleaning thing a day which only takes about 20 minutes...
Monday - bathrooms
Tuesday - hoovering
Wednesday - dust
Thursday - mop floors
Friday - rotates between windows and mirrors, doors and skirting, microwave and fridge, change bed and clean hoover filter.

This way nothing ever gets truly filthy (easier and quicker to clean) and if I miss something one week it’ll get picked up the next, so it’s all quite quick to do.

I also think that people are coming to visit because they like us and want to see us, not to see how tidy or otherwise the house is (I hope)....and I serve lots of wine.

Oblomov20 · 29/02/2020 18:01

Our house is reasonable. If anyone pops round unexpected it's fine. Or ok.

But when I have party, I have to have a mad clean. Doesn't everyone?

Xmaspost · 29/02/2020 18:01

Generally, we're guest ready. Myself and DH always clean up, kids have jobs to do too. Their bedrooms are a mess thought

thaegumathteth · 29/02/2020 18:05

My living room / kitchen / dining room is guest ready 95% of the time. Playroom and upstairs? Not so much!

bobstersmum · 29/02/2020 18:05

I think a massive percentage of people live in the real world as opposed to fake Instagram world. This means that there will be a things out and normal amount of mess, especially if you have kids! I have a mad clean up every now and then and put loads of clutter (toys mostly) in the loft, then sit hoping someone will randomly drop in on us and be impressed at how tidy I am. Haha.

mylittleavalon · 29/02/2020 18:07

Getting a hoover that is slim and cordless could help. Much easier to quickly hoover up a mess with one of those, then a big bulky one that you have to go on a trek upstairs, or squashed in a cupboard, plug in etc etc. Xx

EvilPea · 29/02/2020 18:08

I really wish mine was. I think we just have too much stuff.

No sooner have I cleared a surface as someone’s filled it up.

mylittleavalon · 29/02/2020 18:09

Just seen you have a cordless.... So ignore my message!! Xx

Krong · 29/02/2020 18:11

10 minutes of tidying or cleaning each day. One day hoover downstairs, next day clean bathrooms etc. I've started doing this and it's really manageable (I also used to put it off then have to do 2 hours worth before someone came over).
I also have the spare bed made up clean constantly and then change as soon as someone has left. Ditto with clean folded up towels left in there. Then it's always good to go!

Bringringbring12 · 29/02/2020 18:11

Me

I don’t get wanting your home nice for guests but not for yourselves and your children. I really don’t. Guests are perhaps 1% of the time but 99% effort. Whereas 1% effort for people that live there 99% of the time Confused

adaline · 29/02/2020 18:11

I think a massive percentage of people live in the real world as opposed to fake Instagram world.

I don't really get comments like this. I've never posted a single photo of my home on Instagram yet it's always guest ready. I just like living in a tidy house. I really struggle to relax if things are out of place - and that's not always a good thing!