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Original poster

How long does it take you to be guest ready?

36 replies

12yearsinazkaban · 19/05/2022 13:00

I used to live in a small flat and could be guest ready in 30ins to 1 hour. I preferred 2 hours to mess about with laundry and tidy up shelves, hoover under sofas I case someone dropped something and it rolled under. not joking.

Now I've moved to a house (bathroom upstairs so upstairs needs to be guest ready too) and it takes me ages. I need more than 24 hours notice. can't do it. stresses out to no end.

Also do you leave bedroom doors open or closed? I keep mine open because I am worried if they are closed people will guess its a mess!

It can go from beautiful in every room, to a tip in 3.5 seconds with my children too! The older ones are OK generally but the baby and toddler are serial swipers and nothing on any surface or in any cupboard or drawer lower down is safe!

OP posts:
Greensleeves · 19/05/2022 13:02

Daytime guests - an hour or so
Overnight guests - a day to get the house ready, but I'd like a few more days' notice to get myself ready, ideally (am ND and antisocial)

DinosaursEatMan · 19/05/2022 13:05

A week would be ideal

AmbushedByCake · 19/05/2022 13:05

Depends on the guest. Friend whose children are friends with my children, she could rock up now. My mother - lives far away, its a 2 day cleaning frenzy before a visit. I always have clean hand towels and the kitchen worktops are always wiped down so that's fine for most people.

Testina · 19/05/2022 13:05

Take me as you find me.
One exception: give me 30 seconds to put a bra on!
But house? Come over any time, if you judge my mess, I judge your manners.

I think it’s quite sad that it’s a source of stress for you. Life is too short for that shit!

nearlyspringyay · 19/05/2022 13:08

My house isn't pristine but I wouldn't be horrified if someone turned up now.

I'd need more notice for overnight as the spare bedroom is my office at h to he moment.

I certainly wouldn't be worried about a bit of dust under the sofa.

RoseGoldEagle · 19/05/2022 13:08

1-2 hours for downstairs for guests just popping in/coming for the day.

1-2 weeks if guests are staying over! (I mean that wouldn't be if I actually had 1-2 weeks off, but given I never have any time, or feel I don't, it's a few weeks of grabbing a half hour here and there to tidy bedrooms, change sheets, sort the bathroom etc.). I do keep doors closed to rooms I haven't tidied. Am quite honest about that though and tell them to go into those rooms at their peril! I used to have to have everything SPOTLESS if I was going to have guests round, I'm a bit more accepting now that with three kids five and under that just isn't possible, and I'd rather have friends round than always say no because my house is a bit messy!

HighSea · 19/05/2022 13:09

I keep the house guess ready as mess, clutter and dirt stress me out. Before 10:30am on a weekend would prefer a call just so we can get dressed.

HalloHello · 19/05/2022 13:09

You're way over thinking! Do you mean visitors as in just popping in for coffee or overnight guests?

I have 2 kids, age 4 and 9 months, who wreck the joint but the mess doesn't bother me really, as it's usually just toys. So wouldn't mind guests popping in. I make sure the dishwasher is empty first thing so all dirty dishes are in the machine so none on the sides, my bathrooms are always clean as I do a little bit each day and maintain it at a reasonable level.

Even if I can't get all the laundry put away, (which is often!!!!) I at least have it folded in each person's room so it looks neat. Bedrooms are usually tidy as we aren't in them often to make a mess and I make the beds before we go downstairs in the morning.

I am quite a minimalist though and don't have much 'stuff' apart from toys 🙈

bassackwards · 19/05/2022 13:11

About 2 hrs but more if I'm expected to prepare a meal...

Purpleavocado · 19/05/2022 13:13

Probably 20 minutes, there are some bits and bobs to put away. As long as it's tidy that's fine, it doesn't need to be pristine.

MsVestibule · 19/05/2022 13:15

Depends who it is - my close friends who are as slovenly as I am, zero minutes.
Overnight guests, about a day 😫.
I hate that so much effort goes into it and yet it's back to its usual state within a week.

Topgub · 19/05/2022 13:17

I dont understand the concept of guest ready.

I dont have guests, my family and friends just come.

My house is always fairly clean and tidy but if it wasn't who cares?

My sister lives in a literal shit tip no one cares

Hugasauras · 19/05/2022 13:17

Someone popping in for a coffee? 10 mins or so. Mostly just a quick loo clean and maybe a hoover if dog/DC have been in the garden and brought god knows what in.

Overnight visitors, a little longer, mostly around putting bed sheets on and stuff.

But it wouldn't be a disaster if someone just turned up with no warning.

I feel much more relaxed if the house is in acceptable shape for unexpected visitors or emergencies, but it's taken us quite a long time to be able to get here. It's nice not feeling 'the fear' now though.

Vikinga · 19/05/2022 13:19

Depends on who it is. My parents, I'd need a few weeks! My friends who are very clean and tidy themselves, an hour. An overnight guest? Depends on how busy I've been. But my kids are older.

Don't be harsh on yourself. You have small kids and you're not a showroom.

RealBecca · 19/05/2022 13:20

10 minutes to pop away clutter, put away dishes and Hoover. But anyone can come whenever, it's my home not a show home

BadAtMaths2 · 19/05/2022 13:22

Most of the time wouldn't mind if someone dropped in. It wouldn't be spotless but would be OK. Would prefer a bit of notice to check loos, take cat fur blanket off the sofa wipe the surfaces....

CapMarvel · 19/05/2022 13:25

0 minutes.

The house is generally kept clean and tidy but am I fuck doing a big clean just because someone is coming to visit. It's my home, it is what it is.

mast0650 · 19/05/2022 13:26

I'm always happy for someone to drop in. I'm pretty relaxed about what the house looks like for my friends and family and it is never dreadful. If I was expecting people for eg dinner then I might spend a total of15 minutes picking up, checking downstairs loo/basin/mirror was clear and maybe a quick spot hoover if it was really bad! Overnight guests means sorting out beds and bedding which obviously takes longer but DH does that. Not stressful at all. Large house.

mast0650 · 19/05/2022 13:28

I did once spend a good 5 minutes making my house messier (toys, papers etc) as I knew someone was coming round whose house was really untidy when I went to hers and I had made lots of reassuring noises about my house being the same. Then I suddenly realised just how tidy my house was looking!!

SeaToSki · 19/05/2022 13:36

Well my friends dont go upstairs, so then 20 mins to give the kitchen and downstairs loo a quick wipe.

Anyone who is staying the night, I would like 24 hrs so I could ask my dc to tidy their rooms and make their beds before school (teenagers) and freshen the guest room, take the rubbish to the tip (we dont have bin collections here) and generally tidy…oh and cook dinner/get something nicer in for breakfast. But if I didnt have 24 hrs I could probably do a high speed run at it in 2 hrs.

Iateallthechocolate · 19/05/2022 13:41

About 2 minutes to put a bra on, and 10 seconds to make sure the loo is flushed and has nothing lurking in it

Original poster
12yearsinazkaban · 19/05/2022 13:46

@mast0650 can you be my friend?!!!!

I am talking about people popping round or coming for a few hours. I don't think I've ever had an overnight guest. But all of my family and friends live close so thats why.

I don't care too much for close family (my parents and siblings) but I get stressed when dh family come or anyone outside of the family.
I'm a sahm with small children and they absolutely wreck the place while I'm sat on mumsnet I can't keep up with it.

They surprise me with vile things sometimes. one of them went through a faeces wiped on the wall stage. And if they all get sick I can't get the laundry down to an acceptable level for ages.

I feel so out if whack. We have a picky guest coming up soon and I just can't be bothered with the comments and looks. it makes me embarrassed and ashamed of my home, which is actually just normal really when I think about it.

OP posts:
Lacedwithgrace · 19/05/2022 13:50

Suprise visits are fine, they can expect a bit of mess.
Planned day visit- a couple of hours to clean kitchen and loo, tidy and hoover, get candles lit etc
Overnight visit- a day to do laundry, make beds, fill fridge, clean and tidy

Oblomov22 · 19/05/2022 13:51

Visitor ready, 1/2 hour. Quick tidy up downstairs, no problem.
Guest ready, check upstairs, make bed, quick squirt of bleach down toilet, an hour?

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 19/05/2022 13:56

This thread has made my day. I'm ideally guest ready (e.g. MIL won't make any digs because there'll be nothing for her to dig about) in about 6-8 hours, I prefer to spread that over a couple of days, but I can make it passable for friends in 1-2 hours and I just let the health visitor in whenever she comes. 4 bed detached house with toddler and baby. I wouldn't accept house guests with less than a week's notice though because furniture would need moving.