To think you need to clean for “guests”

[CleanHouseForNow]

We have family visiting tomorrow for lunch. A planned meal with about 15 people. We see them regularly but not often at home.

In the interests of full disclosure we have a cleaner who does 3 hours once a week. I think in addition we need to:
> Deep clean the kitchen
> Mop the floor of the whole downstairs
> Deep clean downstairs toilet
> Remove all clutter from downstairs
> Wipe all downstairs surfaces
> Empty downstairs bins
> Hoover upstairs
> Deep clean upstairs bathroom

This is the minimum. I would actually do more if time permitted.

DH thinks it is WAY too much and would probably just wipe down the kitchen and spray some air freshener in the bathrooms. AIBU?

Why do upstairs if they are just coming for lunch? Make sure kitchen and downstairs bathroom are surface clean and a quick hoover.

Same 🤣

I’ve never done that amount of cleaning in my life and I don’t intent to start. I don’t clean on account of visitors. They’re here to see me, not inspect my flat. If it’s messy and they don’t like it that’s a them problem! Someone’s house would have to be weeks-old dishes and mould growing levels of grubby for me to notice or care.

I don't care about children's toys, general bits of stuff - books, learning stuff, craft etc - lying around.

My only checkpoints are: absolutely clean bathrooms, floors that are swept or vacuumed, and a calm, clear, comfortable space to relax in, whether that's a sitting room or kitchen or wherever.

What's the difference between cleaning the kitchen and "deep" cleaning the kitchen?

Whatever the difference is, I would suggest the downstairs loo should be "deep cleaned" fairly frequently.

Exactly this. Personal preference only but I couldn't be arsed with any of what you set out. I pay a cleaner and so my house is always pretty clean. I would tidy up so there is no washing out and there is space to sit, clean glasses etc. Nothing over an hour.
And when I go to my friends' houses I care way more about what they've been up to and spending time with them than what's on their kitchen floor. I hope they know they don't need to scrub on their knees for my visit!

Well, I wouldn’t bother but you sound like you have different standards to me. Feeling queasy because someone sees a hair in your bathroom is a million miles from my attitude. If you want to clean, clean! If I was your DH I probably wouldn’t be joining in though.

Surely your husband will choose tomorrow morning to either clean a filthy BBQ grill in the clean kitchen sink, or to mow the lawn and walk grass cuttings throughout the downstairs? Or he’ll “just pop to the shop for x, y, z” and be gone about 3 hours? 😭

But seriously - do most of your list, just not to the pulling out sofas level of deep. Bathrooms/toilets are a priority IMO, followed by kitchen surfaces and floors plus a vacuum. Knowing it’s all clean would help me relax and enjoy - I hope you have a lovely time!

15 people in your house is going to create a lot of mess, especially it other kids coming. I’d be more concerned about the aftermath.

Would prioritise like this:

> Deep clean the kitchen
No. You’ll make plenty of mess cooking / hosting

> Mop the floor of the whole downstairs
No.

> Deep clean downstairs toilet
Clean the actual toilet and wipe away all the soap the kids leave on the sink

> Remove all clutter from downstairs
To a degree yes. Makes it easier as 15 people will bring a lot of their own stuff

> Wipe all downstairs surfaces
Yes

> Empty downstairs bins
Definately. And make sure you start with an empty dishwasher

> Hoover upstairs
No

> Deep clean upstairs bathroom

Unless your house is really dirty, it sounds really OTT to me. If it’s clean, surely you’re just cleaning clean things.

Our house is clean so no need to do extra for anyone coming. If we were going to make an extra effort it would be for us not anyone else.

> Deep clean upstairs bathroom
No. Clean toilet

This is me! 😅

We don't have a cleaner but we definitely clean more thoroughly when people are coming over. I set aside most of the day to dedicate to it.

And then I invite more people over to make the most of it 🙃

I’ve got friends coming to stay all summer and am in the middle of deep cleaning my entire house in preparation for the first visit. YANBU.

I'd hoover, do kitchen surfaces and sink, bathroom basin and toilet, empty bins, plump any cushions and shove bits of clutter away.

DH thinks it is WAY too much and would probably just wipe down the kitchen and spray some air freshener in the bathrooms. AIBU?

Well, I'd do the wipe down, and maybe open a window, but certainly not spray air freshener. I'd make sure there was nothing floating in any toilets, but that's it.

I would do all of the above.

I'd feel more comfortable in an environment that didn't feel sterile and perfect. I'd be like Hyacinth Bucket's friend and terrified of spilling out breaking something.

I'm so glad that none of my family or friends are such perfectionists, or as hyper observant and judgy as some posters here.

With respect, that's ridiculous.

Mop the bathroom floor, clean the sink and loo, put out fresh towels and an extra loo roll.

Ditto re downstairs loo.

Clean kitchen surfaces, mop floor.

Vacuum downstairs, without moving furniture.

Clear up clutter as much as possible.

Job done.

So glad it isn’t just me😂.

I hope you asked her what the fuck she thought she was doing.

Yeah this reflects badly on her and not at all on you!

I would do that but I also deep clean for drop off play dates so might not be the best person to ask 🤣

Totally with you. Clean the house spotless when I know people are coming around. Takes ages, ha.

Uninvited guests not allowed, I don't scurryfunge.

Well if my husband demanded we had to deep clean an entire house because guests are coming over he would be doing it himself

And spotless houses makes me wonder what is hiding in a basement or attic