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?

I always feel like I live in an alternate universe when I read these threads - because my home is kept clean and tidy for my benefit, not because guests are invited.

People are talking about vacuuming or cleaning toilets because they have guests rather than because it's something they do anyway

I think in busy households sometimes not...
I admit my own Bathroom and floors need a going over but i prioritised going for a long beach walk and sea swim,ive got guests coming this evening and its spurred me on to do a swedish death clean.

I guess I just find it strange that some people only clean their homes for other people. But I'm very fussy about my environment and wouldn't feel relaxed if the floors were dirty or there were dirty dishes lying in the sink.

Well TBF that's not what OP said - she was going on about deep cleaning.

To me, deep cleaning is a lot more in depth than just making sure a room is clean.

i think people are different in their priorities and standards and thats fine.
I don't think cleaning for guests means people only clean for others necessarily.

I like cleaning but not when I have a deadline to meet. My house is pretty presentable (recently renovated, with all mod cons), I will always do the deep cleaning too (fridge every week before shopping delivered etc..) but I like to do these things as and when I want to, in and around working full time and raising two kids.

Guests do not fit my ‘happy’ way. I prefer to go to theirs or better still just meet-up somewhere neutral and don’t put either party out.

A lot of people are saying that on this thread, though - that having guests means they're forced to vacuum or clean the bathroom or whatever.

I agree with that list too.
OP's list was way longer, which is the point that people were making. Yes, leave the downstairs presentable and toilet clean. You don't need to start deep cleaning or sorting out upstairs where your guests are unlikely to go.

And I wouldn't expect this list to take very long if the cleaner had (presumably) done mopping and bathroom and kitchen cleaning 2 days earlier.

I once babysat for a couple, obvs quite well off, professional people. When I went into the kitchen for a glass of water, I couldn't find a glass that wasn't opaque with dirt.

I went without.

I would clean the whole house

Because you wouldn’t wash yourself a glass?

I'm not sure I'd want to touch anything more than necessary in a home with filthy glasses in the cupboards 😐

If I were having guests over I would do all the things you list however if the cleaner only came Friday I would wipe down surfaces, make sure there is no clutter. I wouldn’t hoover (if cleaner did that), I would wipe over toilet and bathrooms. I wouldn’t mop all through downstairs with an extra 15 pairs of feet walking about because it will probably need doing once they’ve left.

Wouldn’t it be easier for you to have the cleaner deep clean and then you maintain it and keep on top of clutter. Seems pointless paying a cleaner to whizz round tidying but not actually cleaning

If my visitors had been before and didn't require a tour of my house, I would only clean downstairs (not that upstairs is dirty!). We have a downstairs loo so that would definitely be cleaned plus the kitchen, then all downstairs floors mopped, tidy, cushions plumped and I'd open windows and back door to air the place and ensure any old cooking smells have gone.

I had some in-laws come round on Saturday and I did just this even though they've been here loads of times before but it's a matter of pride I think. Nothing to be ashamed of!

Deep clean kitchen - so the oven, empty all cupboards, the fridge ? No way.

A quick hoover and dust, empty bins, clear kitchen and mopped floor and a super clean loo and hand basin would be pretty standard for me. I wouldn't be pulling out sofas if time was against me. It shouldn't take too long if your cleaner has already been round and done it earlier in the week.

I am not much of a cleaner. I started working fewer hours recently and when I thought I could do a bit more cleaning i immediately thought I may as well be in work if I was going to waste my time like that so have continued in my slatternly ways whizzing the robot vacuum round and moving things when they are tripping hazards. Cooker, fridge, toilet and kitchen surfaces are clean and that is probably it. Bedding clean and that’s it. If anyone cares they never mention it and visitors return. It wouldn’t occur to me to empty any bins unless they were full or gross for some reason.