Is your house always visitor-ready?

[Mandy21]

Question prompted by an impromptu visit from friends at the weekend and the house looked like a bomb had hit it and I was ashamed. I hadn't washed up after lunch, the children had started playing the the playroom then gone to play outside and there was a pile of washing in the hall ready to take upstairs to put away. The lounge was pretty tidy but even so, they saw all the mess in the rest of the house.

We had 3 DC of 6 and under, we have a traditional semi - lounge (which we do try to keep clutter / toy free), the back room / dining room which we have as a play room, and a kitchen.

Just interested to know how everyone else keeps their houses tidy - I must admit that we really need to organise / de-clutter in the play room but end up "saving" all the toys the oldest child had so that the younger ones can play with them and with the youngest not being 2 yet, we effectively have kept everything!

Any helpful tips gratefully received!

Jemma1111 I have the same problem and it is so very annoying!

Jemma - that is so true of me too. My very judgey SIL always appears when I have had a 'mare of a week or just couldn't be arsed. NEver EVER does she appear when it is under control. She must think I live in constant squalor.

If ours is really 'burgled bad' I will say to DH,

"heads up, your mother will be here this afternoon"

We then will furiously tidy it all up and relax knowing she's just found someone else to visit instead

Reading all this with interest as just had an earful from dh as his sister and dcs popped in unannounced (never happened before) and I had just got back from swimming with our dcs and was looking a bit rough and the house was looking quite lived in but nothing that half an house tidying wouldn't sort out.

I think that all she will remember is that they were all made welcome, fed with home made food and bread and that I had helpful suggestions on presents and venues for my FILs Birthday!

Life is too short, a welcome is more important and dh is very unreasonable sometimes!

x

We often have the just burgled look. I do try to keep on top of the downstairs areas but what with working full-time usually by Friday night I give up so anyone visiting on a Saturday morning will find general chaos and last night's dishes in the kitchen.
Upstairs I have a teenager and a nearly teenager - it looks tidy if you shut their bedroom doors and don't allow access to their shared bathroom.
We don't live in squalor everywhere gets clean at least once a week.
I like a lived in feel, my sister prefers the perfect house feel, nothing is ever out of place, the floors are clean enough to eat off and your mug is washed up before you realise that you have finished your coffee.