Four standards of home presentation

[Letmeexplainsomething]

I have been thinking as I tidy and clean my house today, that I have four standards which I keep to in my house:
1 (being the lowest) I haven’t put any clothes away and no one can find their uniform, the kitchen is a mess, I feel stressed by the mess and I need to tidy now. If anyone visited I would be embarrassed and they would think I was unwell or not coping.
2) The house is presentable/ comfortable for day to day family life, if a guest pops in unannounced they shouldn’t expect perfection. I still have a basket full of clothes to put a way and if you look closely there are still crumbs underneath the microwave and toaster.
3) The house is presentable for guests unexpected or expected, but please don’t look in that cupboard or you may get buried when all the junk falls out.
4) The house is presentable for selling, everything is spink and span, everything is where it should be. It couldn’t get cleaner or tidier. In fact I may not want to sell it after all.

Today mine is a high 2 or low 3. How about you?

HouseAshamed

ah the things that might be useful- I can never find them either!!!!!

4 always. The DC have flown the nest.

3 or 4. We have 5 kids so they can play anywhere they like but underneath the toys is spotless. The house is always ready for guests, and I tidy up after the kids (they're young) so the toys and bits and bobs are localised. The key for us is storage. When the kids are in bed I reset the house and it's like there aren't any here, their toys live in every room but they're just in cupboards they can access. No crumbs unless it's mealtime, no clutter or laundry because everything gets done properly, nothing left in limbo!

If I had 20 people coming to visit with 10 minute notice, all I'd have to do is tidy the toys and get the kettle on, which is a lovely feeling to have.

I realise this isn't achievable, wanted or normal to most, and I have zero judgement towards other's homes. As long as your home is clean enough that your kids won't get ill, crack on.

Life is too short to spend it wiping down skirting boards.

I would reverse 2 and 3 because stuff rarely falls out of my cupboard it there’s usually a crumb or two about.

1.5

Need to the daily jobs like dishwasher/sweeping (dog hair). I wouldn't mind my mum/neighbour popping by but I would be embarrassed to have to invite an unexpected friend in.

Between 2 and 3…

Mine's a fairly stable 2. The visible parts of the house look lived in, but if you go nosing in my cupboards you'll find more order than chaos. I take no personal responsibility for DH's drawerfuls of obsolete gadgets and orphaned cables. (EDIT: grammar.)