Imagine you get a call from old friends. They are on a trip and will be driving past your town in 2 hours. “Can we swing by?” they want to know.
Come on….be honest…what is more likely to be your response? “Yeah!” or “YIKES!!!”
Fear not! Today’s guest, my new cyber friend Crystal Paine, to the rescue!
Crystal Paine is a wife, homeschool mom to three, self-proclaimed minimalist, lover of dark chocolate and good coffee, and a wannabe runner.
For practical help and inspiration to get your life and finances in order, check out her blog, MoneySavingMom.com, or purchase a copy of her book, The Money Saving Mom®‘s Budget
Get Your Home Ready for Guests in Two Hours or Less
Does the thought opening your home to guest scare you because your home is messy?
Never fear! I have a simple, step-by-step plan to help you whip your house into shape — in two hours or less.
Now, mind you, this two-hour plan won’t have you dusting baseboards or scrubbing behind your toilets with a toothbrush, but it will get your home presentable enough to make it a welcoming haven for your guests.
Ready to get started? Here’s your plan of action:
Two-Hour House-Cleaning Plan
1. Start a load of laundry (3 minutes).
2. Set the timer for 15 minutes and take a laundry basket and a trash bag and go through each room in your home. Quickly straighten, pick up, and put away everything that’s out of place. Put all trash in the trash bag and put everything that doesn’t go in that room in the laundry basket (15 minutes).
3. Put away all contents in the laundry basket and throw out the trash (5 minutes).
4. Head to the kitchen and load the dishwasher or hand wash the dishes (15 minutes).
5. Switch the laundry from the washer to the dryer and start another load in the washer (2 minutes).
6. Sweep or vacuum your kitchen floor and wipe down your countertops (10 minutes).
7. Take some toilet cleaner and go squirt it in all your toilets (2 minutes).
8. Take some window cleaner and spot clean the main glass windows/doors/mirrors (3 minutes).
9. Take a dust rag and quickly dust in the main rooms of your home (10 minutes).
10. Vacuum all the major traffic areas in your home (20 minutes).
11. Head back to the bathrooms wipe down the toilet, sinks, floor, and bathtub/shower. Change the towels (20 minutes).
12. Switch the laundry from the washer to the dryer and fold the clean laundry (15 minutes).
13. Light a candle or simmer some potpourri on the stove and enjoy your freshly-cleaned home!
Free Downloadable Checklist
Like to cross off lists? Download the free 2-Hour House-Cleaning Checklist to keep you on track and remind you of what you’re supposed to be doing next. Now you have no excuse for getting distracted.
Gift Basket Giveaway
To help inspire you to whip your home into shape, I’ve put together a fun gift basket that I’m giving away today.
This gift basket includes: 4 Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning products and a Mrs. Meyer’s candle plus a $25 Starbucks gift card and some chocolate, to reward yourself for a job well done!
Ok–to be entered to win Crystal’s giveaway, let’s create a scenario. Imagine if right now you got a call from old friends saying they would be over in two hours. What is the first thing you would do to your house considering its present condition?
Hide the dirty laundry? Dust? Take out the over-flowing trash? Clean off the front porch? Vacuum?
What would you do first?
GET READY: Our last idea swap & share tomorrow will be on the concept I mention in the book called “hospitality on the road”. Be thinking of a clever way to reach out and love on someone that doesn’t involve your home but involves you going to them!
Is there a theme basket you could take a sports-lover, a bbq fanatic or ballerina?
Any way to bless a stranger?
What could you do for a new family in your church or neighborhood?
A coach, teacher or bus driver?
I can’t wait to see your ideas! See you then.
REMEMBER: We are also interacting over at Karen Ehman’s Book Studies on Facebook. Click here to “like” the page & join us.
The first thing I would do is sweep and straighten my front porch and clean the glass on my front door. I’ve always had this thing in my head about first impressions.
My name is Sue, also, and this is the first thing I do! I have a porch swing that neighborhood cats like to lay on so I have to get all the unattractive cat hair off!
My name isn’t Sue, but that was exactly what I would do as well! It made me smile to scroll down to post and find the same thing I would do already posted. In fact, I’m headed outside to do it now while the weather is pretty.
I’d clear off my kitchen table; it’s loaded with catalogs, books, laptop, etc. where I was studying homeschool curriculum for next year until late in the evening. Oh, and plant the plants on the kitchen counter in the barrel pot I bought two days ago. Sigh.
Clean the downstairs bathroom.
Pick up and sweep the three main rooms – dining room, kitchen, and living room. Then, I’d light a candle.
Pick up the clutter and dust! ( i would also be praying to stay calm)
I would be picking up things from the floors first due to some energetic boys. =)
I would clean the bathroom.
The first thing I would do is make my bed! Then I’d vacuum and sweep and mop.
I would vacuum the carpet, spray some room deodorizer and put clean towels in the bathroom
Put away all of the coats and shoes that are just inside the door.
That is pretty much my scenario today, except that I knew that my friend was coming by but haven’t been home one night this week to clean up yet. As I look around me, I see that I have to start with putting away the folded laundry on the love seat in our living room/den… I usually do 15 minutes per room ((got this idea from Fly Lady)setting the oven timer) and work my way around each of the downstairs areas (living room/den, kitchen, and bathroom).
Hooray for FlyLady! She makes being company ready a little easier to achieve. Also gives us routines that allow us more peace in our day and also to be ready for those spontaneous hospitality moments!
Flylady is great, but I have not gotten my house to the point I need to be!
flylady.net is a great site to visit and learn from. Recipes are good there too. I would also spend about 5 minutes per room dusting, using Windex, and picking up, then a quick vacuum of the kitchen & living room. Steam mop kitchen and entry way & bathrooms (they are all vinyl floors)…. then clean toilet bowls & put out fresh towels & rugs. Light candle in kitchen, put on nice background music, start coffee, iced tea & take cookies out of the freezer. Hello old friends!!
My first thing would be clean off the island in the middle of our kitchen . . . my husband uses it as his “catch-all” and you see it first thing when you walk in our house. Then I would vacuum and open all window treatments on the back of our house. When you walk in the front you don’t realize the view we have and this brings the outdoors inside.
Hmmm … finish cleaning up my breakfast-making mess and then tackle the floors.
sweep my carpets!!
My mom in law used to do that and if your vac stops working it works great. It uses no electricity and is good exercise.
Once when I had to get the house clean for a last minute real estate showing, I put my daughter in the high chair, and instructed her to keep calling out, “Faster Momma” as I tore through the house making it presentable.
Hilarious! Clever, too:)
That is really funny – when we had to sell our house a couple years ago, the first thing I had to do to clean was contain my daughter who was almost 2 – I usually put her in her crib, otherwise she’d follow me making a bigger mess!
After taking a really deep breath (because the thought of guests arriving in 2 hours is overwhelming…even hypothetical guests), I’d gather up everything from the downstairs that doesn’t belong (laundry basket and trash bag approach).
My first thought is to go into panic mode, running around the house picking up as I go and sprucing up the main level bath trying to make the house look the best it can as a reflection of me. (making it all about me, me, me!) However, after being a part of this study for the past 3 weeks I would like to think I would pause, say a prayer asking God to help me to think about my guests and make it all about them. To proceed more calmly then in picking up, cleaning up praying for my guests as I go and I would try to bake something my guest would enjoy. I try to keep different quick breads in the freezer and cookie dough balls in the freezer ready for guests and/or my family at any time.
If i got that call the first thing i would do is panic… okay deep breathes!!! Then Iwould grab my baskets. I would ask my kids to each take a room and put all the toys not tools into the baskets while i load the washer (both dish and laundry) I would squirt my toilette goo into the pottys and take a clrox wipe to the kids potty. Potty training boys makes.for.all sorts.of surprises. I would.help the.kids with baskets and then rjn he.vaccum. we would wash our.hands.and head to the kitchen throw together a batch of chocolate chip.coomies and get them.in the.oven. if all goes.well.company should.arrive to warm cookies and a welcoming home.
I would grab a laundry basket and pick up every stray item downstairs. That’s a lot with a toddler and infant!
The first thing I would do is clean the main bathroom and I’m thinking that while I’m cleaning it would hit me that I have no baking to serve to our guests. So I would have to convince myself to finish the bathroom before running to whip something up in the kitchen!
We have a fluffy white dog so my first thing is always to vacuum.
Second is the bathroom.
Vacuum
Close all the bedroom doors (and the playroom door if no kids are coming)! Then tackle only the parts company will see…powder room, living room, dining room, kitchen. In a total emergency, throw all the clutter into a closed-door bedroom and deal with it later.
Exactly what I would do and have done!!! Who hasn’t done that?
Ditto, Pam! I might even through dirty dishes in the oven and hope I don’t forget them. I also learned from my real estate agent to out everything that is out of place in laundry baskets and put them in my car!
That’s what I do ! I live in a small ranch so I clean the kitchen, living room and bathroom and shut the bedroom doors! Just the parts that can be seen right off. Makes it look like the house is uncluttered…
I would run the dust mop !
Okay, I’ll be honest I’d probably start hollering at my family first that if they weren’t such slobs, I wouldn’t have to be in panic mode now!!! Lol then tackle the main areas, get rid of clutter, sweep/vacuum, quick mop, and light a few candles. Then promise I won’t let this happen again…..until the next time.
You crack me up!!!!!
Joyce,
I appreciate your candor! I’ve sung the same tune a few times myself!
Amen sister! You hit that one right on the head!
I would clean my kitchen counter off and turn on the scentsey!
I would be sure the bathrooms are cleaned and the beds are made
Toys. It would be to pick up toys. And I like Pam’s idea of closing all the bedroom doors. Haha! I would throw the toys into those bedrooms and then close the doors!
I would make sure my house smelled good make a special treat to eat I love company!
My problem is mostly the toys that go EVERYWHERE throughout the day. I love Crystal’s idea of a laundry basket and putting all unwanted objects in there! That is brilliant. I’d do a toy-sweep with a laundry basket first.
Since it’s just my husband and I my house stays pretty straightened (don’t look in my closets!). If company were coming soon, I’d run a dust rag over everything and light my scented oil!
Our house stays pretty presentable since we are empty nesters during the college school year. However, I would run for the vacuum cleaner to sweep up all the hair I lose while drying my hair in the guest bathroom!!! How can I lose so much and still have a ton on my head?:) I do vacuum it every few days, but these guests might stop by on one of the in-between days…yikes!
First: Straighten the living room, pick up the girls toys, books, and the laundry basket of clean clothes, put the pillows back on the sofas, dust with my dust mitt and light the candles. I actually like drop in company! They did not come to see my house they came to see Me!
You’re so right and our homes are lived in! On days it’s been messy and I have been caught I just say I’ve got that lived in look going today… I love your comment that they have come to visit you. That’s truly where it’s at…Thanks for sharing.
Make sure the main floor rooms are straightened/presentable and vacuum or sweep really quick — then light a candle …… Love Meyers products!
If my three boys were home when the call came, I’d put them to work!
They do a 10 minute tidy in five! When their clutter is gone, most of the clutter is gone! 
I would make sure my kitchen was clean, dishes washed, catch-it all eating bar cleared of clutter. Then I would vacuum my great room & dust. Finally, light a candle. Thn I’dmake sure the main hallway bathroom was presentable with fresh handtowels and a candle. The res of the house close the doors. I learned to do that years ago when I had 3 little children.
You are wise to focus on those main areas! I do that, too.
Declutter the downstairs!
The first thing I would do is clean my bathroom.
I would tidy up and vacuum. If I had time I would dust too. Then I would close a few doors. Someone once said to me…”we live in our house too.” I often think about that…this is life with children.
For some reason I always clean the toilet and bathroom sink first even though the kitchen and living room are the first rooms in the house. I don’t like to present a dirty bathroom!
I would have to take a box and go around the whole main level and put everything that is laying around (mail, crafts, toys, LISTS!, etc) in the box to hide it until my company was gone!
Bake! Nothing will distract unexpected visitors more than the smell of homemade cake fresh from the oven, or even cupcakes from a box! Plus, they’ll be too busy tasting to pay much attention to dust;-) I follow Crystal’s daily checklists, and it’s really helped me stay on top of my cleaning so I’d actually be able to do this!
First thing I would do is clean the table in the foyer and wipe doggy nose prints off of the small window beside the front door. (Our sweet dog loves company-especially children-and sits in the chair and looks out the window and waits.)
Our main “family” room is the catch-all room. It’s where we sit all evening to watch a movie, use our laptops, play board games, etc. The kids use the floor for puzzles, match box cars, etc. So that room is always priority #1. A close second would be cleaning off all the Half Walls we have between most of our rooms that tend to be places to put stuff until we get around to putting it where it actually goes.
Two hours would be plenty of time to get our house presentable, it’s the 15-minute notice I don’t care for!!! :/ The first thing I’d do is clean up any dishes in the kitchen sink and straighten up the kitchen.
Clean the kitchen.
If I got a call like that, the first thing I would do is clear every toy off the floor and vacuum so I could then mop. Next I would tackle the dishes and lastly the laundry. I might not bother to wash it all, just hide it away for a bit
This looks like a lovely gift basket.
The first thing I would do would be to make sure my kitchen counters and table were cleaned off enough to have a comfortable, welcoming space to sit and visit. After that, I’d focus on the downstairs bathroom and vacuuming. And I’d pop something in the oven to make the house smell good and inviting.
I would tidy up, vacuum, dust, and clean the bathrooms.
Pick up the 22-month old’s toys. They take over the living room!
Thanks for the great post. I always panic a little when company’s coming. I’ll keep this bookmarked for future reference.
The first thing I’d do is close my kids doors! Ha ha ha, their rooms are awful. Next I’d do a quick declutter of the foyer, living room and dining area since those are the first rooms to be seen when people walk through my door. Those rooms aren’t very big and I’m sure 15 or 20 minutes would make a HUGE difference.
) Next stop, a quick kitchen tidy, then bathroom tidy. Thanks for these tips, I’m off to see what I can accomplish right now.
Declutter the living room and vacuum and then tackle the bathroom.
I agree, Julie! My living room seems to be a catchall of laundry, dog toys, coupons, and unread mail. I’m great about having clean bathrooms and a made bed everyday. I do, however, panic about my cluttered living room. I’d hit the vacuum and wipe down the kitchen areas.
I would hit the living room really quickly and the kitchen quickly, then the guest bathroom just in case! Love the checklist!
if someone were coming over in two hours, I would pick up my living room/dining room, dusting everywhere and sweeping/vacuuming all the floors. I would spray my favorite Febreeze scent afterwards. Since I have dinner guests coming tonight, I ought to start on that
Hide all of the paper clutter in my dining room and pick up the mudroom.
Because I don’t have children this doesn’t cause me so much panic-maybe in a few years I’ll feel different. I’d do a quick clean of the kitchen and bathroom (20 minutes) and pick up and put away any stray items (10 minutes). Then I’d start baking people won’ notice my dirty kitchen floor if their looking at a delicious treat instead!
All great comments and ideas! I especially like the ones reminding us to pray first. My first thing is to clear the clutter then make sure the powder room is fresh, even if I just did it last night. I regularly use the 15 minute per room idea but since I can’t hear my stove timer in other parts of the house, I set multiple timers on my cell phone (washer, dryer, oven, etc). Thank you so much for this study! I’m now trying to be sure our home is at least NEARLY company-ready before heading to bed each night. Blessings to you and all of your readers! ~cba
Clean the bathroom and sweep main floor!
Vacuum! The dog leaves so much hair!
Turn on the candle warmer so the house will smell inviting.
i’d start picking up baby toys!
First, the dishes! Then the toys!
First thing I would do…..Be so happy to see old friends…..then start by cleaning the guest room/kids room…..and get the other kids room ready for sleepover mode! Then on to the rest of the house and start planning what I will feed the guests. I am a feeder…..Food is my Friend! LOL
Gotta be honest~the first thing I would do is load dishwashers and clean off counters in the kitchen! It’s where everyone comes into my home (well, almost everyone!), and with 14 people living here, it’s always a mess!
I would clean the bathroom, the rest is just clutter, school books from the kids, etc, so that would just have to be moved. I would run the vacuum too, even though I just did it because that is just me, then I would make some dessert bars and start a pot of coffee…………fellowship over perfection…………
The first thing I would do is clean my kitchen floor.
I would definitely hide some things in the closet. It’s inevitable!
Sweep, dust, pick up the toys, do the dishes, clean the toilet/sink and make sure the shower curtain was closed. OR even better? Meet them at a local pub.
Probably a hasty walk-through to make sure there are no disgusting toddler byproducts sitting out – my daughter has a habit of taking off her panties and leaving them in the middle of the floor, for example, or finishing most of an apple and then leaving the core sitting somewhere I won’t notice for a few days. Once I’m sure there’s nothing truly gross and/or embarrassing, then I start shoveling all the clutter.
I would definitely make sure there weren’t any dirty dishes in the sink and wipe down the kitchen counters. While I was doing that, I would make the kids straighten up our living room which is the first room you see when you walk in the front door and usually littered with toys, art supplies, etc.
I would clean off my kitchen counter, the rooms you first see in my house are always clean because they aren’t used by the kids. However, if you walk down the hall the next thing you see is the family room and the kitchen and the kitchen counter collects everything thus making the entire area look like it is a disaster.
I would sweep the main living areas, tidy up the main bath, and thaw some cookie dough from the freezer.
Panic, then clean Main level and bathroom!! Turn on the Scentsy and if its nice outside open the doors and windows! Plus say a little prayer!!
This is rare but my home is actually almost presentable. We are going out of town this weekend for Easter so we have worked hard to have all the laundry done, keep the floors picked up and stay on top of everything. If friends called right now, I would tell them to come on over, but I would tell them that anyway and then I would get busy. If they were headed this way right now, I would clean up from breakfast and pick up the toys that the children are playing with and take out the trash and get some new fresh scents in the home.
I’d have to get trash out and make sure bathrooms are presentable first and foremost, then I’d tackle the kitchen…with 3 boys (7, 5, 1 1/2 and another due in June) if I don’t stay on top of cleaning, I never get it done!
I would vacuum up the popcorn that is currently on the floor but was over looked while I was removing the popcorn kernel from my 3 year old’s nose.
I would clean up my kitchen fast!!
I would do the huge pile of dishes stacked in my sink!
Well I was up till 3:30 this morning cleaning so I’m in good shape (for once). But under normal circumstances I would sweet the floors, dust, hide any dirty dishes and make sure the bathroom is clean.
Honestly, my house is normally pretty clean and it’s especially clean at this moment since we are leaving town this weekend. I guess it would have to be dust,…I dust regularly but not always the entire house….I would windex the glass entry table and actually dust the bookshelves and such that normally get overlooked
I always clean the kitchen first, then floors (due to our black lab and four kiddos). And always a load of laundry. Thank you.
I would def clean my downstairs bathroom…my 3 1/2 year old doesnt have good aim!! Haha second thing-steam mop kitchen floor bc every person and 4 footed friend seem to leave their extra dirt on that floor.
I would pick up all the toys and wipe down my countertops.
I would be pickin up all the toys, goldfish crackers, and sippy cups that are currently on my kitchen floor (even if friends don’t show up today, I will be doing this)
The first thing I would do is get the paper clutter off of my flat surfaces. (I’m horrible about paper messes)
Definitely vacuum. There’s dog hair all over the living room at any given moment.
I would pick up the cookbooks I’ve been using for menu planning and clean off the kitchen counters. In fact, I’ll do that right now.
I would enlist my children’s help! Pick up clutter and wipe off counter tops, toss anything else on top of my bed and shut the door to my room.
I would clean off the kitchen first. That thing is always a mess!!
I would clean up my kitchen since that is the first room people enter at my house.
I always wipe all flat surfaces down first, then sweep and mop. Dishes, and then laundry. But by wiping down first, anything on the tables, counters etc go to the floor and then I can sweep and mop without having to back track
Oh, the first thing I’d do is clean off my kitchen counters and close the bedroom doors! After that it’s on to racing to put away the laundry and wipe down the bathroom. Then I light a candle and pour the wine!
I would do the dishes first, then the kids toys, Then I would close all the bedroom doors!
I’d clean up my front porch and vacuum! And hopefully get someone to help pick up toys!
I would pick up my daughters toys that are in the living room Then probably bake something!
Given it’s current condition, I’d go clean off the side porch, which is our maine entrance. I’m spring cleaning and set some stuff out there to get it out of the way while I sort and clean. Fold the laundry and put it away. Light a candle. Check to make sure I have drinks on hand to serve. Pick up the kids toys to a point. I dont’ worry about this too much b/c I have two small ones and the stuff would be back out in minutes.
It’s a toss-up between taking care of dishes in the kitchen, and getting the kids to clean up the tornado of cars, trucks, and whatnot in the living room.
The first thing would be clean the kitchen… dirty dishes hidden in the dishwasher. Then vacuum.
I would sweep the entry and pick up all the toys, then clear and wipe my kitchen counters & table. And light a candle!
Vacuum the couch. Our dark brown sectional seems to attract hair and fuzz galore! I’d give that baby a good cleaning and then dust off all the dark wood we have in our house. Dust free rooms give the appearance of a really good clean! I also like to move my childrens toys back up to their rooms so it doesn’t look so very cluttery!
If someone was coming over very soon, I would do a quick clutter pick up of the downstairs and then wash the dishes. If I had more time, I’d run the vacuum through. After that I’m not going to stress, because people have to realize that I’m a mom with 4 kids age 5 and under, and my house is never going to be spotless!! : )
I would dust and vaccum then clean off the dining room table. There’s only 2 of us so it is our catch all for everything.
Firstly, thank you for this list! This happens to me more than I’d care to admit, and I will be printing and putting up inside my linen closet door! Secondly, I’d think the first thing I would do is vacuum my horredous forest green carpet! Nothing hides on it and it makes a spotless house look trashy when not 100% clean!
Either scream or burst into tears. Then I’d realize we just moved in 4 months ago and there is no way any reasonable person could expect our house to be perfect. Once done with that, I’d switch to “show mode” and get the kids to help me. We’d pick up, dust, vac, clean the bathrooms and kitchen. Might have time to make a batch of lemonade and change clothes before someone calls out “They’re here!”
I’d clean of the kitchen counter tops, clean the bathrooms, and straighten and vacuum the living room. Everything is kept “mostly clean” “most” of the time!!
The first thing I normally do is throw everything that is out in the closets and shut the doors (not the best idea)…I think I will need to change that up a little now
I normally do laundry throughout the week so I really wouldn’t need to worry about that…..I would probably now have to start with picking up the kids toys out side and making that look nice. I would than have to put the shoes on the porch away and vacuum that. I normally do dishes as I go, so I wouldn’t have many of those to do. I would have the kids put the toys away while I was straightening up the rooms, making the beds, and throwing any dirty laundry down the laundry schute. I would make sure that the bathroom looked nice (at least wipe down the sink and toilet) I would probably sweep, mop, and vacuum last….I rarely worry about dusting when people come over….but my normal method of putting it all in the closet probably should stop 
Great ideas! I would try to do something in every major room – kitchen, bathroom, livingroom! Then if I had time left, I’d get more into details. I in panic mod because I have had my tot grandkids here all week, have a disabled husband, and I’m having Easter!!! Don’t know how I’ll ever get this house all together, and food made! Yikes!
The first thing I would do is declutter the kitchen table and end tables and throw the baby’s toys back in the toy box.
Nothing bothers me more than not have a cleaning kitchen. I would do all my dishes and clean off my kitchen counters. Thanks for the oppertunity at this great giveaway, ive never used meyers products before but would love to try them!
The first thing I would most likely do is ensure everything is picked up off the floor and put away. Primarily I would ensure my son’s door was closed (a 5 year old knows how to mess up a room) Also, I would spray some Febreze (St. Bernard’s aren’t used for air fresheners).
I’m hosting Easter dinner this Sunday, so I’ve been picking up the house all week. If I got a call, I would dust & sweep the living room, quickly wipe down the bathroom sink, counter & toilet. Next would be the kitchen, put dishes in the dishwasher, wipe down the counters and sink and sweep the floor. We never totally make our bed, so I would need to put the shams on, straighten the bed and sweep in there too. Last thing would be to light a few candles or add new plug-ins.
First thing is toilet cleaning and bathroom wipe down.
I would first get in the kitchen and make sure the dishes were put away and the floor was swept. Then I would clean the guest bathroom if it needed it. I have four amazing helpers (ie: children!!) so I would put them to work in their rooms, straightening, vacuuming, dusting, etc…
Then, I would put some pumpkin cupcakes in the oven to share and a pot of coffee to drink! I love having people over!!!
our house is a small but very open space home. when you walk in the kitchen and the living room are in eye view so the first thing is clean the living room floor and our always over flowing cabinet tops. our daily “hot spots” tend to be the bar that separates the kitchen and living room and it just makes the whole place feel a mess. i would also make sure to mop the kitchen and sweep the living room. these two rooms are the most used and always the messiest. i would then work on the guest bathroom and slightly straighten up the boys room. our room and bathroom don’t tend to be visited when guest come over so i would leave those for last in case i didn’t get it all done in time.
I would first get all the toys scooped up and back in their corners or bins. Then, depending on the time of day, I would put away the lunch or breakfast dishes that are always still on the table. Then I would sweep under the table because it always looks like a food bomb went off!
When you get the 10 minute call (instead of the two hour call), you can always hide dirty dishes in the oven (just don’t forget them!) and toss anything in the way in the closet. Turn on a Scentsy warmer and in five minutes, you can welcome guests!
I would first clean up the kitchen, then close all doors, and then do a good vacuuming.
I’d do the dishes and wipe down the kitchen. I made 15 quarts of turkey broth last night and by the time I was getting the broth in the fridge to cool, hubby had *announced* that he was going to be and could I please hurry up. So I tossed the broth in the fridge and left all the bowls, spoons and dribbles on the counter in an effort to please my handsome hubby. Now, all that remains is the mess *grins* Speaking of which, I need to add that to my To Do List for the day. Thanks for the reminder : ) Thanks for the great ideas on getting the house ready in just a bit of time. Crystal is a genius!
Blessings, Kristy (AKA the Mama to the Man Crew)
I would rush to scrub my bathrooms! I cannot stand going over to someone’s house and have to use their less than tidy bathroom so I like keeping mine perfect for guests. I only wish they magically stayed perfectly clean all the time…guests or no guest ha!
First I would scream lol. Then I would hide my laundry in my son’s room because my washer and dryer are in the main hall. I would then dust quickly then vacuum all over. Put a clean towel in guest bathroom and make sure bathroom is presentable. I would put dirty dishes in the dishwasher and wipe off countertops. The rest of the mess will just have to stay, lol.
Bathroom and Kitchen!!!!!!!!!!!! Without a doubt
I would clean up the inevitable pile of tote bags and shoes by the front door first!
I always reach for the vacuum. With a black dog, white cat and two kids, it seems like the carpet is always yucky. Plus I think a house always looks 100% better with a vacuumed floor. Then I switch on my wax burner to make the house smell nice.
The first thing I would do is remind myself that the people are coming to see me, not my house! My house is always in a constant mess (I’m a full time student taking 17 credit hours while finishing my junior internship which has me in a classroom two days a week on top of the two days I’m in school!!), and I find that being under that stress does make me clean…and quickly
Usually the first thing I hit is the front room/kitchen, and then the bathroom
Laundry first, then on to vacuuming!
The first thing I would do is clean the shoes out of the entry way
Seeing that we have two cats, and hardwood floors, I would vaccuum the entire house….
Pick up all the clutter and throw it into one room to tackle later, then on to the kitchen…it always looks likes a food bomb exploded in there!
I would run the vacuum first, and then make sure the bathrooms were sparkling! Odds are they won’t see your bedroom, but everyone needs the bathroom!
It really depends on who the company was. Does that sound snobbish? If it was anyone I considered a good friend I probably wouldn’t fuss too much, because I know she would appreciate seeing that we “live in” our home, just as they do. I once heard that it is intimidating to your friends when your house is always in order, and theirs maybe isn’t when you visit each other. I know I am always relieved to visit a good friend who has dishes in the sink, laundry piled in the basket and dust on her shelves!
Clean the half bath, put away the laundry, and close my bedroom door.
First, I’d pick up the living room and vaccuum it. It’s not too bad right now. Next, I’d empty the dishwasher and reload – they’re not too bad right now either. Then, I’d shut the door to the kids’ rooms – lol. That’s a more than 2 hour job.
The first thing I would do is pick up the living room.
I pretty much had this scenario happen last week with my in-laws. I did a quick declutter of the kitchen and living room, wiped down the counters and dusted the living room, and swept the floors. I was surprised by how much I was able to get done when the pressure was on!
Wow, I can’t tell you how many times this has happened, and always at the least opportune moments!! I’ve vacumed and dusted the living room, vacumed and sweeped all the rugs, made a quick swish of the toliet bowl upstairs and made sure there was an extra roll of toliet paper. cleaned the mirrors if they needed it (bathroom) a quick swipe of the bathroom sink. make a pot of coffee or put on hot water for tea in the kitchen. while i’m waiting for that to finish in the kitchen, I’ll do a quick sweep of the floors, tidy the counters and close the doors to my son’s room. (he’s 15, and not the most tidy teenager) and cross my fingers they don’t want to see the rest of my “well lived in” house! lol
I would have to fold the mountain of laundry that is currently on my sofas in my living room I love Crystal’s 2 hour clean up I been using the 2 hour plan since she posted in during the holidays. I have it printed and hanging in one of my kitchen cabinets.
I would scrub and wash the entry floor.
I would get all the baby gear, baby toys, and overall kid things out of my living spaces. Then tackle the floors in the kitchen and clean the guest bathroom. My 12 year old uses that as her closet at times!
Oh my. The first thing I would do is make a list for our kiddos & delegate! The children would be responsible for a quick vacuuming/sweeping of the floors, cleaning toilets & dishes – if they need picked up. As they would be taking care of their duties, I would first light candles – to allow the aroma to permiate the house for awhile & then I would start running around like a mad woman decluttering (aka: stashing everything in the basement). Such a scenario is exactly why I am in the midst of decluttering & a cleaning plan!
I would pick up the baby toys and break down the baby gates, because most of our friends don’t have kids when they walk in they just look at the baby toys like “we really have to step over this stuff!” They’ll get it one day!
First thing I would do is make sure bathroom was cleaned and kitchen counters cleaned off and light a candle. Then I would clean up toys and vacuum and quick mop.
My biggest problem when company comes unexpectedly, is the piles of paper clutter. If company were coming right now, I’d have to get a box and put all the paper clutter in it and hide it in the master closet (it’s what I usually do!) Then I’d have to do a quick surface clean of counters and more than likely, a quick clean of the bathroom! As a mommy to four kiddos, 6 and under, (three of them boys!) the bathrooms are always a mess! Doh!
Thanks for the opportunity to win the basket!
The first thing I would do is my dishes.
I love Crystal’s 2-hour cleaning schedule. I use it regularly each Monday morning to get our house in shape after the weekend. Even when the house is really messed and I’m feeling totally overwhelmed I can get our house ship shape in those 2 hours following Crystal’s check list.
If a friend was coming over right now I’d need to do a general pick up.
I’d pick up the stuff in the living room, throw it into the bedroom and close that door (lock it if kids come by – you never know…).
Clean my living room because our door opens up right into it.
If I had two hours, I’d start with the dishes – empty the dishwasher that I ran last night, refill it with the breakfast dishes, and wipe down the kitchen table, counters, etc. Then, I’d clean the guest bathroom, clean up any toys/books/clutter in the main rooms, and dust and vacuum once the stuff is put away.. If time allows, I’d sweep the front steps and do a quick wipe of the windows. Then I’d light a candle and make a pot of coffee (or a pitcher of tea or lemonade if it’s a hot day). If my kids happen to be home, I would give everyone a job to do to make all of the above go faster!
All that being said, I appreciate the reminder to PRAY for the guests who are coming, that they will feel welcomed and refreshed by their visit.
First thing I always do is clear away the toys! With a toddler, my house always looks like toys r us threw up all over it. Thanks to cubbies and baskets cleaning up is fast. Vaccuum is another thing I do right away since we have two large dogs. Light a candle, and do a quick clean sweep of counters and anything that looks dusty! And pray no one looks into any closets once they arrive!!
Thank you for the chance @ the give away! What a great prize!!
Pretty sure the first thing would be dishes, followed by the kitchen counters, dining room table and then doing the best I could with the living room since we’re replacing our carpet with laminate and we’re only halfway through the room.
I would wipe down and clear off my dining room table and pick up the toys from the living room floor.
The first thing I would do is clear the catch-all pile of papers off the kitchen breakfast bar! All the important papers somehow end up there! Then, I would tidy u the toys and clear them out of the living room.
I would sweep & spot clean my hardwood floors. This doesn’t get done as often as it should!
Honestly? I’d probably cry. My house is such a disaster that 2 hours would not even make it presentable. I’d then probably go into panic mode and focus on cleaning just the rooms they would see when entering the house, shut all the other doors, and instruct the kids to not invite the guests into the messy parts of the house.
I dream of the day when my house will stay clean. With 4 kids age 7 and under and homeschooling, a presentable house is not in my season right now.
I keep laundry baskets handy and my kids know when the call comes for company we load the baskets with things that go upstairs and put them away. The baskets are also nice to toss the kids toys in they bring downstairs & just miscellaneous things at the end of the day to be carried up. It saves a dozen trips up & down the stairs.
Love the themed gift basket ideas, I may have to try this out on some of my neighbors!
Today, the first thing I would do is clean up my 5 year old’s toys from the living room floor. But many days in spring and summer, the first thing I would do (or want to do) is mow the yard, which always seems a little higher than it should be, and weed the flowerbeds, which seem to always have high weeds. Unfortunately, that would take the whole two hours. I guess I’d have to put the kids to work on the inside stuff!
This just happened to me! My parents called Tuesday night and said, “We’re coming tomorrow morning!” The first thing I did was a quick-clean of the kitchen (wipe counters and sweep the floor) while my kids put away the toys in the basement. As long as visitors don’t go upstairs, I can usually have the main floor company-ready in under an hour- but the bedrooms are a different story- that’s where all the “homeless” items live and all the laundry to be put away…. Now that my downstairs is clean from my parents’ visit, I’m planning to tackle dusting and vacuuming the upstairs and cleaning the upstairs bathroom today!
I would clear all my papers textbooks etc off the kitchen table. Then run the
Vacuum.
I honestly would do nothing because as soon as I would hurricanes Sebastian and Gabriella would hit. I would also maybe through in there the maid is on vacation.
Since I live in a culture where everyone removes their shoes when they enter the home I would pray everyone arrives in dark socks, so they couldnt tell how dirty/dusty my floors are. Then I would spot clean the floors in my home (all of which are a hard surface…very little carpet to hide the dust and dirt.)
Get dressed, and clean the bathroom!
Clean up the kitchen and make sure there was a seat and walk-way through the toys in the living room.
I would clean the kitchen first.
The first thing that I would do would be to send my husband and kids off for the next hour and a half so that I could tackle the house only once instead of the same thing over and over. The first thing I would do to the house would be to pick up the toys and get them in the toy boxes and straighten up my youngest son’s bed room since it would take the longest to clean.
I’d have to de-clutter the papers off my kitchen table, clean the downstairs bathroom, vacuum and dust the living room and put away the clean dishes. Oh, and go through Starbucks drive-thru for some snacks for the guests! The end of the week is never a good time for unexpected guests!
I would do the dishes! Oh yeah, and take out the garbage that is OVERFLOWING!
The first thing I would do is clear off my desk and stacks of paper I am working on.
The first thing I’d do is scrub the yucky dishes I didn’t do after dinner last night…
I would clean up some clutter because nothing drives me crazier than random things laying around the house!
Typically I clean off table and counters first. Top to bottom is the way I was taught! Lol
Pray!
I would make all the beds and put away the overflowing amount of hand washed dishes that have dried on the right side of the sink! It spills over onto the counter!
The first thing I would do is vacuum…nothing like fresh vacuum lines on the floor!!
Dusting would definitely be at the top of my list! Well, vacuum first then dust.
I would straighten the kitchen and wash the dishes/load the dishwasher. Then I would light a candle and rest a bit before guests arrived. I try to keep our home reasonably presentable, and I don’t think surprise guests would expect that everything be perfect. I would rather not be exhausted from cleaning when they arrive., so I try to spend the last couple minutes as a little down time to be ready for greeting them and spending time with them.
After the initial shock and panic are gone, I would get dressed including shoes. Shoes make me feel like I am really working on a task. I would focus on the main areas – kitchen, great room, and bathroom. First thing to do would be put up TV trays. We have a small “great room” and when they are up, I feel like the room opens up! Also, pulling back the curtains to let the sun shine in helps to open up the room (unfortunately, the lights shows the areas in need also!) I love to set a timer. It keeps me focused. Two hours is a good amount of time and sometimes the issue is just doing it! I get overwhelmed and frustrated that we take steps forward only to fall back the next week. But when I am dressed and ready, I can keep moving.
Thanks for the prompt today! Thank you also for the printable checklist.
Load the diswasher, close the bedroom doors (haha), hide the toy clutter, and finally vacuum/sweep.
I would vacuum the main level and then clear off kitchen counters and table
For me it’s typically vacuuming and dishes. The biggest thing though is that I need to hide the piles of papers that I haven’t put away yet that are sitting on my desk.
Take out the trash, light a candle, freshen up the living room, kitchen, and bathroom.
First — light a candle! That way it has time to burn and fill my house with a special scent. Then major surfaces — floors, then table tops and counters: Are they cluttered? Do they need to be cleaned? Take care of that. I do major stuff first, just in case they arrive sooner than I think — I’d hate to greet guests with a basket of freshly folded towels, but dirty floors, lol! Then, once major spots are complete I move onto dusting, pillow fluffing, toilets, etc
The first thing I would do is run the sweeper and then hide the dirty dishes in the dishwasher.
I would dust my living room & freshen up the bathroom
I would sweep the floors first!
I would clean the bathrooms first. Then vacuum the main floor.
I would clean the bathroom first. Then the living room and dining room. Then shut all the other doors!
I would panic. I would start in the living room picking up the laundry and putting it away then off to the kitchen to reload the diswaher. The last thing would be to vaccum everything.
I would put all of the toys in a laundry basket and hide in a closet then start tackling the floors.
If I got a call like that, I would 1.) Pick up the living room. It’s where my toddler plays and always looks like a tornado disaster zone. 2.) Do something with the dishes – either wash them or hide them! 3.) Wipe down the bathroom. 4.) Shut the door to my bedroom!
There! I’d be ready in about 1/2 hour!
I employ the laundry basket technique on a regular basis except mine is more like grab-up-everything-out-of-place-throw-it-in-the-basket-and-shove-it-in-the-closet technique.
It works for me. Thanks for hosting such a nice giveaway!
I would start cleaning up the clutter/toys that seem to accumulate in all the rooms of my house! I have to get the biggest mess cleaned up so I can vacuum, dust, etc. underneath!
Hmmm… Probably clean up the breakfast mess! Then vacuum.
Two hours? First I’d start a batch of cookies or snacks. Then I’d tackle the toy mess in the family room.
I would absolutely have to turn in to the tasmanian devil and just whirlwind through the main rooms in the house. Starting with the kitchen…. ( I was on vacation last weekend and thats when I do most of my cleaning).
Thanks for all that you do….Chrystal.
Tammy
Sweep and spot clean the wood and tile floors.
The first thing I would do is call for help. Husband & kids! Send them to their rooms, so they are out of the way for the crazy cleaning woman!
Sweep the floors first, then do the dishes. Make up the guest beds, turn on some fun music and light a candle. Tidy up the bathrooms, and start cooking anything that smells delicious- roast chicken, or baked chocolate something! That should get things rolling!
I would call my kids together to do a Leary family clean up! We do this almost everyday. Divide jobs and set the timer on the oven for 15 mins. It’s amazing what you can accomplish! Start on the top(counter tops and tables)and work your way down to the floors!
The first thing I would do is to clean my guest bath!
Panic! Just kidding. My plan would be similar, but what I have started to do is go through the kitchen/living room and gather all of the kids’ odds and ends that they have just left around. I place all of their things on the kitchen table and tell them they have to be put away and they (the items) can’t come back to these rooms!
I make sure the guest bathroom is cleaning and no tinkle spots anywhere (hey, I have two little boys!)
Vacuuming is a must. Weather permitting, I crack a window to let in fresh air and light a candle.
Learned this one the hard way: Always check your dining room chairs and wipe them down! With four kids, there’s always bound to be a mysterious glob somewhere
Clean the bathroom. (But I LOVE Kelly’s idea above about distracting them with fresh baked goods–might have to steal that!)
I would first turn off the tv & put my kids to work. Then I would clean the kitchen & vacuum.
The first thing I would do is vacuum.
I would have to grab that laundry basket and clean up all the toys. I would quickly vacuum and clean the front door pane. Also double check the downstairs bathroom- boys don’t always flush! lol
I would vacuum up all of the dog hair and light a candle to make the house smell inviting!!
First thing I would do is clean off my kitchen table, as it’s the first thing you see when you walk in the door. :/ It’s also one of the biggest hot spots in the house! I would then throw in a load of laundry, panic, clean the kitchen, panic, clean the main bath, panic, vaccuum, panic, dust, panic, then panic some more.
Thanks for the great tips, and the chance to win that wonderful basket!
I would absolutely have to turn in to the tasmanian devil and whirlwind through the main rooms of the house…Starting with the kitchen….(I was on vacation last weekend and thats when I do the most part of my cleaning)
Thanks for all that you do ……Chrystal
Tammy
First pray for a grateful spirit. Remind myself that the company is not coming to see my house but to fellowship with my family. Then off to vacuming, dusting, decluttering the high traffic areas (by shoving it all in my bedroom) and defiantly the bathrooms. And if its nice weather make sure the patio is presentable and hang out outside
I would clean my downstairs bathroom and then sweep downstairs, clean the glass on the front door and make sure my bedroom door is closed before they arrive.
I would pick up the main living area, then sweep and wet mop the floors!
I would have my kids pick up anything that is theirs that’s currently on the floor and put away. Send them to their rooms to clean, then I’d empty the diswasher and reload, clean counters and vacuume.
The first thing that I would do is sweep and mop the floors, with two very active boys, I can never keep them clean!
LOVE THEM
I would start at the dining room since this is where the guest would enter. Then work my way through the kitchen into the living room. Vacuuming is a must with two cats after picking up my little guy’s toys:). I agree hide what’s left!
I would first tidy up the main bathroom, which is shared by me teenage daughter and her 4 and 6 year old sisters. It tends to get cluttered very quickly!
I would definitely vaccum first! I have a golden retriever who sheds like crazy. I can never seem to keep up. Between him and all the crumbs my toddler drops on the floor, my house ALWAYS needs vaccumed.
I would empty the dishwasher and refill with the dishes in the sink. I can’t stand dirty dishes in the sink (or counters!).
I would grab empty laundry baskets and throw all of my items that don’t belong down stairs in them. I would use multiple laundry baskets and of course have a basket for all of the things that you don’t know what to do with.. (that way I could hide it in the basement if I ran out of time.. lol)
I would enlist my children to pick up the toys in the family room (we have a hidden corner behind the couch where we have baskets of their toys). I would clear the kitchen table as it is one of the first things you can see when you come in the front door. Thank you for the guest post – I love Crystal, she is such an inspiration!
Clean the kitchen table and hide all the school stuff that is all over it (we homeschool!).
The first thing I would clean up after is our lovely dog, ” Holly” , her toys are all over the family room, and all around her bed. She loves them sooo. Second would be the Kitchen, as it is the mail room where everything happens, good, bad and great tasting. In 20 minutes, the beds do not have to be made, but you should have something baking in the oven, that makes the house smell like home. Enjoy the company they will be gone soon..
Throw all the clothes into the laundry room and clean the front bathroom!! Then make sure the kitchen is cleaned !!
My first, and favorite, thing to do would be to grab a laundry basket (and likely dump the clothes out of it onto my bed) and go through every room picking up the odds and ends that never seem to be put away. It’s so fast and easy to put everything away. PLus, it keeps me focused on the task.
I would gather all the clutter from the kitchen counters and throw it on my bed (which will then end up on the floor or dresser to be dealt with on another day) . *sigh*
I would clean up the kitchen – put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, wipe down and clean off countertops and vacuum the floor. Then I would pick up everything in the living room that didn’t belong there and put it upstairs in our office.
I would vacuum up the dog hair
Immediately grab a basket scoot all the papers and junk in there…put in a bedroom to go through later. Wipe down counters and kitchen table and sweep. When I get company first room they see is the kitchen. Right now it is flooded with tax papers and billy the kid documents and books for a school report.
I would clear the load of papers piled on my kitchen counter!
I’d hide the piles of paper that collect on my countertops and dining room table. Then, I’d pick up toys and shoes and vacuum. I’d put any unwashed dishes in the dishwasher.
The first thing I would do is do dishes & tidy up the kitchen, vacuum the cat hair off the rugs & do a general pick up of things laying around.
Paper clutter! I tend to make piles. It’s not pretty.
The first thing I would do is pick up all the “stuff” lying around!
The first thing I would do is sweep and mop all of the floors. Living at the beach with sandy yards makes it hard to ever have clean floors especially right inside the front door. The rest is simple usually compared to having to do all of the floors.
First, I’d close my eyes and take a deep, cleansing breath to tell myself that it does not have to be perfect. My next move would be to do the dishes, empty the sink trap, and consequently get rid of any smelly garbage!
I would have to run around like crazy and gather up all my kids toys and snacks laying around, so that people actually had somewhere to sit!
I would reference the 2 hr cleaning list that will be on the fridge, and elect the hubby and kids to join me! I would start with all of the toys.
First, I’d change the baby, take the toddlers potty ,fix them up w/ a snack & something non messy to play with.Then I’d call in the rest of the troops to divide & conquer! 2 or 3 per room in the main areas.
That just happened to me yesterday! I did the dishes, washed the counters while my little kids picked up their toys and my big kids swept our entire downstairs. I love Mrs. Meyers products
The first thing I would do (or am going to do today when I get home) is clean off our kitchen table. We have been gone all month off and on so any time we came home mail and souvenirs were dropped on the table.
I would clean off the kitchen counters, wipe down the kitchen table, and light my favorite candle.
I would clear the clutter to the upstairs bedroom, sweep, vacuum and Windex the fingerprints off the windows and TV and spray Fabreeze! With three little boys I am also beginning to enlist their help!
Wow…LOTS to do! (I read this morning…housework won’t kill you, but why take the chance? HA!) Quickly de-clutter livingroom and kitchen (where the piles always seem to accumulate) and thoroughly clean the bathroom. Front porch and glass door are a must as well. Simmer some fresh herbs on the kitchen stove and run the vacuum. I usually stay on top of the cleaning…typically the clutter that overwhelms me!
I would pick up the piles (not 1 pile, but pileS) of mail off the kitchen table and bench in my kitchen and probably put them in my walk-in closet because I can’t seem to get a handle on mail/paper stuff. This is an albatross around my neck and is probably the #1 ongoing mental weight that I need to work on.
Since our kitchen is the gathering place, I would straighten in there first with putting away clean dishes from the night before and make it as clean and sparkly as your kitchen Crystal! I love how you don’t have anything cluttery on the counters! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
The first thing I would do is clean the entryway of my home, then light my lilac Yankee candle.
I would wipe all the kitchen counters and the dining room table…clear away any clutter in the those rooms and the living room. Run a Swiffer over a few surfaces, and vacuum the entry, living room, kitchen, bathroom, dining room, and hallway. Lastly, I would clean the bathroom and light a few candles!
I would pick up all the kids toys first then start with the floors.
I would take all my little piles of clutter and put them on my bed and close the door.
. Then I would vacuum and clean the bathroom!
The first thing would be to dust!! I am planning on cleaning tonight, and dusting is first on my list!!
Clean off the kitchen counters.
I’d pick up and take out the trash. Vacuum the floors and clean the kitchen and bathroom.
First thing – clear out the downstairs and vacuum the dog hair off the couch. It always seems to get messy quick.
If I got a call that someone would be at my house in 2 hours, I wouldn’t panic much. The worst offenders in our house are our kitchen and bathroom, my bedroom door stays closed and my son is good about cleaning up his toys. I’d do a quick wipe down of my kitchen and bathroom, pick up any laundry, run the vacuum in high traffic areas, bake a quick coffee cake, let the smell of that be my welcome, and sit back and relax.
With a toddler and a baby and lots of being outside in the dirt lately, my wood floors always need a vacuum and a mop!! Then I’d pick up the clutter. I always try to keep my living room picked up and clutter-free though – for guests, and for my own sanity if I can catch 15 min of quiet time – better to be where I cannot see all that I have to do!
I would sweep my front porch and entryway area to ensure it looks it’s best. Then I would get out a few snacks and eagerly await my friend’s arrival!
I’d focus on the main rooms – (kitchen, dining room, living room and half bath), quickly tidying up and vacuuming, fresh towels in the bathroom, wash the glass on the front door, and make sure the kitchen is clean. It’s amazing what you can do in 15-20 minutes if you are really motivated – and my kids always pitch in to help. Then I’d light a candle and make myself look presentable!
What a great prize pack — I love Mrs. Meyers products! The first thing I would do is vacuum!
Then it would be on to the bathroom.
I would pick up clutter and clean my little bathroom.
I would put a sign on the front door that says “House under construction. Please pardon our progress” and then politely explain we are cleaning out all rooms to get rid of clutter per Crystal’s request on her daily home challenge…so it looks a bit messy right now:) haha! Actually, we are minimalists by nature, but it’s amazing how many things we outgrow or no longer use as the kids grow up…so there is always some decluttering going on around here:)
I would clean the bathrooms, check the front porch, empty trash, pick up living room and vacuum.
well thats kinda hard @ the moment cuz we have had no power for 4 days & i have had a sick baby but i would have to say i would tackle my living room cuz its always the worst & 1st to be seen so i would straighten the shoe rack pick up all the babys stuff & sweep those 3 lil steps make a huge difference in my house
First thing I would do is tell my kids to start cleaning up their toys in the living room, then tackle the downstairs bathroom, dining room, kitchen, and then the living room after the kids are done with their toys. Do a quick vacuum of each room, make sure dishes are put in the dishwasher, and there are none in the sink. Then, I’d light a candle and sit down with a cup of warm tea to calm down before the guests arrived!! =)
First thing I would do is look around, then run for the vacuum.
I would definitely clean off my desk – it’s located in our main living area and it’s covered in piles! Next I would vacuum, and then give the bathroom a quick clean (wash sink/mirror/toilet, sweep if necessary).
The first thing I would do is a quick clean of the bathroom. We only have one and it’s small, so it’s simple to do a quick wipe-down of the sink and toilet, empty the trash, change the towels, and light a candle. That way, I’ve taken care of something that wasn’t too horrible to do and it will hopefully create momentum to carry me through the rest of the house!
i would vacuum – its amazing how much stuff the kids and dog track into the house. i think i would skip starting laundry though.
Ask if I could meet them out for lunch instead? LOL I love the laundry basket idea so I would definitely do that and throw all the toys, misc clutter into the basement playroom. Vacuuming floors and furniture is always a priority because our dog sheds!
I do a cursory pick-up in our living room! I never cease to be amazed at the trash, laundry, and various odds and ends that land there. Once it’s cleared away, it magically looks more presentable.
The first thing I would do is clear yesterdays mail off my ‘dining room’ table. (We live in a small apartment so the table is one of the first things you see when you walk in.) I’d refill the napkin holder, rearrange decorative sugar crocks, fruit bowl etc.
Then I’d move on to putting away the groceries and other clutter in the living room.
Thanks for the challenge– I *do* have friends coming over tonight, and I’ve been sick for the past week. Thankfully the house hasn’t slipped too much (yay for a helpful husband and routines that made my house clean to start with!) but it could use a little help before they show up this evening.
Make the beds and vacuum! Then wipe down the kitchen and bathrooms. I say bring it on. When everyone is together who really concentrates on the dust? We just enjoy spending time together:)
First, freak out – Second, try to calm down – Third, collect clutter, dust and vacuum. Thanks for the giveaway and your wonderful checklist!
As a ministerial family, we frequently have last minute guests. I put my kids in charge of cleaning up the living room while I tackle the kitchen. It is amazing how quickly they can clean when they have a time limit. They know to shut all of the bedroom doors before the doorbell rings!
The first thing I would do is start cleaning the kitchen and living room. Then make my husband vacuum! =0)
I would get rid of the clutter on my kitchen table & pick up toys
I’d tidy the coats shoes and book bags just inside the door ~ A quick pick up of the toys,vacuum, wipe down the counters and bathroom.
For some reason if i try to clean on any regular day it takes forever but let me have someone coming over, lol. I shift into overdrive and start in the kitchen, put anything away that should be by the grab and bag method. I have one bag for trash and one for laundry, put the laundry in te hamper and the trash out in the trash can. Then sweep and vacuum. If there are dishes I may wash them or put them to soak.. I have a dishwasher but never, ever use it, hate it. I keep Clorox cleaning wipes in all bathrooms so I use those to wipe down then go behind with a paper towel to dry. Run vacuum. The rest of the house quick dust and vacuum. Light a couple of candles and it is done. I spot clean everyday so it is usually not to bad. For some reason I work/clean better under pressure and it seems my best cleaning is done then.
The first thing I would do is pick up the shoes in the entryway and sweep the floor. Then I’d tackle the kitchen and vacuum the carpet in the main areas.
I pick up everything that does not belong in the living room and kitchen and throw it all in my bedroom, since no one ever goes in there. I have also been known to hide stuff in the dishwasher to get it out of view.
Empty the diaper pails. It drives me nuts when I walk in and even if the house looks okay it smells like poo.
I would clear the kitchen counter first- it’s a junk magnet.
I would clear off the table and countertops first. They are my clutter collectors!
Assess! I would call my older kids together, take a good look around, and start assigning tasks. Undoubtedly we would need to sweep, pick up the front entrance, and declutter the livingroom.. I have learned that 5 minutes of taking a deep breath and assessing a situation is invaluable. If someone caled TODAY? ummmm we are laying tile in the front entry… so I guess I’d have a good excuse for the mess =)
First thing….get the kids ready to help! Clean up toys, clean off the kitchen counters and wash the dishes. And right before she walks in CLOSE the mudroom/laundry room door and kids bedroom door!
I would sweep out the back door, run through the living room picking up any toys and putting the pillows back in place. Next I would spray vacuum and spray air freshener throughout the house and light candles!
I would start picking up everything off the floor, that has been left behind from our night routine.
clear the kid’s toys from the main rooms and send hubby to the store for food!
I make sure our common areas are picked up — glancing through to make sure no visible dust, carpets are swept and definitely the kitchen is clean of all dirty dishes and floor looks clean. I do not worry much about bedrooms, as these are private areas and most friends won’t ask to look around your house. If it’s a nice day, I give the porch a quick cleanup so that we can be outside enjoying the fresh air. Put on a little music, spritz some air freshner (if possible open windows). Then just relax and enjoy their company.
I would clean off the papers on the kitchen counter and crayons/coloring books on the kitchen table!
I would break out the vacuum and mop the floors, but my house is really a mess right now so I would probably as to meet them at Starbucks instead!!
I’d pick up all the toys, de-clutter the kitchen island, run the vacuum, make sure the guest bathroom was clean, then cross my fingers and hope for the best!
I would hit the dishes and countertops first. Run around getting mad at myself for buying the kids so many toys and vaccumming. Once the main areas are clean I can think do bathrooms and hide clothes.
I would have to put away the clean folded laundry……..that’s sitting all over my formal dining room table. eeek! Jeannine
I would pick up the kids toys & clean off the ALWAYS full kitchen counter! I’d also wash the dishes & sweep all the floors.
Throw everything in the hall closet:)
My kichen island is almost always cluttered. Now matter how clean the rest of my house is, the whole house feels messy when my island is cluttered!
I would do the dishes first, because I can’t stand having dirty dishes in the kitchen because it is the first room people walk into when they come over! Other than that I could quickly grab any toys or art supplies that my kids have left in the living room and toss them in their rooms. Oh, we have a bunny that lives in a cage in the living room so I would probably have to light a candle or something in case there was a slight smell. (He’s going back outside soon now that our N.D. winter is over!)
The first thing I would do is have my 3 children help me pick up the clutter in the entry and the main areas of the house.
I would put away the clean laundry, put away toys, sweep my floors. Then look around and see how messy my house still is and ask if we could meet tomorrow instead! Lol!
Sweep and mop the main floor (bathroom, kitchen, dining and living rooms). Clean the bathroom. Do any dishes. Hide clutter (we have a couple empty drawers in our coffee table that come in handy during these times!) Light a good smelling candle. Vacuum and dust after all that. I try to keep my house presentable, so really a quick sweep and mop of the main floors and cleaning of the main bathroom is all that would be needed.
I would clear off my dining room table. It’s covered with my Cricut and scrapbook supplies from making birthday invitations! I’d also do the dishes cluttering up my kitchen counter.
I would clean the dining room table and kitchen – that table and the counters always seem to be covered with what-nots!
First thing I need to clean is bathrooms. I have 4 sons and my husband and brother who live with me (yup I am the only girl) and since the boys are little we still have aiming issues in the bathroom.
Well, considering that there are dog and cat hair tumbleweeds that present themselves no matter how recently we’ve vacuumed, I would haul out the vacuum cleaner to suck those hairballs up!
I would do a quick clutter pick up in every room.
I would make sure the dishes were in the dishwasher, then I would do a quick vacuum job, and pick up anything that didn’t belong where it was.
Declutter and hid , do again in each room
Our house stays pretty tidy because I’m just a neat freak… the boys bathroom, however, is another story entirely. That is definitely the first place I’d clean up if company were stopping by
The dishes, for sure!
I would clean the kitchen table, it is always the first thing that gets cluttered in my house.
If I had company coming, I don’t think I’d concern myself with the laundry. That would save a few extra minutes in the preparation time that maybe I could use to see if I had anything onhand to serve as a snack. I try to keep boxes of brownies and packs of muffin mixes in my cupboard to mix up and bake when I need something pretty quick…..and I think I’d go ahead and light the candles first to make sure my house really smelled nice
de-clutter my kitchen counters
The entry room of my house looks like a bomb went off. With 6 people always dropping their everything in that room it turns into a mess in the blink of an eye. Oh and call a babysitter to take my kids to the park so I can clean without having to re-clean after my kids.
I would most definitely hide the dirty laundry. LOVE the 2 hour cleaning guide…thank you so much!
Quick walk through to declutter then wipe down the bathroom
After taking a deep breath, I would start de-cluttering the counter & table that you see first when you enter our home. Then, I would tackle the floors and the guest bathroom. Thank you for this study
I would take out the garbage and put away clean laundry! Then I would clean off clutter from my kitchen table and counter.
I’d make sure our pet pig’s litter box was clean! If it was I’d either tackle the dishes, or put away the school books, puzzles, and what not from school time!
I’d run around the house picking up toys!
Last minute guest ~ I usually hit the living room first, just in case I dont get the rest picked up along with guest bathroom, wipe it down quick! Spray febreeze through out house.
Blessing others, coaches usually spend allot of time away from their families so we like to bless them with a diner gift card that way the wife doesn’t have to cook and the family can enjoy a dinner together without cooking or cleaning, if they have little ones, see if a school teen can watch them so mom & dad can have a nice quite dinner!
My first stop would be our guest bathroom
The first thing I would do is to vacuum and dust the living room.
I would clean the papers off the desk in the den, bathe the stinky basset hound and declutter. Thank goodness for speed cleaning – I’ve been doing it for 3 weeks and my house is in pretty good shape!
I would pick up my daughters toys.
If I stuck with my morning routine most of this would be done but there are my off days. I would focus on vacuuming the area rugs since I have an obsession with vacuuming that’s always my first thought. and then spot treatments on any stains there might be from the kids.
I’d definitely clean off the kitchen table which is a ‘catch all’ in our house. Nothing is better than sitting at the table with friends, sharing coffee and a sweet treat as we catch up!
Wipe off the kitchen counters, since that is where everyone likes to visit and then wipe down the guest bathroom. Clorox wipes are great for last minute cleaning.
Hit the guest bathroom, which is also the kids bathroom! Need I say more?!
First, I would rally the kids to pick up and vacuum. While they were doing that, I would wash dishes.
The first thing I would do is make a list, then “divide and conquer!”. I would put the list out for all to see, then instruct my children to take a task and do it well and I would do the same.
Thank you for the wonderful basket giveaway!
I would declutter all the surfaces in our main living space. We have a terrible habit of just putting stuff down where ever we find an empty spot. After a while- there are no more empty spots!
Then I would vacuum our LR/DR carpets. They are yucky right now!
First I would cry. Then I would clean my bathrooms, vacuum my carpets, do the dishes and clear off all the flat surfaces in our kitchen. The disorder of family living doesn’t bother me as much as “dirty”. But yes, I’d be in a panic. No one ever calls first, they just show up, so this is all fantasy!
Definitely vacuum! We have two cats and three kids and wood floors….the cat hair and food crumbs pile up quickly!
Clean the bathrooms and light a candle.
I always walk to the front door and view my home from the “eyes of my guests.” I then start cleaning from that point. Clearing away what is unslightly and making my way through the areas the guests will be in.
This is a great idea! Thank you for sharing.
First after the panic subsides I would look around the room & decide what didn’t belong & begin to straighten up! Then dust & vacuum.
Give the bathroom a once over!
-Colleen G.
I would first clean my kitchen and then my front porch. The kitchen is the first thing you enter into when you walk into our home. The porch would be next because we are adding onto and remodeling our house, and a lit of the tools and materials have made their home on our porch! I absolutely love the two hour list provided. Thank you so much. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed it seems like i just bounce around the house with a major lack of focus and purpose. This list will keep me on track. I am so excited. Thank you!!!
I would turn on my scented wax warmer then I would pick up all the toys that seem to grow in my living room! Head to the kitchen to load the dishwaher of breakfast and lunch dishes and wipe the counters off while brewing some fresh iced tea.
The first thing I would do is call my friend back and ask if we could meet at Bread Co, instead, ’cause who wants to be stressed out and sweaty before seeing an old friend?!?!?
The first thing I would do would be move the 2 huge tubs of clean laundry out of the living room. Then grab a bunch of trash bags to get all the assorted junk out of the living room & off the dining room table.
I’d clean the bathroom…something about a clean bathroom! And I’d also wash the dishes in the sink
~eunice b
tigergal01 @gmail .com
Definitely pick up clutter – mostly from the kitchen
Counters and table. Always a tough spot for clutter!
I would clean the guest bathroom – change the towels first and do a quick wipdown with cleaner. Then I would vaccum!
I would pick up the toys in the front/living/tv room. This seems to be where everything gathers and it is the first place people see when they step in the house!
Seeing as we just moved across the country and have a 5 month old, I would light some candles and make sure we had clean clothes on . Throw a batch of cookies in the oven and apologize greatly for the box towers and make them promise to come over once when we are unpacked, so I can then frantically run around throwing things in the bedrooms to just shut the doors!
The first thing I do is vacuum and dust the living room and clean off the kitchen counters.
The first thing I would do is go through every room and pick up any clutter. That one thing helps so much! Then dust and vacuum and bathrooms…
that is always a stressful moment, when you get that surprise visitor. The 1st thing i do is focus on the living room, vacum, dust, wipe down couches (dog hair. etc.), tidy up bathroom (make sure their is essentials), then finally kitchen. Then i make sure there is beverages in the fridge (always have extras in the garage)…. then i may light a candle or an incense and spray some deoderizer room spray. Last but not least, i make sure i have an idea for some snacks or a simple meal & get cleaned up before my guest shows up. I like to put relaxing music on to soothe any anxiety that may be building.
I would clean off the kitchen counters and sweep the kitchen.
I’d sweep off front porch and clean entryway…quick dust job and vacuum in family room and ligth some candles. Candles give off such a nice homey glow and fragrance they make everything more inviting and cozy!
clean up the area right inside our front door, which looks like we have a shoe store. There are only 3 of us living there, but you would think we had at least 10…..shoes everywhere
I would then probably start some laundry and sweep. I love the 2 hr cleaning list. I think I will use this on a weekly basis in the middle of the week so when the weekend comes along I don’t feel so overwhelmed or quitly about cleaning and not spending that extra time with the family.
I’d have the hide the very large dead plants on the front porch! Not very welcoming!
Pick up the clutter and do a quick dust and vacuum in the living/dining room.
I would clean the living room, kitchen, dining room, bathroom, utility room and close all the doors to all the other rooms.
I would clean the bathroom and then de-clutter the living room!
I would first pick up all the stray toys from downstairs, then clean the downstairs bathroom.
I would run clean the bathrooms!!!
I’m currently packing to have our foster son go home to his dad, and I have piles of his stuff all over the couches in the living room so that I can pack them easier. My top priority if people were coming over would be to get all that packed and moved to another room – other wise we would have NOWHERE for people to sit!
First I would run screaming through the house, you know, just to get the adrenaline going! Then I would crank up some tunes and start on the living room. After that, spray down the bathroom, then go to the kitchen and get started. And I’d hope in this scenario that this is company who has already been to our house, otherwise they want the full tour and then I’d never be ready. Two hours would not be enough time to get this house ready for that.
Blessings,
Mel
Please feel free to stop by: Trailing After God
since my home is generally clutter free – I would most definitely head for the bathroom, there is just something to say about a clean fresh smelling bathroom and a scented lavendar candle to welcome and relax the unexpected drop ins.
I have a large family 6 boys and 1 husband, the first thing I would do is cut on the exhaust fans in each bathroom, take out all the towels and washcloths to laundry room and put bleach in each toilet bowel, with boys you never know how is going to smell. (smile)
I would have the children pick up all their toys littering my living room and I would tackle the never-ending pile of papers on my kitchen counters and desk!
I would unload and reload the dishwasher, sweep the kitchen floor, vaccuum the “main” rooms and clean the bathrooms. I would make each kids straighten their rooms and assign my husband a duty as well
I’d do my dishes and shine my sink!
The first thing I would do is clear off the big kitchen island we have. It tends to be the catch all for things coming in the house, as well as toys and misc things being picked up off the floor. We keep it a lot cleaner in general than we used to, but there are still some things that would need to find a home before company comes over, since that is where we spend most of our time.
I would sweep the floors first, then wipe dog prints off the front door, head to the kitchen to make sure there were no dirty dishes in the sink and wipe down the counters. Then to the guest bath to wipe down sink and toilet and put out a fresh hand towel. Then I would spritz the dogs (my two schnauzies
with doggy deodorizer, give them a brush and put on a pretty colorful bandana! The last thing I would do is head to the front porch where I have a blackboard hanging up and write Welcome (my friends name) in big letters!
The first thing I would do is clean my kitchen. It’s a mess!
I fell this weekend and messed up my ankle so the bathroom is a mess – I think I’m alone in my hatred of a messy bathroom, the rest of my family leaves toothpaste tubes and such on the vanity so I’d straighten in there first! While in there I’d stuff and fold my son’s diapers because right now they’re in the “clean hamper” on the back of the door getting stuffed as needed.
Pick up toys!!!!!
The first thing I do is get the kids to clean their room. Then start on the bathroom and vacuum the living room. After I am done freaking out I try and take in a deep breath and get myself ready.
I would de-clutter the living room and kitchen areas and clean the bathroom first then I would light a candle and see what else I could tackle (while keeping a peaceful heart and being a loving parent) before my guests arrived! What a great post and giveaway…thank you!!
Clean my downstairs bathroom, pick up the family room, quick dust the room, clear off diningroom & kitchen tables. Whip up a quick batch of brownies. Relax and await there arrival (if there is any time left).
I would send my 3 year old and 7 month old to a friends house for an hour. Little hands are so eager to help! If I cant send them I get my 3 year old to pick up toys and up them in the Toy basket. I keep a small laundry basket for fast pick ups it is a color that matches my decor so that if it is left out it looks OK. After the living room gets all the toys put away and straitened, the bathroom gets a nice wash down with a bucket of soap water and then rubbing alcohol on the faucet handles and doors. My guest bathroom is also my laundry room I will load a wash but not run it to clear out a basket, if I have the time I will run a load and then fill the wash with the other basket but not run it just to clear the baskets. I use cloth diapers, normally I have a dry bucket in the laundry I put them in, It is a metal trash can I keep the lid off everyday when I have company I just put the lid on.
First I would throw any dirty dishes in the dishwasher to hide until later, then I would clean off my kitchen table, next I would hide all the dirty clothes in my bedroom so no one can see them and then I would vacum really quick and mop over the really dirty spots of the floor!
I would put away the toys strewn across the living room. I would then vacuum the living room and kitchen and load the dishwasher. After that, I would dust (and then just keep cleaning and straightening ’til they arrive).
I would do the bathrooms. If my friends have been traveling long, the bathroom will be the first room they will want to visit!
I would clean the kitchen/dining area of clutter, .t.his can been seen from my front windows. Then clear the front entry of shoes and clutter.
Pick up all the unnecssary items on the countertops!
Vacuum the floors in the main areas and tidy up and clean the toilet in the bathroom. I always feel like if at least those areas look kept up then te rest of the house looks okay too. If I have more time, the couches get vacuumed and dining room table gets cleared off. Oh yeah, of course a quick pick up of toys and what not to at least toss into the bedroom behind a closed door.
Find the laundry hidden in the couch, hanging on the doors, and other places it has been tucked away.
Considering I just had a baby 9 days ago, and have restrictions on doing too much thanks to a c-section, I would take a deep breath, and prepare my “dirty house apology” speech….because they are probably coming to see the baby anyway!
First off, place my little boys in their play area with gate upstairs, or pop in a dvd I know they will sit all the way through. Then light a nice smelling candle and open the windows (if possible) to help freshen the air and let me see trouble areas. Personally I like to bake so I would probably think and plan something quick to make while I get the house ready. Next close all bedroom doors and the laundry room door (not that my laundry/mud room is ever dirty! =) , check the downstairs bath, then make sure the places in my house where the guest will be (i.e. Livingroom, bathroom, kitchen, Main floor area) are dusted, any clutter removed to a room with a shut door, and then vacuum/steam mop floors. Check the fridge for drinks, make sweet tea if needed and start a snack. Lastly, freshen up myself then change boys diapers/use potty and make sure they understand we are having company and need to be on their best behaviour. It should be about time for guests, but I’ll run and check the front door and entry to make sure it doesn’t need sweeping. Our yard work is contracted out so normally I don’t need to worry if the sidewalk needs sweeping but the alcove around the door sometimes gets “buggy” with webs, stray leaves and such, so that might need to get a quick sweeping.
It sounds like alot for two hours, but my house is normally guest ready, so it’s actually very quick. However there are some days when it looks like a tornado hit and I have no idea how or why, on those days, I would probably only get half of the above done, so I would concentrate on the livingroom, double check the bath, and sprouse up the kitchen.
I would wipe down the kitchen and dining table, and sweep our hard wood floors. I would also have my boys clean up the playroom!!
Wow that was a long comment, sorry ladies, guess I should have made it a bit shorter. =(
I would clean my entry way, and frantically clean up all the toys in the living room. Then I would definitely freshen my bathrooms.
First thing I would do is put all the kids toys in their room. Instant improvement!
Clear the kitchen counters and wipe clean…then the bathrooms (and close the Craft Room door–I am in the middle of “creating”
) )
I’m a brand new first time mom, SO if that call came in, i would scramble to pick up the diapers, wipes, etc that are thrown in each room for convience, then the toys and blankets and bottles. THEN i would rush to the kitchen to clean all bottles, etc and hide evidence that i havent been cooking much and instead ordering too much pizza! then of course start to vaccum the living room, dust mop the family room, spray air freshner and fabric refresh throughout! oh man… i better start now just in case!
Put away the dishes drying on the counter and get rid of any in the sink
Clean the bathroom!!! I’ve also piled dishes from the sink in a laundry basket to hide in the basement!
I’d clean the clutter off the kitchen table, then windex the front and back glass door where the dog puts his nose all the time.
I would either pick up all the toys cluttering the floor so they would appear clean or clean the bathrooms (depending if I had already done that this week).
The first thing I would do is take out the trash, it’s overflowing right now lol. My brother is actually visiting right now and is a bit of a neat freak so everything actually already being deep cleaned. I would just have surface things to take care of. (dont ask why that wasnt the first thing my brother did lol)
Freshen up the house
Vaccum
I would give the bathroom a quick clean, wipe down kitchen counter, vacuum living room, and sweep the floor.
I would first tackle the living room by putting my daughters toys in the toy bench then I’d probably move the pile of clean laundry to our bed to get it out of the way and finish straightening up from their then move to the kitchen, then the bathroom. Shouldn’t take long do to small house. One advantage to a little place is it doesn’t take long to clean, but it also doesn’t take long to look messy
LOL
I would need to dust, sweep & vacuum, pick up the coupons on my kitchen table..mostly just straighten the main living areas. In my head I would plan to have enough time to make cookies or some sort of yummy snack but in reality that usually doesn’t happen.
Do what I call a quick blitz…sweep everything into a singular pile…grab a box to put it in and sweep the dust…stack whatever dishes there are (they look better when stacked even if they are not washed)…close doors to any rooms possible.
First things first – make the bed & shut the closet doors (10 minutes)! Then do the dishes (10 minutes), clean the guest bathroom (10 minutes) – clean mirror, toilet and skink (forget the bathrooms that guests don’t use!), and “quick” vacuum the entryway and the kitchen (15 minutes). Then get put on some make-up and get some drinks / aptz ready. A quick cleaning lifesaver that I learned from my mother-in-law is to have cleaning supplies in all the bathrooms, in the kitchen, and have supplies both upstairs and downstairs (cleaning products & items / vacuume /swifter, etc.). – This saves so much time & when asking husband for help, he never has to ask “where’s the cleaning stuff”. Just having glass cleaner, paper towels and clorox wipes in each bathroom / kitchen makes a quick clean-up a breeze.
I wou,ld pick up the clutter from my current 3 or 4 projects, stack them on the dryer and shut the doors to my laundry area. Then I would dust, vacuum, and mix up a quick cobbler and some iced tea and try to have a few minutes of quite time before my guest arrives.
Thanks to a party last weekend, we are in good shape now. Laundry and dishes are caught up. Normally, my first step in cleaning is grabbing a garbage bag and picking up paper. I would probably start with vacuuming today.
vacuum
Light a candle, wipe down bathroom with clorox wipes, clean off counters!
First thing: I’d clean the kitchen counters.
Definitely pick up all the toys first. Two little boys know how to keep this once organized mommy on her toes!
I always declutter the living room first then do the dishes in the kitchen if there are any. I only have a living room, kitchen, and bathroom downstairs in my townhouse so its not much to clean. Guests don’t go upstairs unless staying the night, so I hide most stuff up there. The bathroom is always clean so just sprucing up the living room and kitchen are important.
I would dust and vacuum and then bake something. No one will notice the mess if I have freshly baked cookies or brownies!
I would make sure my kitchen was clean, dust the living room and vacuum. I also keep cookie dough in the freezer so I’d get that out so when they came in they’d smell cookies baking!
I would first have to chase all the fur kids off to a dark corner, then I’d put my children to work on ‘emergency’ plans. Truth is I never have company so it doesn’t really matter. I think these are excellent tips. (Followed Crystals FB post to land over here and your blog looks so interesting I might just have to stay)
Clean my kitchen counters. the drag back to having an open floor plan the kitchen you see as soon as you enter thr house and is always my weakness to keep clean.
I am a quilter so the first thing I would do is gather up all my fabric, notions, sewing machine, etc. off the dining room table and bring them up to the spare room and then just put down a pretty table runner. Then I would quickly scan the kitchen table and counters and put all mail, etc. into the clothes dryer which is my secret hiding place! lol
Hmm…I guess the 1st thing I would do if old friends were stopping by in a couple of hours would be to put away the folded laundry that is currently on my dining room table! I would probably give the bathroom a good wipe-down, too, and light a nice candle and change out the towels in there. Then, I would whip up some cookies and start a fresh pot of coffee!
Vacuum!!
I would wipe off my kitchen counter that are a mess, wash the dishes that have been in the sink for who knows how long and quick pick up the toys that are in the main part of the house (prob while one of the kids takes them back out lol) The nasty bathrooms would have been first but I got the worse of those the other day (though with little boys I’m sure the toilets need to be wiped again!)
My problem isn’t with dirty laundry it’s with clean laundry! The first thing I would do is put away the piles of “organized” clothes (which makes me feel better about their presence…hehehe) that are all over my living room. My son’s pile is on the chair and a half, my daughter’s is on the recliner, me and my husband’s clothes are on the couch. So I’d put away the piles so my guests would have a place to sit besides the floor:)
Bake, light my scensty candle, and put a new plug-ins (Lavender) in the outlets, put christian music on Pandora ( we have Roku for TV) and get help to vacuum steps. DONE1
Dust…..I would definitely dust. It seems I could dust every day; especially the family room. The floors AND the furniture.
I would run through the living room (our main entrance) and clear out the clutter, straighten things up, and put away toys. At least I could then briefly confine my visitors in a clean room while I try to sneak in last-minute cleaning after they arrive! lol
Vacuum! With 2 dogs and a baby crawler, vacuuming is always my go to chore
Well, considering this just happened to me right before I got your message (divine intervention) I am making myself sit down for a few minutes to pray. I would normally freak out but I am trying to focus on the purpose of the visit and how I am to bless those that are coming. Helps me calm down and not act so irractionally. When I am in panic mode I don’t accomplish near as much. I will light some candles, put on some praise music (loudly) and sing my way through your checklist ! At least if I don’t get it all clean, my attitude and heart will be in the right place to welcome and hopefully bless my guests. Thanks for the tips !!
The first thing I would clean is the living room. Get all the toys picked up and put away, vacuum, then clean off the kitchen table.
I would clean off my kitchen counter top where everything seems to have “landed” during the week. I love her ideas and think if I put my family to work to help me we could make this work for us on a regular basis and have a picked up/clean house in a matter of no time!
The first thing I would do is pick up toys in the floor, dust and vacuum the den!
I’d hide all the toys & dirty laundry pile
First I have to say I love Crystal’s 2hr plan.
My usual dash is clean off kitchen table and straighten kitchen, close laundry room curtains, straighten vacuum living room, guest bathroom lick and promise clean up with a candle burning the whole time. This method usually leaves my bedroom a mess to clean up at bedtime after everyone is gone.
So I am excited to try a better way.
I would mop first thing my floors our a mess with seven kiddo’s lol then hide my never ending laundry pile and close the door lol but other than that the rest could be done in a jiffy lol thanks for sharing and all these amazing ladies thanks for sharing!!!
First thing I would do is take a DEEP breath and then…PRAY for remembering what’s most important…enjoying being with them and not so tired from over-cleaning, but doing enough to make them feel comfortable.
I would go crazy!!
the first thing I would do it turn off the tv and then call my Un-laws!!! Haha! You have never seen two people clean as fast as they can WOW! Then I would rearrange the furniture! Don’t really know why but in crunch time that always sounds like a good idea to me! Makes the house desk like new! Then I would sit and have a glass of wine and act like my house is always so clean!
Clear kitchen and dining room tables! Then clean the bathrooms-the hazard of young boys
take out the overflowing trash and load the dishwasher……….
I would light a candle, open the blinds & do the dishes! Smell is the very first thing I notice when I walk into a home! Most poeple understand toys in the living room floor and such, but dishes from last night’s dinner is so stinky and pretty gross to see!
Since I have two tubs heading to storage today by the back door, I will leave and there is proof we are uncluttering…so i would hit the bathroom hard! No excuses there. When I was a young girl and this happened, Mom would hit the kitchen and bathroom and i shoved clutter under the early american couches we had with little skirts. I knew who my Mom’s best friends were because sometimes she showed them my efforts to help by lifting the skirts, and all would have a laugh.
With five kids our dining/Living area gets pretty disheveled on a daily basis. I would clean off the dining table, this makes a huge difference when you walk into the room. Then start the dishwasher, grab a laundry basket and walk through the living/dining area picking up the out of place papers, odds and ends, etc.walk through the bathroom, shot the shower curtain and wipe the counter and pick up the dirty clothes, walk into my room, locking the bathroom/master bedroom door. Exit Master bedroom in tot he hall and shut door. take all hanging items off of hall shelf and place in basket. Start a load of laundry and make sure my scentsy was refreshed. Can you tell that I have done this before?
The first thing I would do, is light a candle with something sweet like baked cookies or a coffee smell like french vanilla latte !
Well, there is no way I could get my house “company ready” in two days much less two hours so the first thing I would do is HIDE. Then I wouldn’t answer the door. In reality, when they called I would tell them I would meet them somewhere – and I’m not kidding.
First I would clean up the toddler toys that have taken over our living room.
music to my ears…quick clean up touches! thank you!!
Given it’s present condition, I would hide, I mean put away, all of the clean clothes that are on our couch right now and then head to the dishes
With a toddler who eats all over our living room, I’d have to vaccuum first!!!
I would tackle the kitchen, especially dishes and counters. Clutter usually dominates there!
I woud empty the trash first and then pick up the living room.
Clean the bathroom! Then I would make sure all the dishes were washed and put away. Our manual dishwasher (my husband and I) goes on strike sometimes.
The first thing I would do is head to clean the kitchen and mop the kitchen floor. With young children, it seems to collect crumbs. And since we always enter the house through the kitchen’s garage door, it always seems to collect my husband’s papers and books.
I would have to tackle our living room first! It seems to turn into the catch all: mail, trash, folded laundry. It would take me at least 30 mins to clean out the mess (which I plan on doing today) before I could move on to the guest bathroom which only needs a once over.
The kitchen table and coffee table are always full of junk so that gets gathered and hidden first
Dust! We are remodeling our basement( paid with cash!!!!) so our home is always dusty! Then I would pick up all toys and wipe up any baby puke! Living the “dream”!
I just did some deep cleaning last weekend, so it’s not too much of a mess, but I’d run over the floors with the sweeper and mop, clean the guest bathroom really quick, pick up the little this and that’s that my 3, 8, and 10 year old have out. Clean off the kitchen countertops, clean the front entry door and sweep the front and back porches! I think that would get me by pretty well!!!
I would start with the kitchen…. Everyone’s favorite place to meet! Put something in oven to bake and then clean, clean clean!! And hope no one ventures upstairs…….
The first thing I would do is make up our bed! Then I would clean up the dishes sitting by the sink. I could pretty well clean my entire house within two hours, though! One of the perks of living in a very small house!
I would clean everywhere the guests would be and not worry about things they would not see. For instance, I would clean the guest bathroom, the floors, the kitchen and dust the main living areas. I would skip the laundry and other categories that are out of sight when guests are over. However, I do like the cleaning in two hours ideas to implement any day of the week just to get stuff done! Thanks!
First thing I do is vacuum, then clean the main bathroom. Then I would turn on my Hot Maple Toddy tart burner and do some laundry while I waited. I also always like to have some snacks made like cookies and candies with some iced tea. When they are ready to hit the road again I pack up a few extra for the trip.
First I would do the dishes. Then clean off the kitchen table…
The first thing I would do is the dishes! There is always a pile of dishes! I like to cook but I don’t like doing the dishes!
Pray and then bake some brownies or cookies. Most people don’t notice all teh things we worry about – they just want to be welcomed and loved!
Things are pretty good right now. I followed Glynnis Whitwer’s declutter blog at the beginning of the year and have been working on keeping rooms as decluttered as possible and it makes a big difference. I’ve also tried keeping my kitchen clean and bathroom wiped down daily. But the piles of papers and “extras” still accumulate!
Remove the pawprints and nose prints from the doors and windows.Then declutter and clean flat suffices. Sweep. Spray some great air fresher. Put on a little make up Smile and enjoy the visit.
I would gather the troops and give out assignments to work as a team. It is OUR home, so everyone should feel a part of the “joy” in making our castle sparkle. Tee hee! Then I would put in some monkey bread. A wonderful crowd pleaser and I always have the ingredients on hand. If it is evening, I would turn out as many lights as possible (covers the lack of dusting involved), light candles and twinkling lights throughout house. Woo Hoo! Company’s coming:)
The first thing I would do is grab an empty laundry basket and go through the kitchen and living room, dumping into the basket anything that doesn’t belong in those rooms. Then I’d do a quick dust and vacuum.
I would enlist my children’s help! Girl 1, please go clean the guest bathroom. Girl 2, please clear/wipe table and sweep kitchen floor. Girl 3, please straighten up in the living room. I’ll sit here and nurse the baby and read to the two little girls to keep them out of your hair while you clean. ;-}
Clear the surfaces, then hoover if I have time! I’ve just spent 2 whole days doing everything on the 2 hour check list, apart from spot cleaning the main windows – I did the whole lot!
I would definitly have to vacume…pet hair and dirt tracked in by my son!!!
I would clean off front porch, take “doggie” cover off sofa and wash, vacuum den, kitchen, hallway and bath, mop bath and kitchen, dust den and turn on the scensty.
I would vacuum, put dishes in dishwasher, and straighten up the surfaces around my house.
With 9 children I would have to skim over everything- nothing stays done- it’s a constant work in progress!
Assign a child each to the family room, the library and the toy room for a quick pick up or stash and dash. Pull the cover on the roll top desk. And start removing stuff from the kitchen counters. Swish and swipe both bathrooms. Vacuum while praying that I can get the main floor done before the vacuum decides its too hot and has had enough for one day!
Scoop the cat litter, light yummy candles to keep me focused, brush my teeth, AND r.u.n.! With five kids, four cats, and three dogs it’s a daily marathon of laundry, sweeping, washing, loading, fixing, feeding, and sometimes…just surviving! If a friend called with a short window of prep time, I’d be flying….but with a smile on my heart because a true friend is coming to see me, not my dust bunnies or cluttered counters. (Maybe she’ll notice the 2-hour checklist I just printed and posted on my refrigerator and offer to help! LOL)
Since no one ever goes upstairs I would concentrate on downstairs and I’m sure it would be the floors and dust screaming the loudest. Yes, I’m an empty-nester, too
I would light a few candles to “try” and make the house smell fresh. We have two adorable labs and I’m always worried my house smells like dogs:)
I usually start in the bathroom and set my timer for 15 minutes. I focus on each room for 15 min. each and every time it amazes me how much I can get done when focused!
I would dust.
First thing I would do is pick up and vacuum the living room carpet. With a cat and 2 kids, that always seems to be a problem area. Then I’d light a candle on the mantel and go from there. Thanks for the giveaway!
Take all of the stuff on my island and push it into a laundry basket and then hide the basket in the laundry room by closing the door. Can you tell I have done this on more than one occasion?!?!
1) Flush all toilets! I have 3 young children who don’t always remember that part!
2) Put pillows and throws back in place…again, then 3 young children!
3) Light a candle
I love the concise list…..I’ll even use it when I just need to clean the house during a rough week!
Thank you!
The first thing I would do is pick up ANYTHING that doesn’t belong downstairs (our main living area) and then wipe down all the surfaces. If downstairs is presentable (and we usually stay down there), then IF they come upstairs, we can just say (oh, don’t mind our kids mess!)
The kitchen counter tops & dining table would get a clean swipe! It seems everything always ends up there & is the last to be put away. The dining table has my cutting mat on it (it seems perpetually) from the hospital gowns I’m making for Phoenix Childrens Hospital.
This happens all the time! I have to first pick up the floor. I prioritize it……if they were to walk in right now what would need to be done first? I have 4 kids at any given moment in my care and the floor is always a mess. After that it is the tables/couches/kitchen/bathroom. Vaccuuming is always last as i am lucky to get the floor picked up.
I would grab a laundry basket and run through the living room/dining room areas picking up clutter and all the things out of place as I go. Then I would dust everything in that area, clean the hall bathroom, put on some upbeat classical music…light a scented candle…take a slow deep breath…and smile.
After allowing myself a minute of panic, I would then pray-truly-to ask for the Lord’s help and mercy. Then I would make a list of what needs to be done, by room-assigning various tasks to the sleeping teen sons (would have to borrow older son’s trumpet and play Reveille to rouse the sleeping sons….). I would also give hubby a call to notify him of said arriving guests and to see what time he would be home after work.
I would focus on the rooms/areas of the house that guests would be in or use: great room, kitchen, hall, hall bath (which is also the teen sons’ bathroom, so that room would get an extra dose of cleaning…and prayer
) We’d dust, windex the glass, sweep, vacuum, clear out the odds & ends plus move the clean clothes mountain-er, I mean pile-to the master bedroom, give the hall bathroom a thorough cleaning. Also, I would make sure the front entrance of the house was swept, the chair/table cleaned off out there and that the seasonal flag gets hung up. Tools needed to accomplish cleaning for guests’ arrival in 2 hours: broom, dust pan, vacuum, paper towels, Windex, Lysol Complete Clean spray, Clorox toilet bowl cleaner, Swiffer dusters, a couple of rags, a packing box or paper grocery bags (to throw odds & ends in-then place in master bedroom). Might also make a sign for the master bedroom door: “Do not enter upon fear of death”. Just kidding. Maybe.
I always keep a mega box of brownie mix (from Costco) on hand, along with the oil & eggs or egg substitute needed to make them. We’d get a batch mixed and baking. I’d pull out some candles to light in the great room, kitchen and hall bath. I also always have a variety of tea on hand as well as ground coffee, so it would be easy to make a pot of one or the other. I also keep bottles of iced tea in the cupboard.
All the while, I would be crossing things off the list and shouting motivational words to the troops (aka teen sons). When the two hour mark was near, I’d thank teen sons for a job well done, thank the Lord for His mercy (once again), and sit reading a magazine until the guests arrived (30 seconds later).
At this moment, after writing this, I have two conflicting thoughts: start cleaning, or go back and have another cup of coffee.
Please note: it is still morning here in California!
I would plug in my scentsy’s, vacuum, dust and then clean myself up!
I’d hollar for the kids to come downstairs and tackle the living room while I tackled the coupon mayhem on the dining room table.
Every one enters from the back porch, which seems to be a catch-all for things in transit to the garage, shed, pickup, etc. That would be 1st, followed by kitchen, living room and bathroom.
I would go straight to cleaning the kitchen! We always end up in there at some point.
I would straighten and vacuum my front room
The first thing I would do right now would be to clean my kitchen, putting dishes in the dishwasher and washing the other items by hand and wiping down the counters.
I would print off the check list & go by it!
I’d clean the guest bath first because knowing my friends they’d hold off using a public bathroom until they got to my house!! Ha! Then I’d clean the kitchen &
put something yummy in the oven.
The first things I would do would be clear off the kitchen counters and then take out the trash.
The first thing I would do is pick up all the kids’ toys that have been spread around the house! Give them 10 minutes, and they will strew toys everywhere!
Second, I’d clean up in the bathroom. We have a tiny bathroom used many, many times a day by 4 people, so it gets icky quickly. Lastly, a quick vacuum of the carpet and hardwoods would do the trick (oh, and close the door to the office, the one clutter-magnet in the house).
Vacuum. This actually is happening right now.
I’d start dusting. We live in the desert, and the house gets dusty quickly!
The first thing I would have to do… would be to take the laundry basket idea and pick up anything that doesn’t belong in the room. Our living room is the immediate drop off when we come through the door. Shoes, backpacks, mail, kids stuff!!!!, etc…. This is a great tip! I am going to try the 2 hour House Clean this weekend! Thanks!
Clean up kitchen then bathroom.
I woud sweep the front porch, then tidy the living room, front hallway, dining room, and kitchen. A quick tidy and wipedown. and fresh towels in the bathroom. Then sweep and vacuum the floors. Make some sweet tea and a quick pan of brownies for the guests……if there is time then I would do other cleaning chores until the guests arrive. I wouldn’t do laundry just for guests, my kids collect and sort it every morning into a laundry sorter, so that looks organized already. The toys aren’t supposed to be downstairs at all, but if I had time and kids were coming over, I might start cleaning the kids bedrooms.
First I’d send one of my boys to the store for a basket of outdoor flowers. Then I’d pull the welcome mat off the porch and give it a good sweep, knock down any cobwebs and pull the obvious weeds. Then I’d clean the glass in the door and the sidelites. By that time the boys would be back with the flowers and I’d drop them in the stone planter that always sits on the porch. Then we would all pitch in on the inside of the house and run the checklist. Love, love, love that checklist! Thanks for that!
I would have to quickly finish and put away the project of going through every item of my children’s clothing and putting away the too small/wrong season clothes. I’ve been working on it for a couple of days and I am almost done, but it is amazing what a job it is!
The first thing would be to pick up the floors. They are usually littered with all manner of toys and randomness. The second thing would be to clean off the breakfast bar because it accumulates stuff SO fast!
I think Crystal’s plan is a good one – but I think I would be exhausted after two hours of rushing around! Ha ha. I would like to use her plan for the times I want or need to do something else but feel compelled to clean the house first. If I were having guests in two hours, I would definitely pick up and put away, tidy the main bathroom and kitchen, Swiffer the furniture and spray some Febreeze around (dog and husband’s socks that he “refuses” to take care of
) ). Then I would do whatever else I had time for.
I would panic, and get my 4 boys and I busy tidying from loading the dishwasher to vacuuming the living room. Then when the guests arrive, I’d say,”Sorry the house is a mess”!!! I have done this too many times. OY!!
Remove clutter from dining room, kitchen, and great room.
Light candle, put on soothing music….
Definitely dust – I hate to dust! Give me toilet bowls to clean or laundry to do and I’m happy!
I like to keep frozen packages of cookie dough so when I find out that someone is coming over I pop in a tray and not only does the smell of freshly baked cookies fill the room for a homey feel we can also enjoy them with some fresh coffee. Nothing else will matter but enjoying great company. Pick up a pack of dough today, you never know who will drop in on you!!!
First of all I would enlist my family to do the cleaning! There is no reason why I have to clean up when everyone was involved in the mess…I have a 12 yr old son, 9 yr old daughter and 5 yr old daughter… (granted this will cut my time in half so if you did it all yourself it would still be done in 2 hours)
Next, I will gather a family meeting and hand out their checklists. (They love checklists and being able to check off what they’ve done and what they have left to go and my littlest one loves to check off pictures.
)
We have “rounds” Each round is 15 minutes long and the kitchen timer is set or i use my Iphone timer and connect it to my speakers so its nice and loud when time us up.
1st Round
Oldest Child- load and unload dishes… including a scavenger hunt for any dishes around the house.
Middle Child- pick up living room and febreeze the couches
Littlest Child- vacuum living room and hallway.
Mom- change the dining room table cover to a clean one or shine the wood table & sweep entrance, kitchen, and dining floors. (Yes, I am fast)
2nd Round
Oldest Child- scavenger hunt around the house for all trash and take out the trash and replace the trashbags.
Middle Child- Pick up any clothes or stuff on the bathrooms.
Littlest Child- Windex windows (she loves this job)
Mom- kitchen counters, load of laundry and “stage” the living room and dining room
3rd Round
In this round girls go to their room and my son goes to his room and at this point they get 15 minutes to make their bed (which should have been done already) but if they haven’t then they have to make their bed, pick up toys and clothes. After this 15 minutes they get the option of:
A. I can come in and check and any toys that are left on the floor goes away in a plastic container for two weeks. Any clothes on the floor gets counted as minutes of playing time that they lose.
B. I can give them an additional 15 minutes because they are not ready for me and that additional 15 is taken away from their fun time.. (I.E TV or computer time…a high commodity)
While they are in their rooms I am finishing the “staging” and putting in some chocolate chip cookies. (I like to keep ready made dough in my fridge for clean up time.) The cookies help fragrance my home in a comforting chocolate chip smell and my kids get to have their reward for a hustling time efficient cleaning time!
THis whole process takes about an hour!!!
I use the last hour to get me and the kids a little presentable, eat our cookies, relax, and possibly do more laundry if it looks like there’s alot to do. 
I also do spot cleaning while the kids are doing there room…like bathrooms and the rest of any cleaning needed for living room and kitchen.
Instead of using the laundry basket for laundry, I would fill it with all the stuff is laying around and put it in my junk closet until after the company has left. That would give me time to clean bathroom and dust. Definitely hide the dishes in the dish washer!
First I would light my scented candles., than I would vacuum my front room and hall way(We have dogs). Next, I would put away the clean dishes I have sitting on my counter from last night’s dinner. Lastly, I always change the hand towel in my front bathroom and tidy up the bathroom.
The first thing I’d do is pick up the living room. I have so many lovely stacks.
I would be sooooo excited that someone was coming to visit!!!! Then I would dust : )
I’d have to clean up the foyer and then the dining room table. We homeschool and it is always our area out of control with books, projects, laptops, math cd. etc. Thanks for the great hints and checklist.
Love this checklist! Given the scenario though, the first thing I would do is start a pan of brownies and through the dishes in the dishwasher. Then I would straighten up the kitchen and swiffer the hardwood floors from the entrance through the house to the kitchen where we’ll be sitting and swapping stories anyway.
Dust and vacuum….next tackle the bathrooms. Now to get to it as I have family from out of town coming this evening….
I would first pick-up the living room since that is where guests enter, then go to the next room guests go to and finish with the bathroom. I would probably shove lots of items into the bedroom and shut the door
Oops, those rooms are off limits!
Declare a clutter patrol for the children, and clean the downstairs bathroom!
I would have to declutter
I would have to vacuum my main floor!
I would think what to offer for a meal and check out the bathroom.
I would attack my kitchen first, since it is always the messiest. Dishes, counters wiped down and floor swept. Since I have teens, the rest of the house is “usually” in decent shape.. since they keep their messes in their rooms now.
I would make lunch reservations somewhere for me and my guests
That is a great idea too!
Pick up any clothes and start a load of laundry
First it would be to just pick up; clothes that have been folded but need put away, cups sitting on coffee table, mail for the week, and shoes. Then it would be to sweep the main floors and do a quick dusting.
I’d probably defrost a dessert that I usually have on hand for emergencies, clean the downstairs bathroom, and generally tidy up all living areas. The front porch (and side porch) would get a perusal and sweep, too!
The first thing I would do is probably go “frantic” and recruit the kids to start picking up their toys and I would continue barking out commands for the next 2 hours! Sad isn’t it?!?
The first thing I would do is probably go “frantic” and recruit the kids to start picking up their toys and I would continue barking out commands for the next 2 hours! Sad, isn’t it?!?
Close my bedroom door!!! It is a complete disaster area filled with unfolded laundry and bins of all the random stuff I hid in there the last time we had family unexpectedly stop by!!
Picking things up, and just tidying things in general. Maybe wipe down the bathroom sink, etc.
I would clean the guest bayhroom toilet first!
The first thing I would do is pray to calm my anxious heart, then remember hospitality comes before pride, recruit kids to pick up all of their stuff and begin cleaning the floors. I love the post today and I have been wanting to try Meyers cleaning products. Thank you for the encouragement today~
Clean the bathroom!!!
Clean the kitchen counters, and have the children sweep the floor.
Hi!
The First thing I would do would be to race around the main floor and straighten/put away anything that doesn’t belong. I would get the kiddos to help out with this too! Then, I would turn on my Scentsy warmer and start a pot of coffee.
I would clean the bathroom first. The bathroom is the one room in the house that reflects how sanitary and clean you are. Period
Wipe the counters and sweep the floors in the kitchen and dining area.
Clean the bathroom mirror, clear dishes in sink or on counter, wipe counter, tidy living room… and if there is more time – vacuum!
First thing for me would be grab all the toys that are out and stuff them in a bag or box, and hide it in the closet. We only have one major toy cleaning time around here a day…before bed…so right now there are toys littered everywhere….that they ARE playing with…but whenever we have unexpected company, we have to get rid of that clutter! And we hide it so it doesn’t all come back out before everyone gets here. Also, I don’t want anyone to hurt themselves at my house by stepping on a Lego or tripping over the Lincoln Logs. =)
I would definatly Vaccum…I vaccumed the other day and my daughter asked me if I shampooed the carpets because they looked so clean
Oh well. I am a very busy person…..lol
I would put away the laundry on my living room sofa & vacuum.
I would go through the livingroom and kitchen and pick up do the dishes and wipe down the bathroom.
The first thing I would do is start in the mudroom and straighten it out.. It’s the first room everyone enters through.
Take a deep breath and pray Lord help me through this! Then start my missoin of appointing tasks for everyone. I like the trash bag/laundry hamper usage. I will have to try that one on a daily basis, then when impromptu guest arrive it would not be so much to do!
Thanks for the great info, now I just need to do it!
lol…I’m actually pretty lucky right now because my small group from church is meeting at my house tonight so I’ve been getting the house guest ready for a few days already!
However, with 5 cats in the house, I would definitely vacuum both the carpet and the furniture prior to anyone coming over. I’d change the hand towels in the bathroom and check the bathroom mirror…it drives me crazy when our mirror has spit spots! Light a few candles and I think I’d be set.
Hi-
I have small children so I would have them clean up the toys and I would work on wiping off counters and making sure the floors are clean.
I think it is always so funny that when my house is amazing nobody shows up but when it is upside down with just living a day with small children that’s when we have unexpected company. But we can do a quick 5 min clean up with putting all the stuff that is out in baskets in the closet and when the company leaves we sort the stuff and put it all away.
We love to have guests and they come to visit with us not inspect our quality of housekeeping- but I do admit I do take pride in a clean & inviting home.
Blessings!
The first thing i would do is clean the kitchen. When my kitchen is clean I feel so much better! And at least my friend and I could sit in the kitchen at the bar and have a cup of coffee : )
As long as they aren’t going upstairs I would be ok:) but I would have to put some laundry away and make some beds if they went upstairs. I always clean up the bathrooma first if we have last minute guests…especially I’d they have been traveling they wull pribably need to use the restroom first thing. One blessing of not having/liking clutter is there is less frantic cleaning sessions before guests show up.
I would clean the kitchen real fast, vacuum, and clean the downstairs bathroom. My kids clean the upstairs so that always saves me a lot of time. I spray my counters with Mrs. Meyer’s so it always smells fresh even when we don’t have a lot of time to deep clean!
I would do a quick cleanup inside my house but I would get my two teenage sons to quickly go out and do some more mulching! The first thing you see when you get to our house is the pile of mulch!
I would declutter the living room of the kids’ toys so there would be room to start the rest of the cleaning!
Definitely start with picking up toys, then on the dishes
The first thing I do grab a small laundry basket and go through each room, picking up things that are out of place. Once that’s done, the rest of the cleaning is a cinch!
The first thing I would do is rally my 4 children and have each one of us tackle an area of need. Much quicker and more effective than trying to do it alone. My mom always said, “many hands make light work.”
I just spent an hour working on my kitchen last night, so it’s pretty tidy. But, our guest bathroom is a MESS! So, I’d turn on some music, light a candle, grab an iced white mocha from Starbucks with an extra shot and attack the bathroom!
I’d clean the front door glass.
I love the PLAN! Thanks!
I would plant the pansies that are now wilting and waiting in the window box. Take out the greenery and replace it with the pussywillows that are sitting to be arranged. Sweep the porch, shine up the windows, put on a fresh pot of coffee and wait to enjoy the company of good friends.
The first thing I would do is straighten my school room/sitting area as that is the first room you enter when you come into our house. A quick vacuum and a clearing off the flat surfaces makes a huge difference in that room!
I would put on my scentsy pot and pick up the toys. Toy clutter always makes it look messy, if I had time I would sweep/vacuum the main part of the house. ::)
First thing = bathrooms, second = kitchen/dining!
I’d throw my front curtains and couch covers in the wash with some Downy unstoppables and then mop the front room while they dried. A fresh, clean smell goes a long way
Oh my … wash the dishes accumulating in the kitchen sink, vacuum the floors and then tackle all the dog hair on the couch so guests would have somewhere to sit!
I would panic, then de-clutter first!
bathroom!!!!
Well, since my brother is coming through town and staying with us tonight, I have already scrubbed the guest bath (which is also the kid’s bath, yikes!) and washed/dried the sheets… Big stuff already done! I would tackle a few new spit-up spots on the carpet and vacuum, and then we’d be good to go since the boys just finished their mid-day cleanup of toys
I would clean off the kitchen table where I am organizing this week’s coupons! Thanks for the great list of ideas though….
The first thing I would do would be pick up the clutter–paperwork, toys, water bottles, magazines–and then I’d load my diswasher and wipe down my counters. Tx for the great tips re: a 2-hr cleaning!
The first thing I would do is enlist my toddler to help me pick up all her toys from the front room and living room and put them in the baskets where they belong.
I would change the cat litter, because it stinks! (I have 3 cats.) Then I’d have the kids help pick up their shoes, toys, papers, dishes, books, etc. (I have 7 kids.) Our house isn’t dirty, it’s just lived in because we live here:)
I would clean up the toy room, which is so messy that I can’t see the floor! I hope they are coming in more than two hours!
I agree with almost all of these, the front porch, the front door and just pick up and clean off the kitchen counters and table. Praying to remain calm is priority number one. Unexpected company gets my kids to put it in high gear as well for which I am very thankful. I’ve told them I used to be so organized (my friends made fun of me for always having lists). Childbirth wiped all those organizational skills out!
Dishes, Laundry and sweep! then probably shove everything else in the extra bedroom and shut the door, and hope they don’t ask for a tour of the house!
I would have my kids pick up all their toys while I cleared the sink of dishes and wiped down the bathroom sink. Then I’d vacuum & sweep quickly in the living room and kitchen.
Clean the guest half-bath and then hit the kitchen island
I would light a candle and blast some fun music to put me in the mood. I would then set a timer and “let the races begin!” Then I would start with what makes me happiest – laundry, then tackle everything else.
I would head to the kitchen and run some dish water, look and see what I have to put a simple meal together and start the meal and in between preparing the meal, I would seek help from fa,ily members to assist in getting the house in order, when everyone helps it all comes together, a home is not just the womens responsibility, she does not mess it all up and neither should she be the one who cleans it up, everyone including the boys, the young men and her husband should know where things go and how you like things to be done, you start out teaching them when they are babies as to what you expect and need from the, I was raising men and not boys, so that when they married they married for love and not because they needed someone to pick and clean up after them, it is how we teach our children and the girls need to know how to work on and repair cars, how to cut grass, how to paint and others things, atleast be knowledgeable.
I would have the kids clean up all toys and I would do a fast wipe down of the bathroom and make sure there are not a ton of dishes in the sink.
Vacuum and sweep would be the 1st thing that I would do! It is the easiest to let slide when no one is around!
The first thing I’ll do is clean up the downstairs bathroom,change towels, pick up and vacuum the tree main rooms~ dinning room,living room, and kitchen, wipe the counters,put clean towels out, dust dark furniture, pick up shoes off the floor. Turn the music on and light the candle, take a quick shower. Than I can breath…. and smile!
I clean the living room and bathrooms and throw any dishes out into the dishwasher. Then I start picking up in other area/where needed. The front porch is a great place to start and I rarely think of it. I always enter my home through the garage and into our kitchen so thanks for the reminder of the front porch. I am blessed to not have a lot of laundry so mostly I just need to put away any clothing hanging out in the laudry room, which doubles as our guest bathroom.
Today would actually be a decent day for this to happen at my house! One of the few each year
I would want to wipe down the bathrooms and clean my kitchen floor. Maybe a bit of dusting. Otherwise, I’d use the time to whip up some cookies or a coffee cake and a pot of coffee 
Yay for having things semi-under-control on a random Thursday! Maybe I should invite someone over to celebrate!
My first thing is ALWAYS picking up all of the kids’ toys, shoes and socks. With four little ones (8, 7, 3 and 6 months) they somehow get everywhere! Fortunately our front room is a “kid-free” zone and is generally tidy and inviting.
I’d take out the trash and clean the bathrooms.
I would clean off my dining room table. I am working on clenaing it off and keeping it cleaned off, but I am not quite there yet. It is in remarkable shape now though. You can acutally see the beautiful wood surface!
I would unload and reload the dishwasher and then handwash the remaining dishes.
Clean the main bathroom. It is also the kids’ bathroom. Ugh! Need I say more
)
The first thing I would do is clear and wipe down countertops and tables. Next clean the bathroom, then vacuum.
The first thing I would do is head to the front door, to pick up all the shoes that seem to collect there… and then pick up the unruly stack of library books that sits not far from the front door. Then I would be able to start ‘cleaning’!
First thing is to wash the dishes. Anytime I clean up that is where I start. After that, I can actually think straight to see what else needs to be done. But when I see a sink full of dirty dishes, my brain turns to mush!
I would clean up the clutter on my kitchen table and counters, then check that the bathrooms are presentable. I remember many years ago when we lived overseas, my husband’s relatives came over for a visit, and I just didn’t have time to clean up, so I put the baby’s toys, and extra books/papers in a closet. I was so nervous during the visit that they would open that closet and then be hit with all of the junk. Never happened, and many years later I told themwhat I did. I had felt so guilty.
I would start in the kitchen and eating area.
Despite all the toys that tend to make their way to my living room floor (due to my 2 and 3 year olds), I would most likely focus on the kitchen and bathroom. Toys, while sometimes messy, don’t say “dirty” like a kitchen and bathroom that’s not straightened up and wiped down, so those would be my top priorities!!
I would use antibacterial wipes in each of the bathrooms, vacuum the carpet & tile, make sure all beds are made, and clear/clean off the kitchen counter-tops. After that, I would light a few candles and take a deep breath.
Wash the dishes and clean off the kitchen table.
I would clean the bathrooms. This is my least favorite chore and I always seem to save it for the last thing to clean. I need to just clean it first and get it over with.
I’d vaccum every room… I have pets.
Then I would clean off the coffee table and dust the living room.
My first job would be to wash the couple of dishes sitting on the cupboard.
I’d clear all the clutter off the little kitchen table and the top of the dishwasher. No matter how I try to keep them clean piles of stuff seem to grow there!
Get the kiddos into a flurry of excitement of picking up the main rooms to the ticking of a timer. Then start sweeping this huge house full of wood floors. They are nice when they are clean, but OH!!! when they are not. Then go pour a wee bit of Pinesol into all the toilets and sinks. Gives a nice freshly cleaned smell even if the house hasn’t been cleaned in a month.
I would straighten the living room and clear off the dining room table. These are the first things you see when you walk in my home
I would de-clutter the kitchen and family room…too many toys!!
I would vacuum, wipe down the bathrooms, clean up the kitchen (wash dishes & wipe counters), pick up the playroom a little and sweep out the garage.
Tidy the “public” areas – front porch, dining room, living room, kitchen & guest bath. Sweep/windex porch, clean off dining table & push in chairs, fluff cushions & pick up misc items fr living room, empty sink/load dishwasher. Last, make sure there’s a candle/air freshner going.
Oh, definitely floors first! (then the half bath downstairs)
Straighten out the entry way, pick up clutter on all flat areas, which have a tendency to magnetize “stuff”, sweep & steam mop kitchen/living area – hoping dishes are already done & put away. Clean bathroom!! Light a candle, put on coffee or get water ready for tea! Enjoy company! I like that suggestion “Pray”. That should be the first thing on my list.
I would clean the bathroom and pick up the clutter/toys!
I’d pick up all the toys off the living room floor so I could vacuum & then tackle the kitchen mess that I seem to never be able to keep up with!
Swish and swipe the half bath, swiffer the hardwood floors in the main rooms and foyer, high traffic areas. Make some ice tea and lemonade.
The first thing I would do is vaccuum and then spray Febreeze all over the house. We have three dogs and I always worry that is smells.
I’d hurry to finish the horrible dishes that piled up, the whole time being angry we let them get this bad. Then scrub the bathroom (who wants guests to see a dirty bathroom!) and vacuum up all the little graham crackers that end up in the carpet from the little guy.
Do a quick scan to see what dirty things need to be put where they belong ex dishes, garbage, laundry, etc.
I would be sure the kitchen table doesn’t have an clutter on it! Then check the bathroom!
Take a deep breath! I would pick up all the toys i am sure would be covering my living room, vacuum, then get as much done in the kitchen till she got there.
It’s shedding season at our house, so vacuuming would be first on my list. I think it also makes everything look fresher. Clearing off kitchen counters is a good one too.
The first thing I would do is declutter my dining room table – and then make sure all burp cloths are in the laundry!
I’d do the dishes and wipe down the counters, putting away all the non-perishables still on the kitchen table from last night’s grocery shopping….had to bathe the kids, do homework with the first grader and then bed time………never ending hustle after supper every night! I’m the Nana and taking care of the 1st grader and toddler for my VERY pregnant daughter is wearing me out at my age!
The first thing I would do is clean off the clutter from my kitchen counter and kitchen table.
i would pick up everything in our living room – usually toys and some scattered clothes….then vacuum!
First: pick up toys
Second: dust
Third: bathroom
Thanks so much!
The first thing I would do is declutter my entry way bench.
#1 Pray for calm! #2 Sweep the two weeks worth of mail off my dining room table into a basket and hide the basket on the stairs leading to our home office
I would clear off my dining room table and island in the kitchen.
Declutter quickly followed by dishes! Thank you!
First, I’d call my 4 little ones and assign jobs to each one, with instructions to come find me for inspection and a new assignment once they were finished! Then I’d start on the dishes…..There are always dishes in our sink!!! And the dark shiny wood floor stays looking clean for about 5 minutes after I clean it, so I’d definately grab a broom followed by a rag to spot mop. Next I’d definately make a quick cinnamon coffee cake because a home filled with a cinnamon sugar aroma will most certainly cover a multitude of dirt!
Thanks for the fun giveaway oppurtunity!
I am having company tonight, so I will print this checklist to help me finish getting things ready! First thing I plan to do is vaccuum and sweep floors. With 2 little ones who love to get dirty and a gardening hubby, there’s always dirt on the floors!!
I’d run through the house picking up the kids toys and then sweep. I’d also get all o fthe dishes into the dishwasher.
Clean off the back porch (where everyone comes in) and clear off the kitchen counters!!
Take out the smelly trash and shove all the bills and unopened mail in the desk drawer!
Oh goodness! If someone wanted to come over, the first thing I’d do is put down a blanket on the living room floor, toss EVERYTHING laying randomly on my coffee table, couch, carpet onto it, bundle it up and toss it into the nearest closet. What they dont know cant hurt them!!! LOL!
The first thing I would do is DUST!! Then head to the kitchen where my husband is guaranteed to have left a mess. (sorry, but it’s true!) <3
light a candle 1st…then pick up and vaccum…then dust if theres time.
Light a candle, then hit the living room, hallway and guest bath with the vacuum. Next would be the kitchen floors. THEN……EVERYTHING ELSE. I love the 2 hour checklist
I would fold and put away the clean laundry on the couch and pick up the open Easter eggs on the living room floor. Next, clear off kitchen counters!
thank you for the giveaway..
The first thing I would do is pick up the toys in the main area, then sweep the wood floors ( to get rid of the dog hair) and vaccuum the living room. Next would be to clean the bathroom and finally tidy up the kitchen
I would pray first and ask the Lord to bless the fellowship and that what is said and done would edify and glorify the Lord. Next, I’d clean the bathroom while thinking on something quick and easy to serve (Costco pizzas/ready made salad/Madeline cookies or sub sandwiches/chips/Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough). Finally straighten the main rooms. Pray my husband is home to run out and get the food!
I would clean my bathroom, make my bed and tidy up the kitchen. I have to admit that I live alone so surprise company is not too big of an issue most of the time.
I would run through the place quickly and pick up clutter. Usually the first thing I do is double check the bathroom to make sure it’s spotless, but I just cleaned it so I know it’s okay!
Yikes! I’d freshen up the bathroom by lighting a candle, taking out the trash, declutter sink and shine the faucet handle. Then grab an empty laundry basket or two and go around the living room and kitchen picking up items that don’t belong in those rooms. And lastly, make sure I have some snacks and that I look presentable!
I just brought my hubby home from hospital. House is a wreck because I’ve been at hospital with him. Just got a call from his brother and wife – they are coming over for a visit. I need to vacuum or sweep or both – #1 biggest issue. Yet, where am I – on the computer typing this comment. I’m just crazy!
I would get dressed first…. then pick up all of my son’s toys that found their way onto my kitchen floor. Then, bring on my friends, they love me even if I have a messy house.
Hide all the clean laundry that would take at least two hours to put away.
I would probably vacuum and then clean the bathrooms
I would IMMEDIATELY tackle the floor/surface clutter that builds up over the course of the day–mostly books and kids’ toys. We try to do do a big cleanup once or twice per day, but I would definitely be picking up before company came. And lighting a scented candle in the room where the cat litter is!
I’d pick up the family room as that’s the first room guests enter and is where the kids play. Translation = lots of toys! After straitening that room, I’d unload and then load the dishwasher.
The first think I would do is pray for peace! Haha then I would start with vacuuming then cleaning the downstairs bathroom
I would sweep our wood floors, hide the dirty dishes and make sure the bathroom is clean. Maybe bake something if there is time so the house smells yummy!
I would pick up the clutter and scrub the toilets!
I would have to start in the Kitchen by unloading the clean dishes so that I can put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher and get it started. Then the kitchen table would need to be cleaned off. And when I say cleaned off, I mean remove the clutter, put away the pile of mail, throw away the trash and recycling and finally wipe it down. That feels like it could take 2 hours just for that! (although I know it wouldn’t)
I would quickly pick up a few clutter piles and hide them in the spare room! Then I would do a quick wipe of the guest bathroom and clean the white cat hairs off the blue sofa! It would take at least 2 hours to get ready for company!
what would I do to get ready? NOTHING!!! well maybe light a candle- my bffs have all been a joy during the long surgery recovery on my wrist- helping with dishes and laundry- sending me great easy fresh and good for you recipes- taking me shopping if needed.
I would clean off surfaces – I have too much stuff sitting on my dining room table and kitchen counters.
At this moment? The first thing I would do is hide the washing machine! We live in an apartment and have a compact washer that rolls out from the closet…right now it’s sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor–definitely not company friendly!
Besides being in a stage of panic…..
I would take a deeeeeep breath and…..
I would sweep and straighten the front porch and clean the glass front door.
Then I would go into the house and assess the next step.
It would probably be…the kitchen…wash the dishes and make sure the kitchen is clean.
Next the bathrooms, then vacuum the living room. Light candles and have some sort of refreshment ready. Then enjoy my guests….
I’d quick vacuum, run a dust cloth around the family room, wash dishes and maybe straighten or organize the never-ending piles we have laying around.
I’d pick up all my kids’ toys from the living room and anything else (laundry baskets, shoes, etc.) that might be on the furniture or floor. That way when company arrives, the 1st room they come into is clean and welcoming.
I would start in the kitchen. If the kitchen is clean it makes cleaning the rest of the house so much easier!
Yikes! Grab the windex for the dog snot on the front and back storm doors!!
The first thing I’d do is clean my sewing stuff off the dining room table, and organize the office desk (also in the dining room).
My children and I would do one of our “cleanup races.” We would take a timer or an ipod to each room and clean for 2 minutes (or the duration of one song) before moving on to the next place. It’s good, clean fun!
I would straighten the cushions in the chairs, maybe put out a fresh towel in the guest bath. Make a few quick snacks and drinks and enjoy my friends visit. Thank you Flylady!!!!!
Pick up the toys in the living room!
I would make sure both the front entry way and the back entry way have coats & shoes picked up off of the floor, with some help from my kids!
The first thing I would do is clean off the kitchen table and the counter by the telephone which are catch-all areas for magazines, newspapers, catalogs, mail, to-do lists for the week, laptop and other miscellaneous stuff like brochures. (The laundry basket tip is great for this and then sort through it at a later time.) Next, I would hope and pray that the guests would be a little bit late and tackle vacuuming the living room and tidying up the bathroom
I always do the dishes and get the kitchen clean first. Once the kitchen is spic-and-span, I am inspired to get the rest of the rooms clean. I clean the bedrooms by putting everything on the bed and vacuuming first. Then I put everything away. How do I get it done in a short amount of time? The kids help out!
I would mop my floor! I have a new puppy and she’s been leaving me lots of little treats — both #1 and #2 — on the floor and I’ve wiped them up but the floor definitely needs a thorough mopping with my Clorox mop!!!
The Living and Dining rooms need to be vacuumed. To do that, we need to put away the toys strewn about, and the laundry rack needs to get emptied and put in my bedroom (it stays in the living room otherwise because there’s no room for it elsewhere).
I would try to put all of the baby toys as away as possible. Right now our living room looks more like a toy store than a living room and we can’t walk through it without some amazing moves. No one likes to limbo and play hopscotch to get to the couch!
The first thing I would do is pick-up the toys and clutter on the living room floor and on the kitchen counter tops.
I would clean the bathroom and sweep the floors. My house doesn’t look that bad…but the floor need to done REAL bad!
probably would do a quick sweep through the house. I would focus on the living room and kitchen because those are the two most likely places that are going to be seen. then if I had time the bathroom. And I’d put a pot of coffee on and pull out my cute creamer and sugar bowl dish.
The first thing I would do is the dishes! It’s been a buuuuuusy week, and I have a pile of dirty dishes that are driving me crazy! (Guess I should get off the computer and get to it, huh?)
First I would throw everything on the floor, tables, countertops etc into my bedroom and shut the door! I’d still have a lot more to do though!
I would vacuum, dust, clean bathroom, and kitchen!
Well, oddly enough this happened to me yesterday, except it was a friend of my daughters that was in the area. He lives about an hour away. What I did was enlist the help of my kids. While I tackled the kitchen, my daughters 6, 10, 16 and another daughters friend that I watch age 12, each took a room and did a quick tidy up. One cleared the table (I also homeschool) another picked stuff up off the floor and another vacuumed. And we gave the bathroom a quick clean-up.
While they were finishing up cleaning the house I whipped a loaf of banana bread and put it to cook so the house smell good.
All worked out great!
The first thing I would do is the dishes, then vacuum, then tidy the bathroom.
Great tips from Crystal!
Hide my laundry… how often I have done just that!
I usually clean the kitchen and asign my 2 older kids each a bathroom to clean.I think if the kitchen and bathrooms are clean those are the most important since we eat in the kitchen and guests use the bathrooms.
Clean the toilet. I have four little boys. The toilet and the area around it. Granted I do this every day, but esp. if someone is coming over. Then throw all their toys in their bedroom and hope no one goes upstairs!
Clean off the kitchen table, then mop the floors!!!
Bake something that smells yummy and wipe up kitchen
I would focus the spaces my guests would see…which means the living room, kitchen, and bathroom. Mainly load the dishwasher, declutter couters, and a general tidy-up! Oh yeah, and close the my bedroom door so that mess isn’t on display! lol
If we were going to eat I’d figure out if I was cooking or ordering in. My house stays company ready but it hasn’t always been that way. We lost are home & 98% of the contents to fire last Oct. Through the generousity of God loving us through family, church family, friends & community, we were in a new home in 2 months. But now I KNOW we don’t need a bunch of STUFF(clutter) we might someday use. Now if it comes into this house it’s either needed or passes the “really want test.” Which is if we “really want it” then we will wait a bit to get it, just to make sure we still “really want it.”
pick up the floors on the main floor- all dog toys, shoes, books, kids toys, clothes. Then tackle the kitchen counters.
I would definitely have to start with picking up toys.
First thing I do is clean the half bath that guests use including changing out the hand towel.
Vacuum – clear the mail/keys/junk area of the kitchen counter – Run to the hall bathroom – give it a sweep/wipe down – light a candle and make coffee! – Turn on some music – Oh! And check the mirror/brush my teeth!
The first thing I would do, would be to clean the glass on the front door. The second thing would be to remove the fabric covers, put there for the dog, from the livingroom furniture.
Third thing, clean the toilet in the half bath off the entry way. Last, run the sweeper quickly in the livingroom. WHEW!!!!!!!!!!
Load & start dishwasher, then clean the family room, which has a French door for guests to enter. Plus, lock doors to rooms that are messy.
Vacuum the living room, (since it is the first place you enter when coming into our home) and also do a quick clean up of the guest bathroom.
Well the neighbors cat threw up on our front porch so I’d hose that off first. Then, since we live in a really old cottage & the front door opens into the kitchen I’d finish cleaning it. I started earlier today but got distracted. FOCUS FOCU FOCUS. That’s what I like about today’s list. Maybe I’ll use it now even though no one is coming over! : -)
Yeah! The thought of guests makes me happy.
2 hours is plenty of time for cleaning up. My worry is what to eat. I’d go straight to the fridge and pantry and then run to the grocery store 5 minutes down the street to make sure I have drinks and something good to munch on. I’d leave a list of things for my kids to do around the house while I was out; they are teens so that’s a real blessing!
I would definitely need to clean up and give some attention to my front porch! It is not very welcoming in it’s present state!
When I know that company is coming, we always focus on the living room, kitchen and main bathroom. I also turn on the scentsies so that the house smells good. I always do a quick pick up outside of the house because the winds always blow the trash all over the yard.
I did a big grocery shop today and then some batch cooking, so all I need to do now is clean up the kitchen. It looks like a bomb exploded in here! Doing a little bit each day according to a schedule means that there’s never an overwhelming amount to do. Also, I have found that guests don’t seem to see all that you see as long as they are welcomed warmly and have a place to sit!
The first thing I would do is go to the bathroom and give it a quick clean up then vacuum the livingroom and hall and dust, and make sure the dining table was cleaned off, thats about it.
First thing I would do is make sure the main bathroom AKA boy’s bathroom is clean. It has this wonderful little boys smell to it (do you hear the sarcasm). Then make sure the living room is picked up and the floors vaccuumed. House always looks clean when you vaccuum.
The first thing I would do would be to clear all the clothes out of the living room. I’v been slowly sorting through and packing away non-maternity items while removing items to be tossed/turned into rags or given away and trying to figure out what I need in maternity clothes.
I would have to start with the toys our living room most days are playland central. So toys to the kids room and then I would vacuum. I just finished supper so dishes are in dishwasher now and a load is half ready in the washing machine. There is the matter though of the boxes that have our new bee hive in it that need to be assembled but there is not much i can do about that.
Oh my guest are coming! I would stop and pray….then I would one child vaccuum, I would have one run a cleaning rag and some cleaner in the bathroom….one child would clear the clutter off the “catch everything counter” and then empty the recycle bucket (as it is a never ending waterfall). Finally I would wipe the windows at the front door because of doggie prints….light a candle to make it smell good. IF I still had time I would bake some brownies so we could all have a sweet treat while we talked. Before the guest leave…I would pray for them to have safe travel, give them a big hug and the left over brownies for the road.
Be blessed today because you are a blessing to someone!
Smiles and Blessings Abound,
Robin
The first area you enter when you walk into our house is the kitchen/dining room. It is a huge open space. The hubby, kiddo, and I tend to have the bad habit of piling mail, catalogs/magazines, coloring/activity sheets, etc. on the kitchen countertops/island and dining room table. (We need to break this habit!) So the first thing I would do is declutter those surface areas and wipe them down/dust them off. Then I would probably work my way through the rest of this list. What a great resource! Thanks!!
Put the toys away, swipe the bathroom, and put everything away in the kitchen. That should do it.
If I got that call right this minute, I’d be in pretty good shape since we’ve had company today! But the first thing I would do is to take the laundry upstairs, pick up the toys on the floor, and clear off the few things still left on the counter from dinner (we still have one that has to eat dinner tonight). Normally, the clean up would be a little more involved and start in the bathroom. My getting ready always ends with lighting candles – love good smells throughout the house!
Fold the laundry on the couch, wipe off the kitchen counters, wash the dishes, pick up the toys the grandchildren have scattered through the house., but first I will clean the bathrooms..
I would quickly clean the kitchen and main bathroom – pick up the family room and throw some brownies in the oven.
Finish the dishes, pick up the living room, and sweep all the downstairs floors.
Sweep, vacuum & straighten kitchen
The first thing I would do is clean off my kitchen table! It always seems to accumulate days worth of mail and at least 5 sticky notes that are supposed to remind me “to do” important things!
Well, since I’ve been cleaning my messsy house all day, I wouldn’t panic as much as normal….but I would clean the toilets as that’s something I didn’t get to today. I have 2 boys…buff said.
Nuff said…
Loved, loved, loved it. Went to her home page. Great recipes I will be saving a ton on groceries and take out. Also time saving. What do I spend my time on and how do I really want to spend it. Happy Easter to all.
Many thanks for all I’ve learned.
Blessing
njh
First I would attack the bathroom, then sweep and spot clean the floor.
Vacuum cleaner and windex are my 2 bfs
I would put away all the stuff accumulating in our hallway. We are doing some much needed reorganization of bedrooms and all the leftovers are in my hall!
This same thing happened to me this week, but I had a 30 minute heads up. My first step was to straighten the kitchen table and breakfast room area. The dirty dishes were next and then I straighten the family room. I even had time to pull the sheets out of the dryer and make the bed and clean the guest bath. I felt so accomplished when I finished just in time.
The first thing I would do is freak out for a minute or two! Then frantically run through tossing things in any place that can be closed (drawers, closets., dishes in the oven, etc), throw the dogs outside, spray something that smells good and figure out a snack for everyone.
I would clean off my counters and make my kitchen presentable. Make sure I have a snack to serve and make sure the toilet is clean!
I would clean off my kitchen and dining room tables. They always seem to be covered, I move things from one to the other depending on which one I need to use.
Pick up dogs toys and a quick cleaning in the bathroom and turn on the scentsy burner.
Do a quick sweep and get some flowers out of the garden to place on the table. Last I would put on the tea kettle or coffee pot depending on whos dropping by.
Mary
The first thing I would do is clear out the clutter from our tables (and the floor… oops!) in the living room It’s the first room people see and the primary area where we spend time with friends.
What would I do first?? I think I’d clean my kitchen first. Then I would make a wide circle from there and do a quick sweep through each room by pulling everything that didn’t belong and putting it away in its rightful place. Amazing how much stuff gets “set down” for just a minute!!
I would start in the foyer- put all the shoes, jackets, purses, backpacks, etc. away.
I always head for the bathroom first…the living room can have a little dirt on the floor if need be, but a clean toilet / sink and fresh towel is a must!
The first thing I would do would be to pick up the clutter in the living room and dining room (which are attached). Just getting that stuff (folded laundry, mail, baby stuff) put away makes a huge difference.
The first thing I would do is to clear off my front hall table. Then tackle my kitchen counter.
I would clean all the newspapers and magazines off the
ottoman in my living room, as it is the first thing people see
when they enter my house.
Take a deep breath, ask God for guidance and start moving, after I checked my face book page.
I would clear our kitchen bar first. It seems to always have things lingering around!
Definitely vacuum and wipe down the powder room!
Am I the only one here who doesn’t understand the part about 15 minutes to fill the laundry basket with items that are out-of-place and then only 5 minutes to put it all back where it belongs? If it really only took 5 minutes to do this, then I wouldn’t have a clutter issue to begin with. Honestly, I don’t get it, I must be missing something.
I would have to de-clutter. With an active seven month old to chase there seems to be stuff everywhere that gets left in her wake!
First thing I would do is clean up toys!
I would pick up and straighten the living room because it is the first room you walk into.
Crystal, what a blessing to “run into you” again…I just had the pleasure of hearing you speak at Family Life’s Mom Camp at Pine Cove in Tyler, TX:). I’d have to say the first thing I’d do to get ready for unexpected company is to enlist the help of my daughters, ages 6 & 13! One of us would definitely sweep the front sidewalk and patio bc the oak in NB is in full bloom and always a mess!!
I try to keep myself presentable pretty much all the time, but my counter tends to collect mail and the “to do” things that pop up so I would clean that up first. I would vacuum because I have two cats and no matter how often I clean, their fur can be found somewhere
Torch the place! Kidding…I would wipe down the counters and mop my kitchen floor.
I’d have to hit the bathroom first! Then the entryway and living room.
I would have to pick up and put away lots of stuff that never seems to have a home – constant struggle in a small house with a family!
I would start with the kitchen, because that is where everyone always loves to hang out. =)
The first thing I would do is work on clearing the kitchen counter. It is a catch-all for everything! I can’t focus on anything else until that is cleared off.
First, I would panic and freak out over not knowing what to do first. Then I would clean the bathrooms and hide the laundry! Great post, Crystal — very helpful!
The first thing I would do is assign an easy task for each of my four kids to complete. Then I would put away the clean laundry that is sitting on my love seat (with 6 people in the house I’m always doing laundry and their is almost always a basket of clean clothes on the love seat that needs to be folded and put away).
I would tidy up everything I can see. But only at eye level, I’d make some coffe or tea and get that ready, I’d light a candle play some worship music. And pray that the fellowship be sweet and leave in the Lords hands.
Given my homes current condition and the fact that I have been intensely cleaning the past two days expecting company tonight I would dust our large hall light fixture I didn’t get to, but typically I would vacuum if I was expecting company on short notice.
Put a pan of brownies in the oven, make some fresh tea/lemonade, put on some music, light some candles throughout my house, then do a ” walk through” assessment of the areas my guests may see … then go back and divide my remaining time accordingly to straighten up remembering to leave a few minutes to freshen up myself!!
One of the first things I do is put away all the shoes at the front door. Then it’s quickly put everything in a laundry basket that doesn’t belong in family room and kitchen. Then do dishes, vacuum, oh can’t forget the bathroom, and start a pot of coffee to make the house smell good.
first thing I would do: Go to the bathroom.
lol I am 10 months pregnant and if I start moving and doing all those things without using the bathroom first…well, lets just say with a 7-8lb baby pressing on the bladder, I just might have one more mess to clean up! lol
After that though, first thing I would do is clear the shoes away from the front door in case company showed up early they would not have to trip through the entryway!
I actually just faced this dilema tonight – and the first thing I did was fold & put away the four loads of laundry that was spread out all over my couch
I really need to work on doing a complete load of laundry each day (to include putting it away) as we have a great room and having my laundry spread all over the couch instantly makes the room feel so messy. I would wipe off all of my counters/tables/etc, and then I would clean my floors. Hardwood floor + kids + animals = a constant need for a good sweeping/mopping.
Night Ladies! Whew1 checking in late tonight. Still working on Spring cleaning our garage with the family. Then a nice trip to Barnes and Noble so the kids could do some book shopping. I would clean the dining room table. It’s a table that everyone wants to put things on top of – it’s a challenge.
Thanks Crystal for the quick clean up list covering major areas. I’m going to copy it and place it in my home management binder.
We left town, too, and my husband can’t stand to leave the house messy (not a problem any other time, though), so right now it’s not too bad. I’d do a good dusting, sweep the hardwood floor, quick check the bathrooms, and hopefully have time to make a yummy treat. Can’t forget to pray, too, though!
Vacuum we have a lab and a Shepard mix which means a lot of dog hair
Vaccum, swifter, and light a candle.
I would clean the toilets, vacuum and clean off the cluttered table. I then would light a tart so the house would smell good
First things first light those candles and get the house smelling fabulous!!
the first thing i would do is clean up the dirty dishes and wipe down and clean off the counters in my kitchen!! It’s amazing how much collects there is just a couple days while we are busy at work
Love your post! I would clear off my kitchen counters and windex my front door!
All the ideas are great. But nothing is said about feeding your guests. I always keep at least one casserole in the freezer along with fancy rolls or french bread, Now you’ve got an instant meal. If guests only have time for a snack………..store bought cookies and/or ice cream is a quick, easy one. Of course, just relaxing and ENJOYING your guests is the most important.
Wow! I think I would probably start with washing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen floor. Love this guide! Especially the free download.
Make sure the bathrooms are clean!
The first thing I would do is do that quick pick up through the first floor and stack on the steps to take upstairs. Then, tackle the kitchen, because we always end up there!
Love the the two hour list!
I also like to clean with a timer, tends to keep you more focused.
The first thing I would go is look in a mirror. Most homeschooling days I look like I just woke up until I get back from the gym. Yikes!!!
Pick up around entryway, vacuum, and light a candle!!
We practice a whole house pick up every evening so our house is usually very well picked up and clutter free. Where I fall behind is cleaning as that is only done weekly and usually performed hurriedly. When someone unexpected is on the way I need to give the bathroom a quick wipe down and would want time to dust. An extra minute would give me time to put on a pot of coffee.
I would definitely clean the downstairs bathroom! Everything else is pretty much straightened up since I’m expecting company this weekend, but I still have that bathroom to tackle!
Clean the bathrooms, then tidy up the kitchen, any time left dust the floors! I’m not sure I could do all that in 2 hours! I would like to give it a try! thanks for the idea.
Just love the checklist whether company’s coming or not! Thanks.
Check for food to make sure I have something then clean the areas where I know my guests will be in…first floor, not second floor.
Vaccum my rug in living room and clean off eating table, clean guest bathroom.
Vaccum rug in living room, clean off dining table, clean guest bathroom.