Whether your unexpected guests are a welcome last-minute distraction, or not, that doesn’t change the fact that they’ll be arriving soon and the place is a mess!
Fortunately, there’s no need to panic if you receive a phone call telling you that relatives you haven’t seen in years have decided to drop in on you at short notice, and there are a few simple and quick tips you can follow to get the place shipshape before they arrive:
Focus on areas of your home your guests will be sure to use
No point wasting your time and energy cleaning your bedroom or family bathroom, if there’s next to no chance your guests will ever use them. Instead, focus your cleaning and tidying energies on areas of your home you’re almost certain they’ll use, such as your entrance, lounge, kitchen and downstairs toilet. If your unexpected guests are staying the night, then naturally you’ll have to make sure the guest bedroom is clean and tidy before their arrival.
Whichever bathroom your guests are likely to use, it must be clean, in many ways, this is more important than cleaning the lounge or kitchen! Pop a scented candle in there, swap the towels for fresh ones and make sure the toilet is spotless!
In the kitchen, if there are dirty dishes in the sink, load them in the dishwasher or hide them under the sink! If you have a few hours’ notice before the guests arrive, you’ll have time to wash them and put them away. Wipe down all surfaces, empty the trash can and clear any clutter.
Get all members of the household involved
They might be your unexpected guests, but your home belongs to everyone in it, and it’s certainly not unreasonable to ask that they help you give it a quick clean and tidy up. Your kids can pick up magazines, toys and any other items scattered around and store them away in a box or closet, while other adults can help with vacuuming and dusting., for example.
Make sure the entrance is clean and tidy
This will be the first impression your unexpected visitors get, so if you want them to believe you live in a clean and tidy home (even if the opposite may be true!), make sure this area is not just free of dirt and clutter, but looks welcoming. If you have some scented candles, light one in the entranceway, or close to it, and they’ll be welcomed with a sweet fragrance.
Tidy shoes away where possible, and hang up any stray coats and jackets.
Grab a duster, a pack of disinfecting wipes, and work around your home
You don’t need to be meticulous in your cleaning, sometimes a quick dust and wipe down of surfaces is all it takes to make a home look more inviting, and less grubby.
Depending upon just how last minute and unexpected your guests are, you might have time to call up a cleaning service and have them come in and blitz the place before they’re due to arrive. This will leave you free to think about how you’ll entertain your guests and what you’ll offer them to eat and drink!
