We have all been there… cousin Jean is in the area and “wants to stop by.” Personally, I love it when people feel that they can just stop over at any time. I actually made it a goal early on in my adult life to always have the house “guest ready.” Here is my guide to the five quick things you can do to make your house ready for those “arriving in 10 minutes” guests!

1. Room Scan with Pickup

The first thing I like to do is go through the main living areas in the house and do a quick tidy. I put throw pillows on the couches, fold any blankets, put dog toys in Cara’s toy bin, and pick up any dishes or trash. This will instantly make your home feel neat and tidy to you and your company. This is actually a great habit to practice throughout the day, too!

2. Check the Bathroom

Inevitably, people need to use the bathroom numerous times during the day so… chances are… they will utilize this space in your home. I like to quickly wipe the counter, throw towels and clothes into the hamper, close the shower curtain, and check the toilet paper, soap, and trash. I also like to have an extra roll of toilet paper available and in sight of any guests should the roll run out.

3. Check Closet and Entry

This one is super quick and easy. Literally just make sure that there is a hook or hanger available for your guest/s to hang their things and a space for their shoes.

4. Kitchen

If you didn’t already include your kitchen in step one, I would take a minute or two to tidy the kitchen and eating areas. Put dirty dishes into the sink or dishwasher, wipe the counters if needed, and take an inventory of what you can offer to your guests in terms of drinks and snacks.

Oftentimes, we only have water and milk readily available to drink. For this, I make sure our Brita is filled and possibly throw on a pot of coffee or mix up some tea or lemonade. Sometimes I will have baked goods that I have made to offer, but drinks are generally easier to offer than food. I will mention that I always have ingredients for hot dish (I am from Minnesota haha) in case guests come around mealtime. There are many that are easily thrown together that are yummy and use only a few ingredients that generally have a long shelf life.

5. Sit Down and Relax

I never want my guests to feel like they were in any way, shape, or form an inconvenience to me by stopping over. I never like to be cleaning/tidying when they arrive as it may make them feel like their stopping caused me to stress. Once they arrive, don’t worry about what it looks like and offer them your drinks and/or snacks. If it’s later and you have ingredients on hand, invite them for supper/dinner. If they decline, no worries but it shows them how welcome they are in your home.

Bonus: Your house is looking pretty darn good and cleaning later just got a lot easier! :). Happy hosting!

Bonus #2: I’m making my personal cleaning schedule available to you when you sign up for my newsletter! It includes step-by-step instructions on how to create a version that fits your lifestyle too! Check it out on the home page or below! 🙂

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