Holidays are prime times for unexpected visitors to your home, and nothing can be worse than Aunty Violet calling you up out of the blue and inviting herself and her tribe over, and giving you little more than a days’ notice, yikes!
Not only does that give you little time to prepare yourself mentally for the onslaught, but the time that you can spend physically getting your home ready, is limited, too. However, panic not and take our advice on how to get your home quickly shipshape for last minute guests and visitors:
Focus your efforts where they are most needed:
If you know that a lot of time will be spent in the living room, for example, and the place is a tip, then focus your main efforts there. Buy some fresh flowers and pop them in small vases dotted throughout the home, which will look pleasing and smell good, too.
Spruce up your bathroom:
Your bathroom will naturally be a room that unexpected guests will also frequent, and there could be nothing more embarrassing than a dirty loo, a soap dispenser that’s out of soap, or a shower thick with residue! Handy disposable antibacterial wipes can see most bathrooms at least looking and smelling fresher, even if they really require a deep clean…what Aunty Violet doesn’t know, hopefully won’t hurt her!
Buy a scented plug in or diffuser to make the room smell fragrant, or even light some scented candles and pop them on the windowsill (provided they are not a health and safety hazard!)
Act fast!
You don’t have to spend hours slaving to get these rooms looking clean and tidy, there are several short cuts you can apply, such as sticking a sock on your hand for quickly wiping surfaces down, using large containers and baskets for throwing dirty laundry into, or simply throwing ‘homeless’ items behind a closed door to a room that guests won’t be privy too, such as your bedroom. However, acting quickly and getting things done while you’re motivated, will help you feel more relaxed before the guests arrive.
Ambient lighting:
It’s amazing how much cleaner a room can look if it’s dimly lit! Not only is dust less easy to spot in low light, but it will help create a welcoming glow for guests. Use lamps to create the effect, or light an array of candles for an even softer, flickering glow.
Should your home need a little more than a ‘quick fix’ solution – and Aunty Violet is known for being unforgiving when it comes to cleanliness – why not call in a team of professional cleaners who will blitz the place from top to bottom, so that even Aunty Violets high standards would be met!