Unless I have at least a week of warning, I am usually completely unprepared for company. Every counter is cluttered with week-old mail and magazines, dishes sit unwashed in the sink and there's dog hair, well...everywhere. Yet, my friends and neighbors still somehow believe that we keep our home spotless. That's because when someone calls 5 minutes before they pull the pop-in, I've got my strategy ready. I've mastered the art of fake-cleaning. I know what rooms they'll see and what rooms they won't and more importantly, I know which spots send that "clean" or "unclean" signal to my guests (afterall, they're all the same things I notice in other people's homes). So, here's a quickie course on making your last-minute guests believe you have it all together.
1 - Make sure the first room/area they see is clear of clutter, maybe add a couple of accents if you've got 'em. My front door opens to the kitchen, so if my kitchen island is cluttered (which it usually is), I clear it and toss some fruit in a bowl as a centerpiece. The unopened mail and week's-worth of newspapers get tossed in the junk drawer (you know you have one) or in another room.
2- Figure out where they'll likely be hanging out - and do a once-over. For most people, it's the kitchen/family room area. Once again, clear the clutter, fold errant throw-blankets and fluff the pillows! If stinky dishes are filling the sink, load up the dishwasher to get them out of sight. A clear space reads as clean when your guests aren't looking too hard!
3 - Everyone needs to visit the loo at some point, so make sure yours is presentable. If you have a powder room or main bathroom that your guests use, do a quick wipe-down and put out clean towels.
4 - Scent is a powerful sense, use it. Keep a scented candle on hand and light it as soon as you get the "I'll be over in 5" call. If the first thing your guest smells when he/she walks in the door is your dog, then all of your fake-cleaning is for nought.
5 - Speaking of dogs...clean up as much evidence of your pet as time allows. My dog has claimed our couch as his home base, so it always has traces of dog hair (and sometimes, much more than just traces of it...) I keep a full lint roller and mini vac handy to clean it as best I can before someone stops by. If you have a feline friend, for goodness sake, put the litter box out of site!
These little tasks literally take me about 5 minutes to rush through before I get that knock on the door. And believe me, if I can do it...anyone can. Do you have your own tricks for making your home presentable at the last minute? Share them!
