I tidy up clutter, clean the hall bathroom, arrange the pillows, close the drapes a bit, get some snacks ready and light the candles.

Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

Pine Sol is one of the best product we use for our camper toilet. It makes it so much more bearable to clean out the toilet .

I had a friend that would run into the bathroom as folks pulled up in the drive way to shake a pinesol bottle then screw the top off and stand the openen bottle behind the toilet….she smiled as she walked out of the bathroom as she explained”there, the bathroom is clean!”
     My hint is: to clean off lamp shades use a ‘TAPE ROLLER’ clothes lint brush.
       Thanks Karen for the great deals you find!!

Hang a large tote bag on your shoulder for pick ups along the way, and dip a roll of paper towel in sink of water with nice smelling cleaning liquid and wring out excess liquid. Pull off a few sheets at a time for wipe ups as you move from room to room. 

A quick dust and vacuum works.

I grab a box instead of a laundry basket (mine are always full!) and start filling it up with everything laying around. Next, I get out the febreeze to freshen the house up. Then, off goes the TV and on with some soft rock music. By the time my company arrives, I usually have a full tea pot ready with some light snacks. Tea is our family tradition. I do use pinesol for the tile in the mud room where the dogs spend time drying off before entering the house. It works really great on pet odors!

Do a handswipe across the kitchen table so all the papers and junk fall into the laundry basket I’m holding against the edge, throw the basket in the laundry room.  Quick wipe of the coffee tables with a microfiber cloth, pour Pinesol in toilet, lift the lid, shreik in horror.  With eyes closed, use a wet-wipe to wipe down the — you don’t want to know!  Wipe the sink out with wet wipe (a new one, of course).  Rush back into the living room, grab all the kids’ junk, unfolded laundry, computer gear, etc, etc, throw that into daughter’s bedroom (it’s such a wreck, you wouldn’t know that I threw stuff in there).  Close the door.  Take out pen and paper, write a big note “Do not open door.   Crazy Aunt Lois is sleeping.”  Tape it to daughter’s door.  Hustle back to bathroom, flush toilet, put out extra roll of paper — no lookie-lou’s going searching under my sink.  Grap aroma candle, light match and pour a glass of wine as I take in the beautiful job I did in cleaning up the mess I call home!

I’m sorry to say that I just don’t tolerate unexpected or short-notice company. I am wheelchair bound and, unless my helper is present, I wouldn’t be able to perform the chores you suggest. AND, even when I could, I consider people who “drop by” to be extremely rude.

The way I handle those who let me know they will be here shortly, I tell them this is not a good time to me and “Let’s schedule a time when it is convenient for BOTH of us.

If they are at my door, I tell them the same …….. AT THE DOOR.

Ann Landers addressed this issue many times and she also said it is the height of rudeness.

Pick up everything and put it into the spare bedroom, including the cats!
Light a candle, run the vacuum and try to look casual!

Make sure the bathroom is clean. Use airfreshner, get dirty dishes out the way.  Hope that my company thinks I spent hours cleaning!

I rally the kids, start rumba and tackle the bathroom first, then the kitchen sink, and just pick up the misc. stuff laying around.   Most people who are going to show up with only 30 minutes notice probably know me well enough that I won’t be too terribly embarrassed.

I try to keep my house clean daily so if some one shows unexpected, I don’t have to do too much!

Ready, set, go! Put Pinesol in toilets, let soak and flush just before company arrives. Put break and bake cookies in oven! Febreze the couches and curtains! Use the  swiffer wetjet mop with febreze in the cleaning solution. Wipe counters and tables. Toys go in bin under the stairs. Take cookies out of oven, voila!

Wow! There are some great tips here. Especially the Pinesol tips. I usually run the vacuum since I have a doggie. Clean any clutter off counters and table and wipe down. Then fluff pillows on couch (not sure why I do that), sweep front porch if needed (want them to feel welcomed) and pick up all doggie toys. 

put pinesol in toilets and let set then run the sweeper and put dishes in dishwasher clean off kitchen table because it seems to catch all the misc things take dirty clothes out of bathroom and put in basement by washer and wipe mirrors in bathroom. if I really like you i have frozen balls of chocolate chip cookies that I will throw in the oven…..

I keep an extra laundry basket handy and grab extra stuff that may be lying around. I put some toilet cleaner in the bathrooms and I spray a little febreeze with Gain. I do try to do daily cleaning to prevent it from looking awful.

Stash the dirty dishes in the oven (but don’t forget about them)

If laundry is built up I put in pillow cases and roll downstairs to get out of way.  Pinesol the toilets and faucets, clean any spots on the bathroom and kitchens floors with a dish towel rinsed in pinesol and water and use foot to move towel around. Wipe off kitchen counter tops, clean around front door of handprints and febreze furniture.  Ready to go.

I also fill sinks with Pinesol and water but I do that in both bathrooms. I burn a highly scented candle in the livingroom and I hide all dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Turn on the ceiling fans, turn down the lights and I’m ready!

I put cinnamon sticks in the oven while I pick up the clutter and I fabreze the throw pillows on the couches.  What a fragrance!

I drag out the vac and other cleaning supplies and just pretend that they caught me getting ready to clean up .

I pick up any clutter in the main living area and spruce up the guest bathroom. I don’t worry about any other areas of the house if someone is just stopping by.  Chances are they won’t be inspecting every room in the house.

i throw all clutter in a clothes basket and hide in closet,use my duster on furniture,pour lestol on kitchen tile and mop,then light a lot of candles.

I was just talking on chat blog yesterday , telling people “awe there is nothing like the smell of pine sol” I love the original smell, it reminds me of growing up and that feeling that just from the smell alone around the home, its fresh and clean!!! <3

I straighten up real fast. Close the doors to the rooms so noone can see in and set out some candles to burn to make it smell good in the house. Then just keep them in the kitchen and living room and ask do you guys want to go out for drinks and apps. and relax and get caught up with what you’ve been doing. Blow out the candles of course before you leave. lol.

with two small children, everything is messy and constantly sticky. or its do not put that crayon on the wall and how am i going to get it off? its a mad house most of the time, so pine sol makes it easier because with a quick swipe, its clean, and i know that it is REALLY clean, and the smell is amazing!

I have a messy husband who is a professional chef and a cat that likes to get into everything.  I  work 50 hours a week and have to and love to use pine sol!  It is easy and clean and I love that when I have quickly cleaned it smells clean.

Well since I do most of the cleaning, I usually break out the wood floor polish and quickly mop the hardwood floors so they shine.