Whew, made me tired!

Here's a quicker way. Do #1, skip everything else and turn OFF all the lights! LOL.. If there's no light, there's no mess to see!

Seriously, these are good tips up to #6! Instead of vacumming, if you have a swifter sweeper, use it. It's faster and easier to pull out and put away.

As for dusting, use a hair dryer and just blow it away. It'll settle back but not until companies are gone. Better yet, I have a swift duster and just zip it here and there. That thing is magic!

I've actually did that too within the 10 minutes warning from my friend.
I also get a giggle everytime my sister tells me how can I keep the house so clean and dust free ;o)

Well that's cute and excellent advice, but my friends come to visit me, not my house, I presume. If they don't find themselves comfortable because there is dust on my television, or dishes in my sink I guess they'll have to not come on back...LOL!
I manage 4 apartment buildings and have very little free time - if somebody can't appreciate that I may not win a housekeeping award, I guess they'll just have to pass my house by...
Suzan J

"A few more minutes to go through the box in the closet ...".

Unh-unh ... about an hour and a half, maybe?

ole joyful

Well, I decided to try just 10 minutes in my kitchen this morning. DID not work! Even so, I overlooked the stuff I wanted to wash up, and didn't count the washing time.

I will tackle some other rooms now, and take a stop watch along to see how long it takes me to get my rooms in order.

Mind you, I am not trying a really quick fix, but to see how long it takes me per room to make it truly nice looking.

Also, I didn't stash anything anyplace, I put everything in its place.

Moni

Those are some great tips, especially if you have dogs- either a candle or spices on the stove. I hate drop-in company, I'm always embarrassed by the tumbleweeds on the floor (dog hair) and the dust (wood stoves make a lot of dust). I would love to have a good 10-30 minute warning! Lately though it's been knock-knock company. We have a driveway alert system but it's broken, we need a new one since Woody has a new friend who just drops in. I wish he'd call first.

AFTER drop-in company leaves, I clean. How stupid is that? lol

I'd say that anyone who gives 10 minutes notice or worse, drops in, deserves what they get.
Flamey, you need to nip that one in the bud. I'd answer the door and say, "Oh gee! I wish I had KNOWN you were stopping by, now is just not a good time."
(Actually, I prolly would not, but you COULD say that. LOL.)

You know what my DH would say to that, 'If you cleaned the house everyday then you wouldn't have to run around the house like crazy right before company comes'. As I so often do! LOL Sometimes I want to whack him side of the head! Also LOL!
Clare

My parents stopped by today to drop something off. We had a nice visit. At the end, mom looked around and said "So what have you been doing, now that you are off?". She didn't say it, but I certainly HEARD "because you certainly aren't cleaning" - ROFL!

I am not a good housekeeper. When unexpected guests arrive and there is enough room to sit on the couch, I call it good.

Dances.

Better idea is to keep the house picked up at all times.A lot less stress.While i'm not a neat freak,i keep the house presentable most of the time~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Having said that,now they may find me not as presentable.LOL I'm one of those who clean house in my jammies and don't get dressed til i'm done.Also as someone else said,if you drop in on that short a notice,you deserve what you get.
Of course there is only dh and i here now so it's a lot easier to keep things up.
Kathi

I get drop in company all the time, living in a small town.

While my coffee is still brewing in the morning I do a 10 minute front house sweep (just in case). Then I chill with a cup of coffee.

I usually get up around 5:00 am, and most company doesn't drop by before 9:00. So, sometimes around that time I do a little self grooming so I don't scare anyone.

But, my jammies go on as early as 7:00 pm. But, none of my jammies are revealing in any way. So, if I get caught in jammies at least I can still my head out of the door.

Gayle

My Mom once pulled that off, cousins had phoned to say they were on the way. She had a mess in the kitchen, stashed everything in the oven. After they left, she put the oven on to pre-heat for dinner. Can you imagine the smell and mess as her plastic Tupperware bowls melted?

All I asked is my guests don't write their names in the dust on my furniture.......

A squirt of pledge can make the house smell better than any candle.....

Lori

I'd love to have a Better Homes and Garden house, but let's face it - we're only human after all!

You can either love me for me or leave me as far as I'm concerned. Anyone who steps foot in my home and makes any hint/reference or comment towards my housekeeping skills will immediately be handed a vacuum cleaner.

The Nerve!

Well, in the other rooms I didn't do the 10 minute time frame either. But then since my power was off, I just hadn't gotten back to normal. All that's left now, is making the beds, and putting two baskets of laundry away.

I had company, and we left, then I ran some errands. I better hurry and do the bed before Jerry gets home. ;)

Overall, my house is like it is, when company gets here, expected or not. I wouldn't want anyone to think I lived in a Better Homes and Garden house. LOL

Moni

You guys make me feel so much better...that I'm not the only one! I feel such a rush all the time and next thing I know, Xmas is back again. Phew... need to slow down...

it akes me 10 minutes just to vac! it's new and heavy, and i end up on the sofa after, lol....

Yeah, right. I couldn't clear a path in my LR in ten minutes! LOL I'm thinking this doesn't include Christmas time?

I was going to clean my front three rooms today LR/DR/Kitch. Figured it would take about 3 hours. It's still not done. I'm still on the computer. I don't feel guilty.