Company

Prepare a company kit with some key items - table cloth, center-piece, quick to prepare foods in the freezer, music, games, etc. That way, if company arrives unexpectedly, or on short notice, you'll be able to get things set up quickly, and look like you're a fantastic home-maker. Plus it will give you time to get yourself ready and clean the house, rather than running around finding things or even having to go to the store.

Cleaning

Concentrate on important cleaning - those areas most likely to be seen by company. This will save you time and energy. These areas might be the entrance hall, living-room rugs, kitchen (you should be tidying up the kitchen every time you go in there, it only takes a couple minutes and a clean kitchen always makes you feel better), the bathroom, and maybe the guest bedroom.

As long as the place is not cluttered, surfaces are clean, dishes put away, prize posessions are dusted, etc. people won't go around looking for a mess. Realize that most people won't go around wiping white gloves on things looking for dirt and dust. You can always dim the lights and put out candles if you don't have time to get things clean enough. But remember, you should be doing small chores whenever you have free time, so there shouldn't be that much to clean up.

When cleaning quickly, remember that somethings have more bang for the buck. For example, if your rugs have fringes, vacuum them so that they are straight - it makes people think the whole house is straight. Remove any clutter - again, this is something easy to do in your spare moments every day. If you have white furniture, make sure it's clean, and people will assume the darker furniture is clean.

Last minute cleaning

For the bathroom, just before company arrives (hopefully your family is done in there), use spray window cleaner and a paper towel to go over the surfaces.

Dust the flat surfaces of tables and counters.

Clean the glass on cabinets and TV screens with window cleaner and a paper towel.

More organization tips

• Lists Setting up a calendar and lists to assist in the organization process.
• Message Center Setting up a central place for messages and important information.
• Are you organized? A quick quiz to find out how organized you are, and how much you can do to make yourself more organized.
• Make your own organizer Making your own organizer to track tasks and dates.
• Telephone tips Ways to save time and frustration with the telephone.
• Errands and appointments Making the most out of errands and appointments.
• Using short periods wisely What to do when you only have a few minutes.
• Mail How to handle mail efficiently.
• Housework Make housework more productive and effective.
• Company Preparing for, and entertaining, company.
• Company Kit Setting up a kit for when company arrives on short notice.
• Each evening Preparing for the following day.
• Simple tidying Life can be easier if you set up areas for situations, tyding up the whole house.
• Laundry Ways to save time and money with the laundry.
• Distributing the Burden You don't have to do it all yourself, you can share the load.
• Delegation How to delegate effectively.
• Child's room Keeping your kid's rooms tidy.
• Storage Where to put things.
• Pack rat How to avoid being a pack rat.
• Messy Closet Cleaning out a messy closet.
• Garage Sale How to have a successful garage sale.
• Moving Sorting through your stuff for a move.
• Prevention Some ideas to prevent cleaning chores.
• Odds and ends How to deal with odds and ends that just kind of show up to clutter a room.
• Organizing Your Home Basics of organization.

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