As someone who loves to host guests for everything from full-blown celebrations to impromptu happy hours, my goal is to always keep our home guest-ready. But this has become infinitely more difficult now that we have a 2-year-old running wild.
Over the last couple of years since our son was born, I often have found myself just trying to get out of “911 mode.” This is when things get so messy that I can’t function until it is addressed — and that only means tackling the bare minimum of what needs to be done.
This reactionary approach to cleaning left us in a place where we didn’t feel comfortable having guests over, ever. So, I became determined to find a better way.
HERE ARE SOME TIPS THAT HAVE HELPED ME KEEP A GUEST-READY HOME WITH A SMALL CHILD:
CREATE A CLEANING SCHEDULE
Break up cleaning into daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly cleaning and organizing tasks. You can find many versions of these schedules online, or email me at hello@gathergulfcoast.com and I’ll share mine.
INVOLVE YOUR KIDS
Children have a natural desire to help, so let them! Pull up a step stool to the washing machine and hand them the clothes. Give them a rag and spray bottle of water to wipe surfaces. You can even get them their own mini versions of your cleaning tools.
CLOSING TIME
End every day with a “closing-time” routine. Include tasks like starting the dishwasher, sweeping the kitchen and laying out clothes for the morning.
GIVE EVERYTHING A HOME
A well-organized space has a place for everything. Things pile up and create messes when they don’t have a designated spot. Also, put things away when you’re done with them. This may sound simple, but it’s very easy to stay stuck in the habit of not doing this.
STUFF = MONEY = TIME
Clear out clutter often. Less stuff equals less stuff to clean up. Consistently make time to gather items for donation that are no longer being used. All the stuff around your house was once money, which was once your time; reclaim your time and space by getting rid of things.
GRANT YOURSELF GRACE
Finally, know that everyone understands that you live in a home, not a museum. Children are messy. You use your kitchen to cook meals. Your friends and family recognize that.
At the end of the day, don’t let the state of your home stop you from entertaining. Your guests won’t remember what it looked like; they’ll remember how you made them feel, and they’ll be grateful to be in the company of you and your cute kiddos.
