I pretty much pick up and put away as I go. I was just upstairs before I got on the computer putting away DS clothes and taking down his dirty ones. I try to clean as I go. Plus I don't really have a huge house maybe that helps.

I would usually put I don't answer the door. 30 minutes to me is a warning so I make sure the bathrooms are clean and vacuum. Right now the house is for sale so it is always ready at a moments notice, but my family and friends KNOW..you do NOT just drop by here

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I always vacuum first! My kids make such a mess that I usually vacuum more than once a day. The other things I don't care that much about. If someone comes to visit me then they know to expect it to be a household with kids. lol

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I typically try to keep my house 15 minutes away from being company ready. If I were to have guests coming and they only gave me 30 minutes notice, I would first pick up toys and newspaper from living room and wipe off coffee table and end tables (they are glass) and then I would straighten up both bathrooms and then I would make sure kitchen was presentable..if I have dishes in the sink, they either get put in the dishwasher or I fill the sink with sudsy water (so it looks like I was getting ready to do them). Then I CLOSE THE DOORS to the rest of the house (bedrooms) so no one can see them! Usually the only unexpected guests we get are my parents and they usually call before they leave to come over (they live 1 hr away) so I have plenty of time to straighten up.

DH and I do what we call the "30 minute blitz". I wipe down the bathroom and put out fresh towels, and clean up the kitchen while he picks up, runs the vac on all floors and dusts. That makes the first floor presentable. We just can't let anyone upstairs.

I would just make sure the bathroom is neatened up and the kitchen is clean. 30 minutes would be enough.

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If I had 30 minutes I would make sure my dishes are done, the kitchen table and counters are cleaned off and that the living room is vacuumed.

! The best house cleaning knock outs is when I have someone coming over shortly! I do have to say that if my house is a total disgrace (usually when I go and deep clean the girls rooms)- I will quickly tidy up some of the clutter, set the vacuum by the door and when the people come I will say I was just starting to clean the house when you called- it works!