How Clean is Clean Enough for Company? A Reader Writes...

Dear Donna....
I found your blog a few weeks ago and I have sooo enjoyed it.I did the DEEP clean the first of Nov. We had a big get together here the week before Thanksgiving. 

My husband told me he hates having people over because I go crazy getting everything spic and span. I told him all this needed to be done anyway and having people over is a good excuse to get it done. He tells me I'm too clean--that there was no reason to deep clean before people come over.I should just clean after they leave because it is going to be dirty then with all the kids running in and out.       
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 Men just don't seem to understand it's not the everyday things or the once a week things that needed cleaning. It was those things that you do a couple of times a year that I thought needed to be cleaned before we have 35 people over. 

 

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My home is never not company ready but I like everything to be as perfecly clean as possible when the entire family are at my home. My husband doesn't seem to understand my need to make a good impression esp since I do not work outside the home. 

I'm not as picky when it is my family at our home but when it's his side I guess I do  a lot more cleaning.     Am I crazy?   Teresa

Teresa, Thanks so much for your note. No, you're not crazy..your just a typical woman. 

Funny, my hubby feels the same way about the yard, that you and I do about the house. To me, the yard looks fine..I mean after all--we live in the country! But his reputation is on the line...so he's sensitive about it's appearance. We women feel exactly the same way about the house.

I wonder...is he at all anxious about the yard? Tee-hee!

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 You are right though, it does depend, in part, on who is coming as to how deeply we feel the need to clean.  I know our friends wouldn't be too worried about the cleanliness of our home, but since their homes are immaculate..and much nicer, it's not hard to feel a little extra pressure to make things nice.

Even more importantly, it's a 'party' and it's a special occasion. I've never been to someone's home that wasn't sparkling at the holidays. If we went over for a visit at some other time..it wouldn't be so sparkling.

My hubby isn't worried at all about the state of the house..but I know how bad the bathroom floor needs scrubbing.  The fact is that many of us get used to 'not' seeing the dirt, the cobwebs, the clutter..because in order to get things done, most of us have to overlook stuff just to function. It's like homemaking'triage'.  Bills come before scrubbing..and so do homework projects.

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The trick to not upsetting Dear Hubby's 'equilibrium' is to start WAY in advance so they don't perceive the excess cleaning as overkill. Some hubbies get stressed by the noise and fuss of cleaning.

It really is important to either get more consistent, so it doesn't require all out war on the walls and floors when company's coming...or start a month or so in advance.

Of course, as I said..it isn't until you get close to the deadline that some of those trouble spots become obvious.  Hence the need for those glasses!! If I come up with a good trick for that..I'll let you know. LOL!

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So glad you enjoy my blog! Your feedback meant the world to me today. It was like a sweet little surprise Christmas present.  Thank you for letting me know you appreciate my efforts. I do love to encourage others in their homemaking. :o)

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