What's the first 'dirty' thing you notice in someone else's house?

[Anonymous]

Light switch plates. If there's dirt on those, I'm usually pretty horrified.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I only have to see one thing that tells me the whole house is dirty.

refrigerator full of magnets and other things like drawings, photos, cards ...

That alone tells me I need to limit my visit or risk getting sick.

How odd. My frig is covered, yet I spent time cleaning the inside, washing out the crisper, etc this morning.

[Anonymous]

Smell and pet hair. Food stains on furniture also stands out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the above, that "non-obvious dirt" is fine, but clutter everywhere is very noticable. I know many people who moved in YEARS ago and still have entire rooms that are unpacked/not organized. "Guest rooms" where they just keep STUFF.

Here's a hint...if you have boxes and boxes of items you haven't unpacked in years, you don't need that stuff. Throw it away or donate.

1/2 of our guest room is like that. I wish we had the time to go through it. But we tend to prioritize fun weekend activities and vacations over staying home to sort through old stuff. Maybe we will pick a long weekend this year.

You don't have to do it all at once. Pour a glass of wine, put a Netflix movie on your iPad, and clear out one box. It will take you 20 minutes if you are ruthless and efficient, and an hour if you hem and haw. Take the donation items and put them in a bag in your trunk. Put the other items where they belong. Put the storage items (like holiday decor) in proper storage, like garage or basement. You don't have to do it all at once!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the above, that "non-obvious dirt" is fine, but clutter everywhere is very noticable. I know many people who moved in YEARS ago and still have entire rooms that are unpacked/not organized. "Guest rooms" where they just keep STUFF.

Here's a hint...if you have boxes and boxes of items you haven't unpacked in years, you don't need that stuff. Throw it away or donate.

1/2 of our guest room is like that. I wish we had the time to go through it. But we tend to prioritize fun weekend activities and vacations over staying home to sort through old stuff. Maybe we will pick a long weekend this year.

You don't have to do it all at once. Pour a glass of wine, put a Netflix movie on your iPad, and clear out one box. It will take you 20 minutes if you are ruthless and efficient, and an hour if you hem and haw. Take the donation items and put them in a bag in your trunk. Put the other items where they belong. Put the storage items (like holiday decor) in proper storage, like garage or basement. You don't have to do it all at once!

What if I have a guest room, but don't have a car, garage, or basement?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fresh flowers, or lack thereof.

What's on the TV, e.g. sports, Fox News, cooking channel.

Books, or lack thereof.

There's no such thing as a "lack" of fresh flowers or books. I am extremely well-read. I have a master's degree in English from GW. But I don't keep tons of physical books. I have about two shelves of my very favorites. The rest, I've passed on to friends or family, or given to Goodwill. Stories live in my head and my heart, not on a shelf, gathering dust. I don't spend money on books; I get them from the LIBRARY for free! I also listen to audiobooks during my commute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the above, that "non-obvious dirt" is fine, but clutter everywhere is very noticable. I know many people who moved in YEARS ago and still have entire rooms that are unpacked/not organized. "Guest rooms" where they just keep STUFF.

Here's a hint...if you have boxes and boxes of items you haven't unpacked in years, you don't need that stuff. Throw it away or donate.

1/2 of our guest room is like that. I wish we had the time to go through it. But we tend to prioritize fun weekend activities and vacations over staying home to sort through old stuff. Maybe we will pick a long weekend this year.

You don't have to do it all at once. Pour a glass of wine, put a Netflix movie on your iPad, and clear out one box. It will take you 20 minutes if you are ruthless and efficient, and an hour if you hem and haw. Take the donation items and put them in a bag in your trunk. Put the other items where they belong. Put the storage items (like holiday decor) in proper storage, like garage or basement. You don't have to do it all at once!

I'm actually of the mind that sometimes it's better to leave things packed away. We have books and other items still in boxes. I know which box they are in and I have been able to go to the box and find an item (like a study guide) when I've needed it. Not everything has to be on display.

The thing to focus on first is organizing the garage, basement, closets so that you have a nice neat place to put boxes of decorations, gift wrap, etc. It's when you just unload, unpack with no clear place to put things that becomes problematic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would you notice in the first place? I model my house after the Weasely's and Miss Frizzle, not the Dursely's.

Fictional houses overrun with ghouls and yard gnomes are magical and quaint.

Actual houses overrun with mice, bugs and dirt are just disgusting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jesus. The first thing I notice is that we are all working our asses off in a high COL place trying to do the best we can with jobs, family, etc. my hous is messier than I would like in an ideal world, and I expect yours will be as well. Truly dirty or messy to the point of hoarding is different, but garden variety 'I didn't have time or energy to clean as I might like' after working all day and dealing with kids, just is a fact of life.

I think all this is fine for day-to-day. But if you can't clean up a bit for guests, then when DO you clean? Don't have guests over.

Absolutely, I should definitely make sure to clean up before a play date with one and four year olds because they won't scatter the toys or mess up the kitchen. I have had plenty of people come over plenty of times so I feel just fine hosting, even if you prima donnas don't approve.

LOL. This sounds like the type of house where you come over for a play date and feel like you need to bathe yourself and your kid when you leave.

Nah. PP sounds like my people. We clean before people come over but it's a small house and there will be books stacked on the counter and toys in the living room. Because the living room is the play room. No active dirt, but Martha Stewart we are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the above, that "non-obvious dirt" is fine, but clutter everywhere is very noticable. I know many people who moved in YEARS ago and still have entire rooms that are unpacked/not organized. "Guest rooms" where they just keep STUFF.

Here's a hint...if you have boxes and boxes of items you haven't unpacked in years, you don't need that stuff. Throw it away or donate.

1/2 of our guest room is like that. I wish we had the time to go through it. But we tend to prioritize fun weekend activities and vacations over staying home to sort through old stuff. Maybe we will pick a long weekend this year.

You don't have to do it all at once. Pour a glass of wine, put a Netflix movie on your iPad, and clear out one box. It will take you 20 minutes if you are ruthless and efficient, and an hour if you hem and haw. Take the donation items and put them in a bag in your trunk. Put the other items where they belong. Put the storage items (like holiday decor) in proper storage, like garage or basement. You don't have to do it all at once!

What if I have a guest room, but don't have a car, garage, or basement?

If you can't store your stuff properly in the space you have, you have too much stuff. Period. If it has to live in boxes, it's not really part of your home, and it needs to go. There are countless ways you can organize in small spaces--look on Pinterest for ideas. Really, what is in these boxes? High school yearbooks? Old swimming trophies? Pre-baby clothes that you honsetly will never wear again? Aunt Edna's doily collection? GET RID OF IT!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't look at baseboards and I don't care about dishes in the sink. We don't have a dishwasher so I'm not going to judge others for what we do ourselves (though we try to wash everything before having company). Ditto to stuff on the dining room table. We only have a dining room table, no kitchen table, so it's sort of all-purpose. I notice this stuff but it doesn't bother me.

Stuff on the couch so you can't sit down I would notice more. Or actual dust on shelves or leaves and twigs all over the floor when you walk in. Cat or dog hair everywhere. That sort of thing. But nothing's that big a deal, really. If someone invites me over I'm happy to go. I don't spend my time judging their cleaning standards unless the place is really filthy or looks like a hoarder's house. In fact if it's sparkling clean I may feel jealous!

First comes jealous. Then comes judgement. Then comes bitter. Where are you from, PP? How long have you been here? Not being snarky, just making an observation.

I'm from philly and have been in DC area for 10 years. No major judgment or bitterness yet!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the above, that "non-obvious dirt" is fine, but clutter everywhere is very noticable. I know many people who moved in YEARS ago and still have entire rooms that are unpacked/not organized. "Guest rooms" where they just keep STUFF.

Here's a hint...if you have boxes and boxes of items you haven't unpacked in years, you don't need that stuff. Throw it away or donate.

1/2 of our guest room is like that. I wish we had the time to go through it. But we tend to prioritize fun weekend activities and vacations over staying home to sort through old stuff. Maybe we will pick a long weekend this year.

You don't have to do it all at once. Pour a glass of wine, put a Netflix movie on your iPad, and clear out one box. It will take you 20 minutes if you are ruthless and efficient, and an hour if you hem and haw. Take the donation items and put them in a bag in your trunk. Put the other items where they belong. Put the storage items (like holiday decor) in proper storage, like garage or basement. You don't have to do it all at once!

What if I have a guest room, but don't have a car, garage, or basement?

Do you have overnight guests over? If not, then maybe convert that room to a storage area with shelves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the above, that "non-obvious dirt" is fine, but clutter everywhere is very noticable. I know many people who moved in YEARS ago and still have entire rooms that are unpacked/not organized. "Guest rooms" where they just keep STUFF.

Here's a hint...if you have boxes and boxes of items you haven't unpacked in years, you don't need that stuff. Throw it away or donate.

1/2 of our guest room is like that. I wish we had the time to go through it. But we tend to prioritize fun weekend activities and vacations over staying home to sort through old stuff. Maybe we will pick a long weekend this year.

You don't have to do it all at once. Pour a glass of wine, put a Netflix movie on your iPad, and clear out one box. It will take you 20 minutes if you are ruthless and efficient, and an hour if you hem and haw. Take the donation items and put them in a bag in your trunk. Put the other items where they belong. Put the storage items (like holiday decor) in proper storage, like garage or basement. You don't have to do it all at once!

What if I have a guest room, but don't have a car, garage, or basement?

If you can't store your stuff properly in the space you have, you have too much stuff. Period. If it has to live in boxes, it's not really part of your home, and it needs to go. There are countless ways you can organize in small spaces--look on Pinterest for ideas. Really, what is in these boxes? High school yearbooks? Old swimming trophies? Pre-baby clothes that you honsetly will never wear again? Aunt Edna's doily collection? GET RID OF IT!

Says you. Maybe when the kids move out and go off to college I'll want to display Aunt Edna's doily collection or convert a room into a library for all of my beloved books. It's my house ya know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the above, that "non-obvious dirt" is fine, but clutter everywhere is very noticable. I know many people who moved in YEARS ago and still have entire rooms that are unpacked/not organized. "Guest rooms" where they just keep STUFF.

Here's a hint...if you have boxes and boxes of items you haven't unpacked in years, you don't need that stuff. Throw it away or donate.

1/2 of our guest room is like that. I wish we had the time to go through it. But we tend to prioritize fun weekend activities and vacations over staying home to sort through old stuff. Maybe we will pick a long weekend this year.

You don't have to do it all at once. Pour a glass of wine, put a Netflix movie on your iPad, and clear out one box. It will take you 20 minutes if you are ruthless and efficient, and an hour if you hem and haw. Take the donation items and put them in a bag in your trunk. Put the other items where they belong. Put the storage items (like holiday decor) in proper storage, like garage or basement. You don't have to do it all at once!

What if I have a guest room, but don't have a car, garage, or basement?

If you can't store your stuff properly in the space you have, you have too much stuff. Period. If it has to live in boxes, it's not really part of your home, and it needs to go. There are countless ways you can organize in small spaces--look on Pinterest for ideas. Really, what is in these boxes? High school yearbooks? Old swimming trophies? Pre-baby clothes that you honsetly will never wear again? Aunt Edna's doily collection? GET RID OF IT!

Says you. Maybe when the kids move out and go off to college I'll want to display Aunt Edna's doily collection or convert a room into a library for all of my beloved books. It's my house ya know.

That's fine. But don't call it a guest room. Call it what it is: a dump.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the above, that "non-obvious dirt" is fine, but clutter everywhere is very noticable. I know many people who moved in YEARS ago and still have entire rooms that are unpacked/not organized. "Guest rooms" where they just keep STUFF.

Here's a hint...if you have boxes and boxes of items you haven't unpacked in years, you don't need that stuff. Throw it away or donate.

1/2 of our guest room is like that. I wish we had the time to go through it. But we tend to prioritize fun weekend activities and vacations over staying home to sort through old stuff. Maybe we will pick a long weekend this year.

You don't have to do it all at once. Pour a glass of wine, put a Netflix movie on your iPad, and clear out one box. It will take you 20 minutes if you are ruthless and efficient, and an hour if you hem and haw. Take the donation items and put them in a bag in your trunk. Put the other items where they belong. Put the storage items (like holiday decor) in proper storage, like garage or basement. You don't have to do it all at once!

What if I have a guest room, but don't have a car, garage, or basement?

If you can't store your stuff properly in the space you have, you have too much stuff. Period. If it has to live in boxes, it's not really part of your home, and it needs to go. There are countless ways you can organize in small spaces--look on Pinterest for ideas. Really, what is in these boxes? High school yearbooks? Old swimming trophies? Pre-baby clothes that you honsetly will never wear again? Aunt Edna's doily collection? GET RID OF IT!

Says you. Maybe when the kids move out and go off to college I'll want to display Aunt Edna's doily collection or convert a room into a library for all of my beloved books. It's my house ya know.

That's fine. But don't call it a guest room. Call it what it is: a dump.

I don't think things neatly folded away in boxes stacked in a guess room closet constitute "a dump." Your draconian rules for the way other people live is something you need to work on, PP.