The clean sweep - women need 28 minutes to 'tidy' the house for surprise guests

Is your house so messy that you have CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome)?

When someone is due to visit how long does it take for you to whiz around and tidy up? And do you bung things in cupboards (or even the washing machine) to clear the mess out of sight?

Recent research indicates that the average British woman needs 28 minutes’ notice to get the house tidied up before guests arrive, according to research.

It also emerged many women adopt some more sneaky tactics, such as the use of impromptu 'hidey-holes' such as washing machines, tumble dryers and laundry baskets in which to chuck mess.

The study was carried out among 2,000 women by Swinton as part of its No Place Like Home Facebook campaign.  The report also found nearly half of those questioned have a special drawer or cupboard used for emergency storage of junk in the crucial seconds before visitors arrived (the 'crap' drawer!).  Another popular place to secrete things is the oven - with 15% admitting they've hidden dirty plates in their cookers.  It also emerged three quarters of women confess to manically cleaning right up to the moment their guests arrive.

Two thirds polled said they love the feeling after having a 'big tidy-up' or deep clean, and 28% regularly make a vow to maintain this level of cleanliness.  However half also admit that they will probably be unable to keep this promise and 20% admit it's a totally unrealistic target.

Another extreme tactic employed by house-proud hosts caught off-guard is the 'bouncer' routine.  This involves physically preventing guests from entering the home with 23% of respondents admitting to using the technique because they were embarrassed by their untidiness.

A further 57% said that even when they were given notice of an impending visit they would only tidy downstairs and try to put off guests venturing upstairs.  However such 'stairway stalling' would often come undone if a visitor needed to visit an upstairs toilet.

MOST COMMON MESS

1. Washing up on the draining board
2. Crumbs on the kitchen floor
3. Fluff on the carpet
4. Wet washing drying on the radiators
5. Recycling ready to go outside
6. Bills, letters, correspondence lying around
7. Washing on the line
8. Shoes gathered at the front door
9. Odds and ends on the stairs ready to be taken upstairs
10. Piles of clean washing waiting to be ironed
11. Dirty windows
12. Chargers for phones, laptops and tablets lying around
13. Dishevelled sofa
14. Toys strewn all over the floor
15. Last night's crockery yet to be washed
16. Coats draped over the bannisters
17. Old newspapers lying around
18. Dirty work tops
19. Piles of ironed clothes waiting to be put away
20. Paw prints on the kitchen floor
21. Pet hair on the furniture
22. Overflowing laundry bin
23. Overflowing kitchen bin
24. Gadgets everywhere
25. None of the above
26. Coffee rings on the coffee table
27. Dirty shower screen
28. DVD's out of their cases
29. Pet hair on the window sills
30. Wet towels on the bathroom floor

How often is your house tidy and clean enough for unexpected guests to drop by? Do you rush about before guests around frantically tidying (or hidy-ing) away?  

At least if use the Iron Maids services, points 10 and 22 wouldn’t apply to you!

This blog originally appeared on mumsnet

Is your Home Ready for Winter? DIY jobs that could save £000s

After the St. Jude storm last week and already lots of wet and windy weather setting in this week – Brrr! – it really is beginning to feel like winter out there and it’s often the time when your home needs the most DIY and maintenance work as it takes a bettering from the elements and we all call for more heat and hot water indoors.  During autumn, before winter sets in is the best time to do this.

Luckily there are lots of property maintenance checks that you can do before the bad weather really takes hold that can help to avoid expensive emergency call outs.  Here are the top tips from the experts to help protect your home.

Turn off pipes to outside water taps

Garden tap piping is usually linked to an indoor feed (often located under your kitchen sink). If the water inside the pipes freezes the problem can cause a leak inside your home when the weather warms up again. The average water claims costs £1,347, but can run into tens of thousands of pounds, according to figures from Saga.  You should also confirm the location of your stopcock, so you can turn off the water in an emergency.

Insulation

Check the lagging on all pipes and cisterns in unheated areas like your loft. Pre-formed tubular insulating material is the best and readily available from most DIY stores. Repair any dripping taps.  Ensure your loft has adequate insulation - the Energy Saving Trust recommends using 270mm of insulation, a loft installed with insulation of this thickness could save you about £150 per year on your energy bill.

Leave the central heating on low

Even when you are away from home, keep central heating ticking over at a low temperature on normal timer hours to avoid frozen pipes. Ensure that the temperature in your home doesn’t drop below five degrees and leave the loft hatch slightly open so warm air can enter the loft and prevent your pipes freezing

Check chimneys before having a fire

A fireplace can get blocked and lighting a new fire can be smoky and dangerous. If you have a gas ‘coal effect’ fire, see the manual for DIY checks, or contact the National Grid who give free help and advice. It is vital that you also get your chimney swept every year as not having a certificate from your sweep to say that this has been done can invalidate your

home insurance.

Draught proofing

Save money with simple insulation and keep the winter bills down. Heating your home to compensate for chilly draughts can put up to 30% on your energy bills! For doors make sausage-shaped draught excluders, reduce heat loss through windows by covering with cling film or sheets of window plastic from a DIY shop, and stick weather stripping tape on door frames.

‘Bleed’ radiators
Getting rid of air bubbles in radiators can help you save money as it ensures your home is heated more cost-effectively.

Check guttering

If you can safely reach it, clear guttering of leaves so they don’t block up and cause water to leak onto walls and windows.

Tidy your garden
Cut back any branches from trees and bushes that might break windows or bring down fences in bad weather.

Get your boiler checked
An annual check by a qualified engineer does cost money but it’ll avoid costly emergency call-outs in the middle of winter and keep bills down because your system runs more efficiently.

Don’t stress your heating system

In winter, it’s tempting to dry clothes quickly by putting them on radiators but this stops the heating system warming your home effectively. Avoid cranking up the thermostat higher than necessary. Keep costs down by washing on cooler temperatures – many modern washing detergents are just as effective at just 30°C –  and then rather than using the radiators, drying clothes on a clothes airer near but not ON the radiators.

You might also consider taking out a home emergency cover, which offers 24 hour home support for boiler breakdowns, 365 days a year. British Gas, Homeserve, EDF energy, Scottish Power and even your home insurance provider can offer plans costing just a few pounds a month but the peace of mind you have it covered is worth every penny.

Taking note of all the tips above should help ensure that your home is ready for winter and that you stay all warm and cosy and are hopefully never left without heating or hot water because there’s nothing worse than a cold wash in a cold house on a cold morning.  Like I said earlier – BRRRRR!!