The lazy way to look like a domestic goddess

I never have been and probably never will be a real Domestic Godess, but living my dream of being a stay at home Mum has left me feeling that a big part of my role should be maintaining the home.

My gorgeous Fiance works very hard to support us financially and I really do appreciate it. As such I like for him to come home and be able to spend quality time with the kids, something he loves doing too, rather than feeling like he needs to help me clean the house. I also like for people to feel comfortable to sit and have a cuppa when they visit, not feel like they cannot get out of here quickly enough.

It's just that there are some days, ok, a LOT of days, that fly by without me having done anything at all around the house. I mean I have done stuff, but that's just it, stuff... The 'stuff' that needs doing but doesn't make any difference to the appearance of the home. In fact some of this 'stuff' makes more mess than it gets rid of. Making Breakfast, lunch and snacks for hungry little tummies, creating works of art out of scraps, painting pretty pictures and generally just having fun... Delightful, messy, fun.

And then there are days where we really don't do anything. Exhausted from several night feeds, children waking through the night with nightmares and dogs crying through thunderstorms are just a few examples. On these days all I do is vegetate and watch the mess pile up around me.

It is on these days where the guilt creeps in, where I know I should be doing more, where I think... I have done NOTHING today and it shows!!! And it is ALWAYS these days when I unexpectedly get visitors. Well it doesn't have to be a nightmare...

Whether you just want your partner to think you have been busy working around the home all day, the mother in Law is due to drop in for a quick visit or you have had a call from a friend who is on their way over for a cuppa - lets face it... No one wants to appear lazy!

Here is how to appear (on the surface) to be a Domestic Goddess with minimal effort and limited time.

1. First you will need to gather a few things. Having gone to Enjo parties, most of us know that clean does not have a smell HOWEVER smelly cleaning things are your weapon of choice for this mission. Make sure you have some great smelling cleaners on hand at all times. I like to use a cleaning caddy, they are a few dollars from supermarkets and hardware stores, containing all my cleaning tools so that they are with me as I undertake the following steps, it beats running backward and forward from a laundry or kitchen cupboard, saves time and makes you feel so much more organised.  You will also need a laundry basket (the bigger the better), some bleach toilet cleaner, a quality air freshener, whatever cleaning sprays you usually use and about a half an hour.

2. Grab an empty laundry basket (oh that's right, you haven't done the laundry!, well empty a basket or buy one just for this purpose) and run around the main areas that will be seen, picking up anything that doesn't belong and putting it into the basket, clutter, toys, junk mail, whatever... If you are anything like me you might need more than one basket!

3. Now, hide the basket. Cupboards and wardrobes are great for this, so are laundry's and even a spare room (although if you are truly lazy your cupboards, wardrobe and spare room will be full of, well, clutter, anyway).

4. Dishes on the sink? Dishwasher full? No dishwasher? No time to do them? This is a VERY short term solution only - Hide them in the oven! Yes, you heard me, the oven. they are usually tinted a dark colour and will hide a miriad of things. Now spray all of the kitchen and wipe over. My favourite for the kitchen is Method. It smells like fresh cut cucumber and is completely non toxic. I always have a spare bottle hidden just in case I start to run low.

5. So now that your dishes are hidden and there is nothing lying around either vacuum or if no time at least pick up any obvious bits off the floor.

6. Now spray any surface that needs it and wipe clean (remember we are concentarting only on the parts of the house that are in view so this should be a relatively quick process) an old cloth nappy, the flannel type work really well, they grab dust, clean glass and give a great finish on all surfaces and if you are carrying your caddy you will have all the sprays you might need for different surfaces at your fingertips and can fold the nappy for the different sprays and surfaces. You can even grap any stray cobwebs that are lurking in ceiling corners if you are feeling like it.

7. Use a flushable wipe (ok, I am a Method addict) to quickly wipe over the loo and squirt in some bleach cleaner (nothing smells like you have been cleaning up a storm quite like nasty, stinky bleach!)

8. First impressions count so make sure that your entry is both tidy and welcoming. As you have already collected any clutter make sure that the entry is clean and give a spray of air freshener (I like Oust as it lingers for quite some time and is fresh without being heavy and overpowering)

9. Ok, they are nearly here, a few more sprays of air freshener around the house. As I have said I like Oust, no I am not 'plugging' products. There is a reason I use Oust... Every time I have used it, someone has commented 'ohhh you've been cleaning'. It just has a 'cleaning' smell rather than Glen 20 which smells like Glen 20.

10. Last minute, put the kettle and pull out all you will need to make a cuppa so that you are not opening up messy pantries and refrigerators allowing for closer scrutiny...

And you are ready for your company.

Now I am the first to admit that this is not a long term solution to stop you from ever having to clean and organise ever again but in a dire situation, with limited time this will do the trick and it seriously only takes about 30 minutes in the average sized home with children. And it is important not to forget the dishes in the oven or the basket of clutter that needs to be sorted. Otherwise you will definitely come unstuck.

So that is my secret, and now that it's out I can never do it again as my friends are now sure to check my oven for dishes and have a whiff to test for Oust but now you can! So create the illusion of being a Domestic Goddess when you feel like a lazy lump and enjoy your cuppa!