(BPT) - Ideally, you'll have a few days notice to get everything in order when you're hosting guests. But everyone knows that's not always the case. Drop-ins happen and you can make a choice between panicking or embracing the spontaneity of a last-minute get-together with your friends and family. The key to being an unflappable host is having a simple process to get your home guest-ready in a hurry.
You don't have to be a neat freak or Michelin chef to make an impromptu gathering at your house a success. You simply need to prioritize what is most important to get done, and rely on some help from modern technology to speed up the process. Here's a guide for entertaining on a dime that will make unplanned visits more pleasant surprises rather than major inconveniences:
* Enlist a full-time housekeeper. Maybe you don't have the means to put someone in charge of keeping your house clean, but you can put gadgets on the job full-time. Rather than spending time to clean floors yourself, let a robot do the work for you. iRobot Mint, which features both a sweep and mop mode, can effectively handle the job of cleaning your hard floor surfaces all by itself. Mint works with cleaning cloths made by brands like Swiffer, as well as its own specifically designed microfiber cloths that can be reused hundreds of times. It automatically cleans along walls, around furniture and into corners, while avoiding stairs and carpet, so there's no need to supervise while it does its job.
* Get into party mode with the touch of the play button. Connect your home stereo system with Bluetooth-enabled technology that can allow you to cue up the tunes simply by giving the orders through your smart phone or another connected device. Curating party playlists can be a fun activity during your downtime so you can be all set to go when you get the call that guests are on the way.
* Whip up delivery on speed dial. Store a list of your go-to numbers for food delivery service on your phone so you can make the call once you know you'll be having visitors. If you're not one who likes to order out, keep a stash your favorite snacks or appetizers in the freezer for quick reheating when guests arrive. Last-minute guests won't be expecting a three-course meal, so convenience is more important than elaborately prepared meals.
* Ditch the dishes. Make things easier for you and festive for your guests by keeping decorative paper plates and napkins on hand. Storing a stash of these in a kitchen drawer is ideal for last-minute hosting since it means you don't have to worry about hurriedly washing the dishes or creating a mess that you'll need to clean up later.
* Embrace quick fixes. You wouldn't normally throw everything that's been left out in a storage room, but it won't hurt if you're just hosting company for a few hours - you can put everything in its proper space once they're gone. Keep items like stain sticks on hand for quick coverage of stains and smudges you've been meaning to get to tackle. Start by clearing the entry way, move to the living room and forget about areas your guests probably won't see.
Last-minute hosting doesn't have to be stress-inducing, especially since your guests won't be looking for the royal treatment if they're coming over on short notice. For more tools that can make keeping your home clean and guest ready even easier, visit www.irobot.com.
