Am I the only one who has refused to open the door to drop in company because my house is not clean?

[redstatebluegirl]

I just did it, I have been sick and haven't cleaned for a couple of days. A neighbor came over obviously selling cookies or something for their daughter. I sat real still and didn't answer. Now I feel guilty. I will try to get around and pick up and vacuum soon.

[donkeypoofed]

1. I've done the same thing !

Cause even though they all say "I dont care,I'm here to see you", I just feel that they'll remember both me and that my house was messy after the visit !

[redstatebluegirl]

2. Isn't it funny that even if two people live in a house they always blame the woman if the house

is a mess. My husband lives here too!

[justhanginon]

9. I am an old single guy (divorced) and I have done the same thing.

My housekeeping is so bad they canceled my subscription to Good Housekeeing magazine, said it was damaging there good name. Relatively clean but hugely messy. Now it's the bare minimum and having company requires a three day advance notice.

[redstatebluegirl]

10. I think if I were single again, it would be much worse. I did not get the cleaning gene from my Mom

[Fresh_Start]

3. I understand and used to not invite people in.

Now I hope that they have the maturity to be understanding.

[MontanaMama]

4. You don't have to open the door

ever! It’s your house. For all they know you were asleep, in the shower or on the phone.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Me. I am suffering from CHAOS - Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome.

There is a big, disorderly pile of boxes in my living room from when I did some remodeling and had to clean out the attic and a closet. I should sort through them and get rid of some of the stuff (probably most of it) but I am lazy and slothful and haven't done it. So I just don't let people in the house.

[redstatebluegirl]

7. I totally get that, we did our own remodeling project last summer to save money.

I had boxes and junk EVERYWHERE! For some reason we had more drop in guests than ever during that period. I think the neighbors were just nosey wanting to see what we were doing .

[mercuryblues]

8. My answer to that dilema

When it happens to me...Do 1 box a day/week.

Right now I am spring cleaning my house. I know it is early, but we are having a big shindig here in May. I decided 1 "problem spot" a day will have the house in top shape by May.

[Sanity Claws]

6. Me too!

I don't feel bad about people dropping in between Saturday afternoon and Monday evening but after that, I wish they wouldn't. My place gets messier and messier as the week progresses. Then I clean again Saturday morning and the cycle starts again.

[yodermon]

11. C.H.A.O.S. Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome.

i live it

[Blue_Tires]

12. Nope, my mom has done that a few times over the years

[blueinredohio]

13. My house is normally pretty clean but

I had surgery on my foot and can't bear weight for two weeks. My husband has been fixing a little to eat and keeps the laundry done and dishes but that's about it. Anyone who knows me knows when get up and around I'll get it cleaned up. It's not something I worry about.

[DFW]

14. Nah, come on in if you dare.

California Peggy and her husband as well as Steve2470 have visited with me and my wife in Germany, and lived to tell the tale.

[redstatebluegirl]

15. I wish I could be like that. I'd love to meet California Peggy!

[DFW]

27. Posts from her visit

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181091709

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181092251

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/10181094156

[Polly Hennessey]

16. No. You are not the only one.

It is your house and you are not obligated to answer the door for unexpected guests. There are times when door bells ringing are an intrusion and I choose not to respond. Your home is your sanctuary. Do what you want - clean or not clean.

[redstatebluegirl]

17. I love you!

[NurseJackie]

18. I won't answer either. Adults should CALL FIRST... not just show up!

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

34. Exactly.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

36. Thank you to whomever gave me a heart today.

🥰

[SWBTATTReg]

19. Ha ha!! I am to the point that I just don't care what others think or feel about my ...

home, it's my home. We try our best to do the best we can, and that's that. With both our backs bad, it can be a stretch to do much cleaning but we still do ok. The home is pretty decent in shape, but when you have 3 dogs, there's hair everywhere! But we are happy and that is what counts truly.

We used to do things for people, pick up mail/trash/etc. when they were out of town, etc., but I don't do any favors anymore. My other half still does a little bit but is cutting back too, after being promised a couple of things that didn't get done. Most all of our friends anyways are to the point like us, self reliant, and very independent, in that we don't ask people for favors very often.

I guess we're just this way in that when people ask for a favor or something (like a loan), we look at the request / favor / loan as one that will never get repaid back to us. ALWAYS. We feel this way after about 10 or people who didn't pay us back either w/ reciprocal favors or our money back, so no more (over 40 years so that's not too bad, and money amounts weren't terrible).

This is okay. We knew that this was a possibility that we would not see anything back. So, most times, it is going to be a gift of our time and money anyways.

We knew when either of us had surgery on our back, none of them picked up the phone and offered to come over and help...afterwards, they would of course say 'oh, you should have called us, etc.', but they already knew about the operations, still didn't. But that's okay. I know how life really is, in that it is far busier than a lot of us admit. It has a habit of swallowing you up before you know it! But life is good, we're all still here. Among friends that we chose to be with today. Nothing can beat that.

Happy Heart day!

[redstatebluegirl]

20. You too!

We both have bad backs as well. I tried a cleaning service but could not afford them. We have 4 doxies, so it is always full of fur.

[SWBTATTReg]

21. Thank you. I am nervous about calling a cleaning service to use, or having people in ...

the house w/ my Disney collection, thousands of items and I could lose an item or two and never notice it! So, it's not important to us to have someone come in. Our older friends that used to have a cleaning service have passed on unfortunately so it's a sad but inescapable fact of life. Take care of yourself!

[redstatebluegirl]

22. I do my best.

The majority of my "collection" is Christmas which is in tubs in the garage. I don't collect much else. We have tried to get rid of as much clutter as we can, but I love some of my books so there is that. I figure if my nieces and nephews have to clean out my house to get the money out of it, so be it.

[SWBTATTReg]

23. There you go!! nt

[Freddie]

24. "Drop in company" is just rude

Call first. Even my daughter calls first (and I do the same for her).

[ailsagirl]

26. YES

[ailsagirl]

25. Don't feel guilty!

I just ignore the door (good motto), unless there's reason to open it

After all, you could be in the bath, or on an important phone call, or out on your patio, etc.

We are not obligated to answer the door.

Same thing goes for phone calls.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

28. Please don't ever clean...

when your feeling guilty. It’s just not fun you berate yourself for not getting it done sooner, you get that “better get this one a little cleaner” syndrome. Let it go till you can literally prance around dusting and vacuuming.

Friends don’t let friends clean guiltily.

[Brainstormy]

29. DO.NOT.FEEL.GUILTY.

Everybody's done it, and it's YOUR house!

[msdogi]

30. if they are there to see me, they are welcomed

no matter how much dog hair and toys are around. That only applies to people I like.

[samnsara]

32. with 5 dogs..3 of which are long hair...theres more hair in this house.....

..than on the dogs! I will ONLY allow my sister in laws family in because she dog sits and we all consider dog hair a condiment

[samnsara]

31. OH HELL NO!

.. I hid once. Hubbys college friend and girl friend dropped in... after how many years? totally UN announced! It was a lazy weekend day. I HID in the back bedroom and told hubby to tell them I was sick.

[TeapotInATempest]

33. Haha, I think it runs in my family.

My mother did it, I have done it and now my daughter does it. Of course, if I'm not expecting anyone and my doorbell rings, I just assume it's someone I don't want to see, anyway.

[3catwoman3]

35. I used to have a sign hanging on my closet door...

...that read:

You May Touch The Dust,
But Please Don't
Write In It!

Just now, you could write in it.

Love the CHAOS acronym -

[LuckyCharms]

37. I never, ever answer my door.

Except when someone has called or texted first and told me they were stopping over.

My philosophy is that nothing good ever came from answering the door when you don't know who is on the other side.

[northoftheborder]

38. Love the CHAOS characteristic, of which I claim!!!