Dear Heloise: Friends often call to tell me that they are closeby and want to drop by for a visit. Somehow my house always seems to be messy when they call. How can I get things in order quickly before the guests arrive? — Terry D., Waukesha, Wisconsin

Terry, take a look at your house from the front door. What will guests see when they walk in? Start by getting the floors picked up — no clothes, newspapers or toys laying about or draped over furniture.

All cups, glasses and plates should be taken off of the coffee table and put into the dishwasher or the sink. Take a dust cloth and wipe down the tables. Straighten the chairs and fluff the throw pillows.

The bathroom counters need to be wiped down, and dry towels should be hung neatly on the racks. Get rid of clutter on the counters. If you don’t have time to clean the toilet, at least throw some bleach in the bowl and let it sit for a minute or so before flushing it down. Drag the shower curtain across so that no one sees the tub.

Finally, greet your guests at the door with a smile. Remember, your guests are there to see you, not your home. — Heloise

CUPCAKE LINER

STORAGE

Dear Heloise: While doing my holiday cleaning routine just before Christmas, I found a bunch of cupcake liners on top of cans or sitting loose on the shelf. Since I hate messy shelves, I looked around for something to put them in and discovered that cans of frosting are perfect for storing the liners. Just clean it out, and you have a great little storage container. — April K., Omaha, Nebraska

THE GIFT OF TIME

Dear Heloise: For our grandparents and other elderly people, receiving gifts that they don’t need or want can be a waste of time and money. What most of them want is the gift of your time.

Instead of a gift, take them out to dinner or lunch at a nice restaurant, or take them somewhere they enjoy. Maybe it’s a movie or a live performance, perhaps a concert or a museum. Take them with you when you visit other family members. Never ignore a holiday or their birthday. Send a card and make a phone call. They’ll love you for it! — Frances N., Sioux City, Iowa