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" The guests are on the way, the house is a wreck and you&amp;#039;re not sure you have gifts for everyone. here&amp;#039;s your 6-step stay-sane plan.   Step 1: Prepare Overnight Kits   Sue Maxwell, the innkeeper at Mead House Bed &amp;amp;amp; Breakfast in Nelsonville, Ohio, suggests filling a few baskets with necessities at the beginning of the season. Repurpose or buy good-looking containers, then stock up. The message here\u2014that guests will be well cared for\u2014is just as important as the contents. And you&amp;#039;ll save yourself an inevitable trip to the drugstore for forgotten toiletries.   Step 2: Organize Linens   Though it may seem counterintuitive, white linens are the easiest to keep clean for guests, because you can bleach the heck out of &amp;#039;em, and easily replace one piece. Make sure you have sheets, towels, washcloths and pillowcases.   Step 3: Personalize    &amp;quot;We do our homework to find out what guests want and need,&amp;quot; says Sylvia Muller at the Mill House Inn in East Hampton, New York. Call ahead and ask about food or bedding allergies (many people are sensitive to down). For guests of more than a few days, she suggests stocking up on foods they like and can make themselves\u2014that way, they&amp;#039;re happy, and you&amp;#039;ll spend less time worrying about meals. And leave a cheery welcome note on the bedside table.   Step 4: Strategize    &amp;quot;If you want your guests to get out and do their own thing, provide them with information so they can do it,&amp;quot; says Muller. Gather maps or a guidebook, print out a calendar of local events and theater showings that you know might interest your guests (check your town website for information), as well as the lowdown on restaurants and activities they&amp;#039;d like (bike rentals, festivals, etc.). Make up a little packet in a folder, tied with a cute ribbon.   Step 5: Stock   Though most hotels provide cookies, there are healthier, longer-lasting options. Marie Burbine, manager of the Black Walnut Inn in Amherst, Massachusetts, suggests designating a shelf in the pantry as the Help-Yourself Shelf. &amp;quot;Show guests where it is, and tell them they can help themselves anytime.&amp;quot; Your pantry shopping list:   \u2022 Coffee  \u2022 Tea  \u2022 Sugar, honey and sweetener  \u2022 Nuts  \u2022 M&amp;amp;amp;M&amp;#039;s  \u2022 Trail mix  \u2022 Granola bars (wrapped, so guests can grab them to go)  \u2022 Dried fruit  \u2022 Chocolates  \u2022 Fruit bowl (oranges and apples last the longest)  \u2022 Cheese (buy hard, unrefrigerated cheeses that will last for months)  \u2022 Crackers  \u2022 Pet treats   Step 6: Speed-Clean    You can get the house whipped into shape in two hours before the guests arrive. The goal: &amp;quot;Make it look like no one&amp;#039;s ever been there,&amp;quot; says Gay Janks, co-owner of Storm King Lodge Country Bed &amp;amp;amp; Breakfast in Mountainville, New York. Her foolproof method:  Focus. Guests won&amp;#039;t inspect every inch of the home, so focus on cleaning the guest bedroom and guest bathroom the most thoroughly. Remove knickknacks and clutter\u2014it&amp;#039;ll be easier to clean. In both the bathroom and guest bedroom, take a box and move out everything except the necessities: alarm clock, lamp, overnight basket, soaps.   Wipe down the bathroom. With a rag and surface cleaner, hit every surface, top to bottom. Mop the floor. Even in the biggest bathroom, this won&amp;#039;t take more than 15 minutes.   Wash. Grab towels, bathmats and the shower curtain (if it&amp;#039;s washable). Put them in the washer. Attack the guest bedroom. Now that it&amp;#039;s just about empty, cleaning is a breeze. Go top-tobottom: Dust, wipe down all surfaces, spray and wipe the windows, vacuum, change the sheets.   Hit the rest of the house. The space should be clean for guests, but you don&amp;#039;t have to go crazy scrubbing every nook and cranny. As you did in the bedroom, dust, wipe surfaces, spray and wipe the windows, and vacuum. Stains on the sofa? Flip over the cushions and no one will ever know.   Extra credit: Test. If you have an extra day to spare, lie down on the bed and make sure it&amp;#039;s comfortable; if not, pick up a cushioned mattress pad. Even better, sleep in the room to test its comfort (you may find that the sunlight slips in or it&amp;#039;s too loud, and you&amp;#039;ll have time to fix things).   Not sure about what to include in your overnight kit? Check out what we have in the photo above for inspiration.   1 Toothbrush. Made of recycled dollar bills, it comes with two heads\u2014perfect for your in-laws. Radius Source, $6.95; RadiusToothbrush.com   2 Pretty Soap. Fresh Petit Soap in Apple Cranberry, $12; Fresh.com   3 Shampoo and Shower Gel. No need to buy several bottles when one will do the trick. Amazing Grace Bath, Shampoo &amp;amp;amp; Shower Gel by Philosophy, $30; Sephora.com   4 Pain Reliever. For the inevitable hangover. Advil Tablets, $9.99 for 100; Drugstore.com   5 Toothpaste. Burt&amp;#039;s Bees Natural Whitening Toothpaste with Fluoride, $4.99 for 4 oz; Drugstore.com   6 Lotion. Avalon Organics Lavender Moisture Plus Lotion with SPF 18, $16.95; AvalonOrganics.com    7 Mini Sewing Kit. Missing buttons won&amp;#039;t be your problem. $6.99; ContainerStore.com   8 Makeup-Removing Wipes. Spare your own towels. Josie Maran Bear Naked Wipes, $12; Sephora.com   9 Scented Candle. A good host always leaves one in the bathroom. Ginger Clove Soy Candle Tin, $6.99; PurplePrairie.com   10 Mouthwash. Scope Original Mint Mouthwash, $2.79 for 8.4 oz, at MediChest.com    11 Disposable Razors. Schick Quattro for Women Disposable Razors, $7.39 for 3, at Drugstore.com  12 Floss.Crest Glide Pro- Health Floss, $3.99; Drugstore.com   13 Gift Tag. Little Tree Gift Tag, $8 for 6; BellaMuse.com   14 Holiday Ornament. Better than chocolate on their pillows. Peppermint ornament, $24 for 6; HammondsCandies.com    15 Pail. 12-in. oval tub, $7.89; GalvanizedPail.com "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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