No matter what they look like the rest of the year, fraternity houses will be clean this weekend.

That is because it is Parents’ Day weekend and fraternity members’ parents will be on their way to NIU.

“The houses will be spotless,” said Jeff Goldberg, Interfraternity Council public relations officer.

The fraternity members usually clean the houses Saturday morning because most activities are the same day, Goldberg said.

Because as many as 50 to 60 men will clean up one house, they can do it in about an hour, he said.

The members divide up tasks such as steam-cleaning the rugs and repainting any hallways that need it, Goldberg said. They also trim hedges and cut grass in the fraternity’s yard, he said.

Those who live in the house have to clean their rooms because they will be open for the parents to look at, Goldberg said.

He said the fraternities have a yearly routine for the weekend. “We follow the university’s setup,” he said.

Goldberg said some of the fraternities will have open houses Friday night in case any parents want to come early.

On Saturday, most houses will have tents and barbeques set up, he said. The members and their parents will then tailgate outside the stadium and attend the football game.

After the game, each fraternity will have a banquet for the parents at places such as the Holmes Student Center’s Blackhawk Cafeteria and DeKalb restaurants.

Most sororities do not have to worry about cleaning their houses, Panhellenic Council President Karen Wilkenson said.

Each sorority has its own parents’ day, but many correspond to NIU’s Parents’ weekend, Wilkenson said.

She said her many houses will have brunches for parents, take them to the football game and show them slides or other presentations.