Pick Up the Clutter First
You do not need to clean before a cleaner comes, but picking up helps a lot. A counter covered in mail and dishes has to be cleared before it can be wiped, and that time comes out of the visit.
Aim for tidy rather than clean. Put dishes in the dishwasher or stack them in the sink, get clothes off the floor, drop toys in a bin and gather loose papers into one pile.
Floors deserve the most attention here. Anything left on the floor tends to get vacuumed around, so pick up shoes, cords and bags in the rooms you want done.
Put Away Valuables and Private Things
Put away cash, jewelry, prescription medicine and anything else you would rather nobody handled. It removes any doubt for both of you, and it keeps small, precious things out of the path of a duster.
The same goes for private papers, open mail and anything on a desk you do not want moved. If a room is off limits, close the door and mention it, so nobody wonders whether it was skipped by mistake.
For delicate pieces, like a family vase or a framed photo that tips easily, either move them or point them out. Some owners would rather dust those themselves, and that is a fine thing to ask for.
Make a Plan for Pets
Some pets take a stranger and a running vacuum in stride, and some do not. Decide ahead of time where yours will be: in a closed room, a crate, the yard or out with you.
If a pet will stay in one room, tell the cleaner which one and whether to clean it or skip it. Mention litter boxes, food bowls and pet beds too, since households differ on whether those get touched.
A note on a closed door, such as “Cat inside, please keep shut,” saves a scare on both sides of the door.
Sort Out Access Ahead of Time
Whether you are home during the visit is up to you. If you will be out, settle how the cleaner gets in, whether that is a spare key, a lockbox, a door code or a garage keypad, and test it the day before.
Then think through the details only you know. An alarm code and how long the entry delay lasts, a gate code, a lock that sticks or a side door that is easier to use are all worth writing down.
Say where to park, too, especially if street parking is tight or your building has rules about visitors.
Tell the Cleaner What Matters Most
The first visit is the best time to say what you care about. Be specific, because “clean the bathroom” leaves room for guessing, while “the shower glass and the grout along the tub” gives the cleaner something to aim at.
Mention surfaces that need special care, such as a natural stone counter, a wood floor or a glass stovetop. If you want a particular product used on something, leave it out with a note.
After the visit, say what worked and what you would change. A clear note is easier to act on than a vague sense that something was off.
A Short Checklist for the Night Before
- Dishes in the dishwasher or stacked in the sink
- Counters and tables cleared of mail and clutter
- Floors picked up in the rooms you want cleaned
- Cash, jewelry and medicine put away
- A plan for pets, with closed doors labeled
- Key, code or lockbox tested
- Fresh sheets left out if you want beds changed
- A short note with your top two or three priorities
Our residential cleaning covers houses, condos and apartments, as a regular visit or a single clean, and we sort out access when we put your estimate together. Tell us what matters most and we will build it in.
