How to Prepare for Your House Cleaner (And What You Don't Need to Do)

What You Should Do Before Your Cleaner Arrives

A few simple steps make the visit much more effective:

• Pick up clutter from floors, counters, and surfaces. Cleaners are there to clean, not organize—loose items slow them down significantly.
• Clear the kitchen sink of dishes (or load the dishwasher). A full sink limits access to the countertops and faucet.
• Put away valuables, jewelry, and medications you'd prefer not to have moved or touched.
• Let your cleaner know if any areas are off-limits (a home office, a child's room, etc.).
• Secure pets in a room or outside during the clean if they're likely to interfere.

What You Don't Need to Do

You do NOT need to pre-clean surfaces or scrub anything before we arrive. That's our job. Many first-time clients feel embarrassed about the state of their home—please don't. We've seen everything, and we clean without judgment. The more honestly you describe your home's condition when requesting a quote, the more accurately we can price and allocate time.

How to Communicate Your Priorities

If there are specific areas or tasks you care about most, tell us. Maybe the master bath needs extra attention, or the kitchen stovetop is a priority. Maybe you have a room that doesn't need cleaning this week. The more clearly you communicate your priorities, the better we can allocate our time to what matters most to you.

Providing Access When You're Not Home

Many clients prefer not to be home during cleaning—and that's completely fine. The most common access methods are a lockbox with a key code, a smart lock with a temporary code, or leaving a key with us under a reciprocal trust agreement. We'll confirm access details before your first visit and handle it seamlessly from there.

After Your First Clean

Your first professional clean may take longer than subsequent visits, especially if it's been a while since a thorough cleaning. This is normal. Once we establish a regular schedule, each visit is faster because we're maintaining a clean baseline rather than rebuilding from scratch.