You don't need to clean before the cleaners come — that's the whole point of hiring them. But a few minutes of prep helps your crew spend their time on actual cleaning instead of navigating around clutter, and it protects anything you'd rather they not touch.
Do this before every visit
- Pick up items from floors — toys, shoes, laundry — so vacuuming and mopping can happen without obstruction
- Clear kitchen counters of dishes and loose items so surfaces can be fully wiped
- Secure or crate pets if they're anxious around new people
- Put away valuables, cash, or sensitive documents, simply as good practice with anyone entering your home
- Leave clear entry instructions — key location, code, or how you'd like the crew to get in
Optional but helpful
- Note any specific areas of concern (a stain, a smell, a room that needs extra attention)
- Flag anything fragile or irreplaceable so the crew knows to be extra careful
- Let us know about any product preferences — fragrance-free, pet-safe, eco-friendly
- Mention if a room should be skipped entirely (a home office mid-project, for example)
What you don't need to do
- Deep-clean anything yourself — that defeats the purpose
- Organize closets or drawers unless you want them cleaned inside (just let us know)
- Be home the entire time — many clients provide access instructions and go about their day
For first-time deep cleans specifically
If it's been a while since a professional clean, consider walking through with your cleaner (or leaving notes) about priority areas. First visits often reveal which rooms need the most attention, which helps set expectations for how future recurring visits will go.
After the visit
Take a few minutes to look around before the crew leaves if you're home, or within 24 hours if you weren't. Most services, including ours, want to know quickly if anything was missed so it can be corrected — waiting weeks to mention it makes that much harder to make right.
