First-time clients almost always ask the same question: "Do I need to clean before you come?" It's a fair question, and the honest answer is: a little bit, but probably less than you think.
Here's exactly how to prepare your home before your cleaning crew arrives — and what not to bother with.
This is the most important one. Professional cleaners clean — they don't organize or make decisions about your belongings. If there are dishes on the counter, mail piled on the table, clothes on the floor, or toys everywhere, the crew will have to work around them.
You don't need a spotless home — that's what you're paying for. But picking up items off the floors, counters, and tables lets the crew focus on actually cleaning those surfaces instead of moving things around trying to figure out where to put them.
Let us know in advance if you have pets. Dogs and cats should either be in a room the crew won't clean, in a crate, or outside while cleaning is happening. This protects your pets from stress and lets the crew work without interruption. We love animals — but a dog following the crew from room to room adds 30–45 minutes to the job.
If there's a bathroom that needs extra attention, a stain you're worried about, or an appliance that hasn't been cleaned in a while — tell us before we start. We can prioritize and make sure nothing gets skipped.
We're fully insured and bonded, and our cleaners are background-checked. But if you have jewelry, cash, or items with sentimental value, put them somewhere secure before any cleaning crew — ours or anyone else's — enters your home. It's just good practice.
Let us know how to get in — key, lockbox code, smart lock, building access code. We'll confirm the day before. If you won't be home, make sure we have everything we need to get in and out without calling you.
We've had clients who cleaned their entire homes before we arrived because they were embarrassed. You're paying us to clean — don't pre-clean. It wastes your time and money. The only thing we ask is that clutter is picked up so we can access the surfaces.
If you want your kitchen cleaned properly, make sure the sink and counters are accessible. Running dishes right before means wet dishes that need to be unloaded before we can work — or worse, dishes left in the sink that get in our way.
Most of our regular clients aren't home during their clean. Many are at work. You've vetted us, you trust us, and being home while cleaning happens sometimes makes the crew's job harder — they're working around you instead of working efficiently.
Pro tip for first-time clients: Leave a note with any specific instructions or requests. Which bathroom needs extra attention, which surfaces are delicate, whether you prefer a particular cleaning product — a sticky note on the counter is the simplest way to communicate without having to be there.
No — we bring everything. If you have specific products you prefer (fragrance-free, pet-safe, eco-friendly), let us know and we'll accommodate where possible.
Call or text us within 24 hours. We'll come back and re-clean anything that didn't meet your expectations at no charge. This isn't a policy we hope never gets used — it's how we build recurring clients.
It's not required, but always appreciated. Tips go directly to the cleaners who did the work. If your crew did a great job, a tip is the most direct way to show it.
Text or call us after your clean. If something was great, tell us — it helps us know what to prioritize. If something wasn't right, tell us immediately so we can fix it. Google reviews are also appreciated and genuinely help a small local business like ours.
The first clean of a home always takes longer than subsequent ones. We're learning your home — which surfaces need extra attention, what the grout situation is, how your kitchen is organized. Recurring cleans get progressively faster and more efficient as the crew becomes familiar with your space.
If you're starting fresh with a new cleaning service, set expectations that the first visit is an investment. After that, you'll get the full benefit of a consistent, efficient crew that knows your home.
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