One of the most common questions we get from new clients is: “Do I need to do anything before you arrive?” The short answer is yes — a little preparation goes a long way. It doesn’t mean cleaning before the cleaners come (we handle that), but there are a few things that help us do our best work.
Here’s exactly what we ask of our clients before every visit.
1. Pick Up Personal Items and Clutter
We clean surfaces — we don’t organize or move personal belongings. Before we arrive, please take a few minutes to:
- Pick up clothes from floors and beds
- Clear items off counters and tables (dishes, mail, toys, etc.)
- Put away valuables, jewelry, and medications
This allows us to actually clean the surfaces instead of working around things. A clutter-free space means a deeper, more thorough clean.
2. Clear the Kitchen Sink
We need access to running water throughout the cleaning. A sink full of dishes blocks this and slows us down significantly.
Before we arrive:
- Wash, stack, or put dishes in the dishwasher
- Clear the sink basin completely
- Empty the dish rack if possible
3. Make Sure We Can Access All Areas
This sounds obvious, but it’s often overlooked:
- Unlock all rooms you want cleaned
- Provide parking close to the entrance if possible — we carry equipment
- Give us the entry code or key if you won’t be home
- Let us know about any locked areas we should skip
If we can’t access a room, we can’t clean it — and we may not be able to reschedule that area without an additional charge.
4. Move Fragile or Irreplaceable Items
We are careful, but accidents can happen. If you have:
- Fragile decorations on shelves or surfaces
- Irreplaceable family heirlooms
- Antique furniture pieces
Please move them to a safe location before we arrive, or let us know so we can work around them with extra care.
5. Let Us Know About Special Instructions
Every home is different. If you have:
- Specific products you want us to use or avoid (allergies, sensitivities)
- Surfaces that need special care (natural stone, hardwood, antique finishes)
- Areas to skip (a home office, a child’s room, etc.)
- Priority areas you want us to focus on most
Tell us before or at the start of the visit — not after. It’s much easier to adjust our plan at the beginning than to redo work.
6. Have Utilities Available
We need:
- Running water (hot and cold)
- Electricity for vacuums and equipment
- Adequate lighting in all rooms
If there are any outages or issues, please notify us in advance so we can reschedule if necessary.
Quick Checklist Before We Arrive
- Floors clear of clothing, toys, and personal items
- Counters and tables cleared of clutter
- Dishes out of the sink
- Pets secured in a separate space
- All rooms to be cleaned are accessible
- Fragile items moved or identified
- Special instructions communicated
Following these steps takes about 15–20 minutes and makes a huge difference in the quality of the clean you receive. We want every visit to be as efficient and thorough as possible — and your preparation is a big part of that.
Have questions before your first visit? Contact us and we’ll walk you through everything.