Your First Professional House Cleaning in Toronto
Hiring a professional house cleaner for the first time can feel uncertain — what should the house look like before they arrive? Do you need to be home? What if you're not satisfied? This guide answers every question first-time clients in Toronto typically have.
Before Your Cleaning
Do You Need to Tidy First?
Yes, ideally. Professional cleaners clean — they don't organize or declutter. Picking up clothes off the floor, clearing items off countertops, and moving clutter from surfaces you want cleaned gives your cleaner full access to those areas and maximizes what they can accomplish in the allotted time.
You don't need a spotless house before they arrive. But if the cleaner spends 30 minutes moving things to get to surfaces, they have less time for actual cleaning.
Do You Need to Be Home?
Not necessarily. Many Toronto clients leave a key, lockbox code, or building access instructions and have the cleaning done while they're at work. When booking with Maidless, you can include access instructions in your booking notes. If you prefer to be home the first time, that's completely fine too.
Should You Provide Supplies?
Maidless brings all cleaning supplies and equipment — you don't need to provide anything. If you have a preference for specific products (eco-friendly, fragrance-free, etc.), note it when booking and we'll do our best to accommodate.
During Your Cleaning
A standard first-time clean typically takes:
- 1 bed / 1 bath: 1.5–2.5 hours
- 2 bed / 2 bath: 2.5–3.5 hours
- 3 bed / 2 bath: 3.5–5 hours
First cleans often take longer than recurring cleans because the cleaner is starting fresh rather than maintaining. If your home hasn't had a professional clean in a while, budget toward the higher end of these ranges.
What Gets Cleaned in a Standard Clean
- All rooms vacuumed and mopped
- Bathroom(s) — toilet, sink, tub/shower, floor, mirror
- Kitchen — counters, sink, stovetop, appliance exteriors, cabinet fronts
- All surfaces dusted including shelves, furniture, and baseboards
- Trash emptied in all rooms
- Beds made
A standard clean does not include inside the oven, inside the fridge, inside cabinets, or windows (these are add-ons or part of a deep clean).
After Your Cleaning
What If You're Not Satisfied?
If something was missed or not done to your standard, contact Maidless within 24 hours and we'll make it right. We stand behind our service.
Should You Tip?
Tipping is not required but always appreciated. The standard tip for a house cleaner in Toronto is $15–$25 for a standard clean, or 10–15% for larger jobs. Leaving a tip in cash or noting it in the booking is both fine.
Setting Up Recurring Service
Many first-time clients book a recurring service after their first clean. Bi-weekly recurring service saves 10–15% per visit and maintains the results of that first clean much more easily. Book at maidless.ca/book.