What to Do Before Your Cleaner Arrives
You don't need to clean before your cleaner comes — that's why you hired one. But a few minutes of preparation makes a real difference in how much your cleaner can accomplish and how efficiently they can do it. Here's the practical checklist.
Do These (5–10 minutes)
- Pick up clutter from floors and surfaces — clothes, toys, mail, dishes. Your cleaner is there to clean, not to sort. Cleared surfaces mean more gets cleaned
- Secure pets — let your cleaner know in advance if you have pets. Kennelling them or putting them in a room makes the clean faster and safer
- Clear the kitchen sink — a sink full of dishes limits what the cleaner can do with the surrounding area
- Leave notes for anything special — fragile items, areas to avoid, a specific product preference
Don't Bother With These
- Pre-cleaning bathrooms or kitchen — this is exactly what they're there for
- Making beds — your cleaner will do this
- Vacuuming — unnecessary before a professional vacuum
Access
- If you won't be home, make sure entry instructions are clear — lockbox code, key location, building buzzer
- For condos: let the front desk know a cleaner is coming if your building requires it