Preparing Your Home Before the Cleaning Team Arrives
One of the most common questions from Ontario homeowners booking their first professional cleaning is whether they need to tidy up before the cleaners arrive. The short answer: some light preparation makes a significant difference in the quality of what you get.
What to Do Before Your Cleaner Arrives
Clear flat surfaces: Kitchen counters, bathroom counters, dining tables, and coffee tables — if these are covered with items, the team will need to work around them rather than clean under and around them. A 10-minute sweep of flat surfaces before a cleaning visit significantly improves the result.
Pick up from the floor: Clothing, toys, and items on the floor slow a cleaning team and often prevent proper vacuuming and mopping. A quick pick-up of floors takes minutes but dramatically improves floor cleaning quality.
Put away dishes: Dishes in the sink or stacked on the counter limit kitchen cleaning. If you want the sink and counters properly cleaned, clear them first.
Secure pets: Pets underfoot are a safety consideration for the cleaning team. A crate, a dedicated room, or an outdoor space for pets during the clean is appreciated and often produces better results.
What You Don't Need to Do
You don't need to pre-clean surfaces — that's what you're paying for. You don't need to organize closets or drawers unless they're on the scope. You don't need to vacuum first. The cleaning team handles all of that.
The 15-Minute Rule
A 15-minute declutter before your cleaning visit — flat surfaces, floors, dishes — will meaningfully improve the outcome. More than that is going above and beyond what's needed.