Declutter Before the Deep Clean
One of the most impactful — and most overlooked — ways Ontario homeowners can improve the results of a professional deep clean is to declutter before the cleaners arrive. The difference in what can be accomplished in a home that has been cleared of excess items versus one where cleaning has to work around accumulated possessions is enormous.
Why Clutter Limits Professional Cleaning
Professional cleaners charge by time, and time spent moving, working around, and replacing items is time not spent cleaning. On a surface completely clear of items: a cleaner wipes it in 30 seconds. The same surface covered in decorative items, books, and accumulated objects: 3–5 minutes. Across a full home, this difference adds up to the cleaner being able to achieve either a more thorough clean in the same time, or the same clean in less time (costing less).
What to Do Before the Cleaners Arrive
- Clear horizontal surfaces: Kitchen and bathroom counters, desks, coffee tables, nightstands — remove the non-fixed items that would otherwise need to be moved and replaced during cleaning
- Put laundry away: Clothes on chairs, floors, and beds significantly limit bedroom cleaning quality
- Remove dishes from the sink: Allows thorough sink cleaning
- Collect scattered children's toys: Put away rather than leaving on floors — cleaners can't mop around a toy minefield
- Clear the floor: Items on the floor (shoes, bags, exercise equipment) block floor cleaning
The Professional's Perspective
Most Ontario professional cleaning companies have a client guideline: the cleaner is not responsible for sorting or organizing possessions, and items left on surfaces or floors may not be moved for cleaning underneath. Communicate with your cleaner if you want specific areas cleared and cleaned under items — some clients specifically request it and it's accommodated at a time premium.