8 Easy Steps to Prepare Your Home Ahead of a Professional Cleaning

Woman cleaning window
Photo: Anastasiia Krivenok / Moment / Getty Images

8 Easy Steps to Prepare Your Home Ahead of a Professional Cleaning

This article originally appeared on Angi and is syndicated by Cheapism.

If you’ve decided to get your home professionally cleaned for the first time, you may not know what to expect other than some shiny countertops. However, learning how to prepare for a house cleaner just takes a few quick steps and can make the process that much smoother. We’ll go over everything you need to know to prepare for a visit from a house cleaner to set you both up for success.

Woman cleaning window
Photo: Anastasiia Krivenok / Moment / Getty Images

8 Easy Steps to Prepare Your Home Ahead of a Professional Cleaning

This article originally appeared on Angi and is syndicated by Cheapism.

If you’ve decided to get your home professionally cleaned for the first time, you may not know what to expect other than some shiny countertops. However, learning how to prepare for a house cleaner just takes a few quick steps and can make the process that much smoother. We’ll go over everything you need to know to prepare for a visit from a house cleaner to set you both up for success.

Woman working in the living room
Photo: Yiu Yu Hoi / The Image Bank / Getty Images

Research Your Cleaning Service

Doing thorough research before a cleaning service comes to your home will help avoid any surprises or misunderstandings. If you’re wondering how to find a good house cleaner, it’s important to do your homework first. Check out house cleaning services in your area and find out what they cover. It’s also important to ensure the business is properly insured before you hire.

Woman working in the living room
Photo: Yiu Yu Hoi / The Image Bank / Getty Images

Research Your Cleaning Service

Doing thorough research before a cleaning service comes to your home will help avoid any surprises or misunderstandings. If you’re wondering how to find a good house cleaner, it’s important to do your homework first. Check out house cleaning services in your area and find out what they cover. It’s also important to ensure the business is properly insured before you hire.

Boy standing at the trash can
Photo: Kseniya Ovchinnikova / Moment / Getty Images

Declutter for Your Cleaner

You don’t want to task your house cleaner with figuring out how to organize your cluttered surfaces. Pick up toys, junk mail, loose change, and whatever else found its way to your countertops. The less clutter you have around, the easier it’ll be for your house cleaner to focus on more important tasks, such as wiping down your baseboards and dusting your vintage figurines.

Boy standing at the trash can
Photo: Kseniya Ovchinnikova / Moment / Getty Images

Declutter for Your Cleaner

You don’t want to task your house cleaner with figuring out how to organize your cluttered surfaces. Pick up toys, junk mail, loose change, and whatever else found its way to your countertops. The less clutter you have around, the easier it’ll be for your house cleaner to focus on more important tasks, such as wiping down your baseboards and dusting your vintage figurines.

Family setting table for dinner
Photo: PhotoAlto/Sigrid Olsson / PhotoAlto Agency RF Collections / Getty Images

Clear Away Dirty Dishes

Unless otherwise specified, most house cleaners don’t wash dishes or deal with food messes. Washing and putting away your dirty dishes will make it much easier for your pro to clean your sink and the surrounding areas. Plus, once everything’s all sparkling clean, you won’t have any additional chores to worry about.

Family setting table for dinner
Photo: PhotoAlto/Sigrid Olsson / PhotoAlto Agency RF Collections / Getty Images

Clear Away Dirty Dishes

Unless otherwise specified, most house cleaners don’t wash dishes or deal with food messes. Washing and putting away your dirty dishes will make it much easier for your pro to clean your sink and the surrounding areas. Plus, once everything’s all sparkling clean, you won’t have any additional chores to worry about.

Woman working at home
Photo: Pacific Images LLC / The Image Bank / Getty Images

Communicate Any Questions or Special Requests

Once you’re meeting with cleaning pros, communicate your needs clearly. For example, if your dusty Venetian blinds are driving you crazy, bring this up so your house cleaner knows not to miss them. If you’d like your house cleaner to do a quick walk-through with you, prepare all of your talking points beforehand so no time gets wasted. This can also be a good time to ask exactly what they’ll clean and what cleaning tasks may cost extra.

Woman working at home
Photo: Pacific Images LLC / The Image Bank / Getty Images

Communicate Any Questions or Special Requests

Once you’re meeting with cleaning pros, communicate your needs clearly. For example, if your dusty Venetian blinds are driving you crazy, bring this up so your house cleaner knows not to miss them. If you’d like your house cleaner to do a quick walk-through with you, prepare all of your talking points beforehand so no time gets wasted. This can also be a good time to ask exactly what they’ll clean and what cleaning tasks may cost extra.

Living room interior of modern apartment
Photo: Anastasiia Krivenok / Moment / Getty Images

Secure Fragile Items

It’s always wise to secure anything that could easily get broken. Accidents happen, and you don’t want your grandma’s favorite vase to come crashing down. If anything is especially valuable to you or needs to be cleaned in a specific way, let your pro know ahead of time.

Living room interior of modern apartment
Photo: Anastasiia Krivenok / Moment / Getty Images

Secure Fragile Items

It’s always wise to secure anything that could easily get broken. Accidents happen, and you don’t want your grandma’s favorite vase to come crashing down. If anything is especially valuable to you or needs to be cleaned in a specific way, let your pro know ahead of time.

A dog laying in bed inside a dog cage
Photo: SolStock / E+ / Getty Images

Put Your Pets Away

Good house cleaner etiquette often means crating your pup and keeping your kitties behind closed doors. Your animals might get in the way during a house cleaning, especially if they follow your cleaner around looking for scratches. Your house cleaner may also have allergies or phobias, so it’s best to be considerate and tuck away the fur babies until they’re finished. You can also ask your cleaner ahead of time what they prefer here.

A dog laying in bed inside a dog cage
Photo: SolStock / E+ / Getty Images

Put Your Pets Away

Good house cleaner etiquette often means crating your pup and keeping your kitties behind closed doors. Your animals might get in the way during a house cleaning, especially if they follow your cleaner around looking for scratches. Your house cleaner may also have allergies or phobias, so it’s best to be considerate and tuck away the fur babies until they’re finished. You can also ask your cleaner ahead of time what they prefer here.

Woman working from home
Photo: MoMo Productions / DigitalVision / Getty Images

Know Proper House Cleaner Etiquette

Researching house cleaning etiquette beforehand will prevent any awkwardness or miscommunications between you and your house cleaner. If you have any specific concerns or questions beforehand, make them known. You can also ask any pressing questions during the hiring process, as pros will be happy to set your mind at ease. As far as tipping house cleaners goes, it’s never a bad idea to give a little extra (around 20%) for a job well done.

Woman working from home
Photo: MoMo Productions / DigitalVision / Getty Images

Know Proper House Cleaner Etiquette

Researching house cleaning etiquette beforehand will prevent any awkwardness or miscommunications between you and your house cleaner. If you have any specific concerns or questions beforehand, make them known. You can also ask any pressing questions during the hiring process, as pros will be happy to set your mind at ease. As far as tipping house cleaners goes, it’s never a bad idea to give a little extra (around 20%) for a job well done.

Woman cleaning the kitchen counter
Photo: d3sign / Moment / Getty Images

Avoid Over-the-Top Expectations

When you’re hiring a cleaning service, you’ll usually have to choose between a general house cleaning versus a deep clean. Each has a set of basic tasks the house cleaner will cover. If you have anything extra in mind, be sure to communicate that—and prepare for any fees that might follow. Going in with clear expectations is the key to happiness and a spotless clean.

Woman cleaning the kitchen counter
Photo: d3sign / Moment / Getty Images

Avoid Over-the-Top Expectations

When you’re hiring a cleaning service, you’ll usually have to choose between a general house cleaning versus a deep clean. Each has a set of basic tasks the house cleaner will cover. If you have anything extra in mind, be sure to communicate that—and prepare for any fees that might follow. Going in with clear expectations is the key to happiness and a spotless clean.

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