Hiring a professional cleaning service like Queen Anne Cleaning Services is an investment in your time and well-being. To get the most value out of your cleaning appointment, a little bit of preparation goes a long way. When your team arrives at a home that is “ready for action,” they can spend their time on deep scrubbing and detail work rather than sorting through clutter.
Quick Answer: What Should You Do Before Cleaners Arrive?
You do not need to clean your home before the pros arrive, but you should declutter. Clear floors of toys, put away personal items, move dirty dishes from the sink, and ensure laundry is in a hamper. By “clearing the decks,” you allow your cleaning team to focus entirely on sanitizing surfaces, scrubbing grout, and removing dust.
Why Preparation Improves Results
Professional cleaners are experts in hygiene, but they aren’t mind readers regarding where your personal belongings belong. If a surface is covered in paperwork, laundry, or knick-knacks, the cleaners have to spend precious time moving those items just to wipe the counter beneath them. When you declutter, your team can move faster and cleaner, resulting in a more thorough, high-quality finish.
What to Pick Up Before the Team Arrives
1. Clothes and Laundry
Place all clothing in hampers. Cleaning teams typically do not handle laundry unless it is part of a specific package, and loose clothing on the floor prevents effective vacuuming.
2. Dishes and Food
Clear the kitchen sink and countertops. Your cleaners will be able to scrub the sink and wipe down surfaces much more efficiently if they don’t have to work around dirty breakfast bowls.
3. Personal Items and Toys
If you have children or pets, put away stray toys. If there are small personal items (jewelry, keepsakes, fragile decor) that you are worried about, put them in a secure drawer or a separate room.
4. Important Documents
If you have bills, sensitive work documents, or mail sitting on your dining table or desk, put them away. This ensures your private information remains organized and secure while the cleaners work.
What You Do NOT Need to Do
- Don’t scrub anything: Please leave the scrubbing to us! That is what you are paying for.
- Don’t worry about dust: We will handle all the dusting, vacuuming, and mopping.
- Don’t move furniture: Our team is trained to handle furniture-moving safely if it’s necessary for deep cleaning.
How to Communicate Priorities
Every home is different. When you book with Queen Anne Cleaning Services, let us know if there are specific “trouble spots” you are worried about—like a stubborn bathroom stain, the inside of the microwave, or a baseboard area that hasn’t been touched in a while. Providing a quick “priority list” ensures our team hits the areas that matter most to you.
Preparing Your Pets
Cleaning day can be stressful for our four-legged friends. If your pet is anxious, consider:
- Keeping them in a room that isn’t being cleaned.
- Using a crate or a playpen.
- Taking them for a walk during the visit.
- Safety Note: Always let us know if there is a pet in the house so we can ensure they don’t accidentally slip out of an open door.
Deep Cleaning vs. Recurring Maintenance
- Deep Cleaning: Because this is a massive reset, the team will spend more time on detail work. Clear off as many surfaces as possible to help them reach those neglected corners (like behind the fridge or under the bed).
- Recurring Cleaning: This is about maintenance. A “tidied” home makes recurring cleans incredibly efficient, allowing the team to keep your home in a perpetual state of “move-in ready.”
FAQ
Should I clean before professional cleaners come?
No! Please don’t waste your energy cleaning before we arrive. Your job is simply to declutter so we have clear access to the surfaces we need to scrub.
What should I put away before house cleaning?
Anything that is loose on floors or counters—clothes, toys, dishes, and important papers.
Do cleaners bring their own supplies?
At Queen Anne Cleaning Services, we bring all of our own professional-grade supplies and equipment. You don’t need to provide a thing!
Should I be home during professional cleaning?
It’s entirely up to you. Most of our clients provide us with access and go about their day, but we are perfectly happy to work while you are present.
How do I prepare pets for cleaning service?
Keep them in a secure area, in a crate, or away from the house if they are easily startled by vacuums or new people.
Ready to enjoy a spotless home? At Queen Anne Cleaning Services, we deliver professional, detail-oriented cleaning that transforms your space. We are ready when you are!
Click here to get your free cleaning estimate from Queen Anne Cleaning Services today!