Practical guide
How to prepare your home for a professional cleaning visit
A little preparation before the cleaners arrive means every surface gets attention and the visit stays on schedule. These steps take 15 to 30 minutes and make the difference between a surface wipe and a thorough clean.
01Clear counters, tables, and flat surfaces
Move mail, keys, small appliances, and decorative items off kitchen counters and dining tables. Stack them in a box or a designated corner of the room. Cleaners can wipe a bare counter thoroughly, but working around clutter cuts the cleaned area in half and leaves sticky spots untouched.
02Pick up toys, shoes, and laundry from floors
Walk through each room and toss toys into bins, shoes into closets, and laundry into a hamper. Floors need to be clear for vacuuming and mopping. If the cleaner has to pick up items one by one, the visit runs out of time before reaching baseboards and corners.
03Move lightweight furniture away from walls
Push dining chairs toward the center of the room so the cleaner can mop underneath. Slide small side tables and floor lamps a foot away from walls to reach baseboards. Heavy sofas and beds can stay in place; cleaners work around them.
| Room | Items to move | Where to put them |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | Small appliances, mail, keys, dishes | Inside cabinets or a box on the dining table |
| Bathroom | Toiletries, razors, makeup, towels on the floor | Inside drawers or a bathroom caddy |
| Living room | Magazines, remote controls, throw pillows | A storage basket or the sofa |
| Bedrooms | Clothes, shoes, books on nightstands | Closet, hamper, or dresser drawer |
| Floors (all rooms) | Toys, shoes, bags, charging cables | Bins, closets, or a designated corner |
The 15-minute rule
Spend 15 minutes the night before moving visible clutter into bins or cabinets. The cleaner's job is to scrub, vacuum, and disinfect, not to organize or decide where your belongings go. A clear surface gets cleaned; a cluttered one gets wiped around.
04Secure pets in a separate room or crate
Dogs and cats can get anxious when strangers move through the house with noisy equipment. Put pets in a bedroom, laundry room, or crate with water and a toy before the cleaners arrive. Let the team know where the pet is so they can avoid opening that door. This keeps both the pet and the cleaners calm and prevents escape attempts.
05Empty bathroom and kitchen trash bins
Take out the trash the night before or the morning of the visit. Cleaners wipe the inside of empty bins and replace liners, but they do not remove full bags or sort recycling. An overflowing trash bin under the sink stays untouched.
06Note any fragile or off-limits items
If you have delicate glassware on open shelves, heirloom ceramics on mantels, or equipment that should not be moved, mention it in your booking message or leave a brief note. Cleaners dust around fragile items carefully, but advance notice prevents accidents. Do not expect the team to guess which objects are valuable or breakable.
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