How to prepare your home for a professional cleaner

Hiring a professional cleaner is one of the best decisions a busy homeowner can make. But a lot of people aren't sure what they should do before the team arrives. Here's the honest answer: not much. But there are a few things that make a real difference.

What to do before your cleaner arrives

Declutter surfaces

Cleaners clean — they don't tidy. If your counters, floors, and surfaces are covered with belongings, your team will spend time moving things around rather than actually cleaning. A quick 15-minute tidy before they arrive makes a significant difference to the quality and thoroughness of your clean.

This doesn't mean deep organizing. Just clear the clutter off surfaces so they can be properly wiped down.

Secure or remove valuables and fragile items

While our team is fully insured and background checked, we recommend putting away anything irreplaceable, fragile, or valuable. It's just good practice for everyone.

Contain pets

Some pets are fine with strangers in the home; others are not. If your pet gets stressed by visitors or unfamiliar sounds, it's worth arranging for them to be in a separate room or out of the house during the clean.

Leave access instructions

If you won't be home, make sure your cleaner knows how to get in. Leave a key with a neighbour, install a key lockbox, or provide a door code. Clear access instructions prevent delays and ensure your team can start on time.

Write down any special requests

We take notes on your preferences visit after visit, but if there's anything specific you want for this clean — a focus area, a room to skip, a product you want us to use or avoid — leave a note or send a message ahead of time.

What you don't need to do

• Pre-clean before we arrive. That's literally our job.
• Buy special cleaning products. We bring everything needed for a thorough clean.
• Worry about the mess. We've seen it all. A lived-in home is completely normal.

The goal is to make our visit as efficient as possible so we can spend our time cleaning, not navigating.