How to Prepare for a House Cleaner
(And What You Don't Need to Do)

The Honest Short Answer

You don't need to do much. A professional cleaner is there specifically so you don't have to spend your time doing it. That said, a few small things on your end make a real difference to the quality of the clean you get — and we'll be straight with you about what those are.

What Actually Helps Before a Clean

Tidy Surfaces — But Only If It's Easy

If your kitchen counter is covered in mail, appliances, and random items, we'll move things to clean underneath and put them back — but the clean is faster and more thorough when surfaces are clear. Same goes for bathroom counters, bedroom surfaces, and floors.

You don't need to deep-clean before we arrive. The whole point is that we're doing it. But if you can spend 10 minutes doing a quick tidy of flat surfaces, you'll get a noticeably better result — because we can actually reach the surface rather than work around the clutter.

If you're busy, skip it. We'll work around whatever is there. But if you have a few minutes, a quick tidy pays off.

Put Away Anything Fragile or Irreplaceable

We're careful with everything in your home. But if there's something genuinely irreplaceable — a family heirloom, an expensive collectible, something sentimental — tuck it somewhere safe before the team arrives. Not because we're careless, but because it gives you peace of mind and removes any ambiguity.

Let Us Know About Any Specific Areas

If there's a problem area you really want us to focus on — a bathroom that hasn't been touched in a while, a kitchen that needs extra attention — mention it when you book or leave a note. We follow a thorough checklist on every visit, but knowing your priorities helps us allocate time where you need it most.

First Visit vs Recurring Visits

Your First Clean

For your first professional clean, we recommend being home — or at least being available at the start. This gives us a chance to walk through the home together, point out any specific preferences or concerns, and establish how you like things done. It takes 10 minutes and sets the tone for everything that follows.

After the walk-through, you're free to leave. Most clients head to work, run errands, or just enjoy the rare luxury of not being home while their place gets cleaned.

Recurring Visits

After the first visit, you don't need to be home at all. Most of our regular clients are at work, at the gym, or out with their families while we clean. You'll come home to a fresh space without losing any of your day.

The only thing you need to do for recurring visits is make sure we have access — which brings us to the next point.

Leaving Access Instructions

This is the one thing that matters most for every visit. If we can't get in, we can't clean. There are a few ways clients typically handle this:

• Leave a key — either with a trusted neighbour, in a lockbox, or with the building concierge
• Provide an entry code — for keypad locks, smart locks, or building entry systems
• Be home to let us in — especially for the first visit if you prefer
• Building fob or buzzer code — for condos and apartments, we'll need a way to get past the lobby

When you book, we'll ask about access. If anything changes before your visit — a new lock, a different entry point, a note for the concierge — just let us know in advance. A quick text or email the day before saves everyone time.

What You Don't Need to Do

Here's the list of things people commonly do before a cleaning visit that are completely unnecessary:

• Pre-cleaning before the cleaner arrives. This is the most common one. If you're scrubbing the bathroom before we get there, you've already done the job — and you're paying us to do it again. Don't.
• Hiding the mess. We're not judging. Cleaning is literally our job. The dirtier it is, the more satisfying the result.
• Providing cleaning supplies. We bring everything — professional-grade equipment and Eco-Logo certified products. You don't need to leave anything out.
• Being home the entire time. After the first visit, you're free to leave. We're bonded, insured, and background-checked. Your home is in good hands.
• Sending long instructions. Our team works from a detailed checklist on every visit. A note about a priority area is helpful; a three-paragraph briefing isn't necessary.

What to Do About Pets

This is one of the most common questions we get, and the answer is: whatever works best for your pet.

Some pets are completely unbothered by having cleaners in the house. Others get stressed, territorial, or overexcited. Here's our general guidance:

• If your pet is calm and people-friendly: They can usually stay out. Just let us know in advance so the team knows what to expect.
• If your pet is anxious or reactive: Putting them in a separate room or taking them out during the clean makes the visit faster and less stressful for everyone — including your pet.
• For the first visit specifically: We recommend keeping pets secured while we get familiar with the space. Once things are established, you can adjust based on how your pet responds.

The main practical reason to secure pets: it lets us move through the home freely, open and close doors without worry, and avoid any accidental escapes if we're working near an entrance.

Frequently Asked Questions