Quick Answer
To prepare your home for professional cleaners, simply clear personal items off floors and counters, secure your pets in a safe area, provide clear home access instructions, and let the team know about any specific priorities, delicate surfaces, or areas that need special attention.
What to Do Before Cleaners Arrive
Preparing for a professional cleaning visit takes just 15 to 20 minutes and helps your cleaning team work as efficiently and thoroughly as possible.
Clear Counters and Floors
Pick up stray toys, clothing, shoes, and loose paperwork from the floor so cleaners can easily vacuum and mop every square foot. Clear bathroom vanities and kitchen counters of loose items like makeup bags, dishes, and mail so surfaces can be wiped down completely.
Put Away Personal Items
Store away valuables, sensitive documents, and personal items. While professional cleaners are fully vetted and trustworthy, clearing away personal belongings ensures your belongings are safe and out of the way.
Secure Pets
Even the friendliest dogs and cats can get stressed by vacuums, strangers, or open doors. Place your pets in a secure, comfortable room or crate, and let your cleaners know where they are tucked away.
Share Access and Parking Details
Ensure your cleaning team has seamless entry instructions. Provide lockbox codes, gate keys, or alarm instructions ahead of time, and let them know if there is preferred parking available near your entrance.
What You Do Not Need to Do
Do Not Pre-Clean Everything
You do not need to scrub bathrooms or sweep floors before the cleaners arrive! Professional cleaners are there to do the heavy lifting. Tidying up light clutter is all that’s necessary.
Do Not Move Heavy Furniture Unless Requested
Leave heavy sofas, beds, and dressers in place. Professional cleaners utilize specialized tools and extension wands to clean around and underneath furniture safely without risking injury or scratching your floors.
How to Communicate Priorities
List must-clean areas, sensitive surfaces, allergies, preferred products, and special instructions.
Every home is unique. If you have specific priorities (such as focusing heavily on the kitchen or avoiding certain natural stone surfaces in the bathroom), write them down. Sharing notes about household allergies or preferred green cleaning products ensures the team tailors their service perfectly to your household.
Preparing for Deep Cleaning vs Recurring Cleaning
- For Deep Cleaning: Because initial deep cleans involve extensive detailing—such as hand-wiping baseboards, scrubbing tile grout, and cleaning appliance interiors—taking a few extra minutes to clear clutter ensures cleaners have total access to every corner.
- For Recurring Cleaning: Maintenance visits are faster and more routine. Once your household establishes a rhythm with your cleaning team, preparation becomes second nature.
After the Cleaning Visit
When you return to your freshly cleaned home, take a moment to inspect the results and enjoy the sparkling ambiance. If anything needs a quick touch-up or if you’d like to adjust your cleaning plan, your cleaning company is always happy to help.
Use Taskforce’s customer guidelines before your next appointment.
Review our Customer Guidelines for preparation tips, and explore our professional Recurring Cleaning and Deep Cleaning services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I clean before house cleaners come?
No, you do not need to clean before they arrive! Just handle light tidying (like clearing toys and clutter off floors and counters) so the cleaners can focus on deep sanitizing and scrubbing.
Do cleaners move furniture?
Generally, cleaners do not move heavy furniture due to liability and safety risks. However, they will clean around and use specialized extensions to reach underneath furniture.
What should I tell professional cleaners?
Let them know about any specific cleaning priorities, out-of-bounds rooms, delicate surfaces, pet locations, and entry instructions.
Should I leave cleaning supplies out?
No, professional cleaning teams bring all of their own professional-grade equipment, vacuums, and cleaning supplies unless you have requested specific specialty products for delicate surfaces.
