You have called a professional cleaning service to clean your home, and the scheduled time for their arrival is approaching. The house is a bit messy, and you can’t resist the impulse to clean it before they come. What will they think of you if they find your house in this state? But isn’t that exactly why you hired them in the first place? Why would you do the job you are already paying someone to do? If you are troubled by such dilemmas, you are not alone. Many homeowners have the same problem.

How do you find the right measure and not come off as rude while still getting the service you paid for? In this article, we talk about how to prepare your home for a professional cleaning service.

Clear the counters

Before the cleaners arrive, be sure to clean the tables, countertops, and shelves you want to clean. Remove any objects that might be in the way of your house cleaners. They will have to put those items away before they start doing their job, which can take a lot of time. After cleaning, they have to put them back (additional time wasted). It also makes it more likely that your belongings will get damaged or misplaced, so you may have trouble finding them later. Remember that cleaners are not there to organise your things but to clean them. The organisation of your living space is your job. You probably pay them by the hour. So if they have to work extra time to get the job done, expect higher bills but lower quality.

Know proper house cleaner etiquette

Don’t worry whether your house looks too shabby to cleaners. Their job is to take care of the homes of people who, due to their commitments, do not have time to devote to frequent cleaning. However, it is necessary to prepare for their arrival. First, you need to know what their job is according to the contract, and if you have additional requirements, make it clear. Often this means extra costs, but you will get the service you want. Suitable preparation of the house means that cleaners will complete their work quicker, and you will return to your daily routine sooner. If you decide on a last minute move and have to move out on short notice, let your cleaners know you no longer need their services. It is usual to tip cleaners between 10 and 20% of the total clean-up cost, depending on how satisfied you are with the job.

Put valuables and important documents away

It is best to put all valuables, such as money or jewellery, in a safe or other secure place to avoid potential misunderstandings. The cleaners themselves may find it uncomfortable to work if valuables are left unattended in the house. Things can easily get lost during clean-up, and no one wants to deal with false accusations if it turns out that something valuable is missing. Personal belongings can get in the way of vacuuming, dusting, and cleaning. Also, don’t leave important documents and papers lying around. The cleaners might mix them up with the trash and them out. If you don’t want them moved, make it clear to the cleaner. Secure breakable items that are valuable or may have emotional significance to you. That is also something that you should inform cleaners about.

Take care of your pets

Holding pets in the house often means a mess. You can try to keep it clean yourself or entrust it to professionals. You may eventually get to the point where you don’t need to remove your pets from the house during cleaning, but it is wise to do so at the beginning. Even if they are friendly towards cleaners, they can be a nuisance during work or make a mess. The chemicals used for cleaning can be unpleasant for them. There is a possibility that cleaning service employees are afraid of animals or are allergic to them. That is why it is best to move your pet to a different room or in the yard and have fun with it or, even better, go for a long walk with it if possible.

Prepare your bed before the professional cleaning service

Although it may be part of the regular cleaning services, usually it isn’t. In that case, do not leave the bad unmade. Be sure to leave everything ready and prepared for the cleaner. If you and your cleaning service have an agreement on making your bed, clean sheets should be left visible and easy to access.

Pick up the clutter

As we said before, clutter or household items spread around the house can slow down or hinder the cleaning process. The cleaner can also get injured on objects scattered on the floor. Even if they decide and spend time collecting the scattered things, after cleaning, they have no other option but to return them to the same place from which they picked them up because they do not know where anything belongs. Remember, their job is not to organise your things. So take a few minutes and pick up clothes, children’s toys, magazines, and books. Pick up dirty towels from the bathroom floor. It will allow your professional hose cleaner to quickly sweep, mop and vacuum your floors and get the job done in no time

Clear away dirty dishes and food messes 

If you did not arrange for the dishes to be washed with your professional cleaning service, be sure to remove them from the sink. Cleaning the sink is a part of the cleaner’s job, but only if they can access it. Don’t be surprised if they leave this part untouched because of the dirty dishes in the sink. Also, remove any leftover food and throw it in the trash. The cleaners won’t know what to do with it if they find it.

Conclusion

If you’ve hired a professional cleaning service, you’ll still need to do some preparations before they come. Don’t stress about it; cleaning everything thoroughly is their job, but you should do basic things: clear your bed and counters of clutter that might get in their way.