October 20, 2023 by justin davis
If you’re planning on hiring a cleaning company for the first time, you might be wondering if there’s anything you need to do beforehand. Some people even feel like they have to clean up before the cleaners get there, as they aren’t used to having people over while the house is a mess. This is a bit like making sure you’re clean before you take a shower, but there’s also something to it. While the cleaning crew is there to clean your house, they don’t typically take care of things like organizing clutter. Even though you can leave most of the messes to the professionals, there are a few things that you should take care of before the home cleaning crew arrives.
Declutter surfaces
This is probably one of the most important things to do, especially if your house really needs it. Not only will it make the cleaners’ jobs easier, but it could also save you money if they’re charging by the hour. Since they won’t have to move stuff around in order to clean underneath it, they’ll be able to work much more efficiently.
You don’t have to make sure that every single stray item is stuffed into a closet or cabinet; just take care of the major things. If there happen to be a few toys, shoes, or dishes that aren’t put away, don’t worry about it too much. The main thing is that the cleaners can access the surfaces they need to clean.
Put away valuables and fragile items
Reputable cleaning companies put each new hire through a rigorous interview process to determine their honesty and trustworthiness. They also provide training on how to handle each client’s personal items, so that nothing gets mislaid or broken. Even so, it occasionally happens that something gets broken, or worse, stolen.
If you’ve hired a quality cleaning company with good reviews, you should feel safe and comfortable while their cleaners are working at your home. At the same time, it’s smart to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Make sure any valuable or fragile items are in a secure spot, just to be on the safe side.
Wash the dishes
In general, house cleaners don’t take care of dirty dishes. They may put a load in the dishwasher, but any other dishwashing duties probably aren’t included in the contract. What probably is in the contract, though, is cleaning the sink, faucet, and countertops in the kitchen. If they’re obstructed by dishes, though, that may not be possible. Assuming you want the cleaning crew to leave your kitchen truly spotless, you’ll have to help them out by taking care of the dirty dishes beforehand.
Make sure nervous pets are contained
Even if your pets are great around you and your family, they might not behave quite so well when several strangers are in the house. This is important for both your pets and the cleaning crew. For example, cats and dogs can become very agitated if they feel like their space is being invaded; the presence of cleaners can cause a lot of unnecessary stress. Then you have to consider the safety and comfort of the cleaners, who shouldn’t have to deal with animals that are making a lot of noise or acting aggressive.
If possible, you could simply ensure that your pet is put outside while the cleaners are busy. For strictly indoors pets, you could put them in the garage, or in an appropriately sized crate (provided they’re already acclimated to being in a crate; this can also cause stress if they’re unfamiliar with the concept). Pet birds should get special care while a cleaning crew is working, since they’re very vulnerable to common cleaning products. They should either be moved to a different space during and after the cleaning is being done, or you should hire a service that only uses pet-friendly cleaning products.
Know what’s in the contract
You probably already have an idea of what the cleaning company will do for your house, but do you know exactly what is and isn’t included in the contract? This is important to establish before they arrive, since it can be awkward if your expectations exceed what they’re actually there to do. For example, you might assume that they’ll clean the windows along with the mirrors, and point out the error when they don’t. Then they’d have to explain that the windows aren’t included in the contract, and you might both feel a bit embarrassed.
This works the other way around as well – you should know what your options are if you want to add services to a particular cleaning appointment. Let’s say you do really need your windows to be cleaned, but you know that it isn’t included in the normal services. Set that up beforehand, and enjoy your crystal-clear windows. The same goes for services like doing the laundry, washing the dishes, making beds, deep-cleaning carpets, and much more.
Communicate well
Under normal circumstances, you probably won’t have to coordinate much with the cleaning crew once they’ve gotten the first cleaning done. At that point they’ll know their way around the house, as well as any special instructions you’ve given them. However, sometimes life happens, and your house cleaners may need to know about it. This could be something small, like “there’s no hot water in the sink in the master bathroom”. Or it could be more significant, like “I need to reschedule for next week”. If you keep communications clear, both you and the cleaning crew will have a much smoother experience. This also makes it easier for the people who manage schedules, take care of billing, etc., so don’t forget to keep them posted as well!
This helps build trust, which is a good thing if they’ll be visiting regularly. When you know that they’ll pay attention to your requests, and they know that you’ll keep them informed if anything changes, this can result in a more comfortable experience for everyone involved.