Preparing for a Housekeeping Service

A professional house cleaning service is not simply about cleaning. It’s also about making life easier for you. Many cleaning companies charge routine services by the hour. It is essential that you find value in the time that a cleaner spends in your home. It is equally important to have a clear understanding of what the cleaner will and will not be doing while at your home. Below are some tips that will help you to prepare your space for scrubbing and to ensure that agreed upon tasks will be completed.


1. Declutter and tidy up your space, including important documents and mail. Toys, books, dishes, blankets and clutter take time to move or put away. Relying on the house cleaner to do this takes time away from actually cleaning. The cleaner will either tidy up for you and spend less time cleaning or will clean around the clutter and potentially leave the job feeling unfinished. The result can be frustration for both you and for the housekeeper.

2. Secure valuables such as jewelry, small electronics and loose cash. This gives peace of mind to both you and to the cleaner and prevents any misunderstanding.

3. Put away the pets and monitor small children. Cleaners are in your home to work at cleaning, not to work around pets or children. Cleaning agents, mop buckets, and vacuums may present potential hazards to pets and kids.  

4. Identify and repair any broken items around the home. It happens--sometimes things get broken. Take note of anything in your home that is broken, or is about to break, and let the cleaner know. This way the cleaner doesn’t worry that they broke it!

5. Prepare to give feedback. It is essential for the cleaner to know if there are any specific areas that you feel need special attention. The only way that the cleaner will know is if you share any concerns with them. Feedback is crucial in establishing a lasting and meaningful relationship with your cleaning company!


Cleaning is a very subjective service. It is much easier for house cleaners to do a good job and to conform to your understanding of clean when expectations are clear at the outset. Regular feedback must be given. This allows the cleaning service to adjust their routine to fit with your specific needs. The goal of a housekeeper, after all, is not just to clean but also to provide a satisfying, pleasant experience that makes life easier for you!