Brush up on these house cleaner etiquette tips
If you’ve decided to get your home professionally cleaned for the first time, you may not know what to expect. However, learning how to prepare for a house cleaner just takes a few quick steps. We’ll go over everything you need to know about how to prepare for a house cleaner visit to set you both up for success.
You don’t want to task your house cleaner with figuring out how to organize your cluttered surfaces. Pick up toys, junk mail, loose change, and whatever else found its way to your countertops. The less clutter you have around, the easier it’ll be for your house cleaner to focus on more important tasks, such as wiping down your baseboards and dusting your vintage figurines.
Unless otherwise specified, most house cleaners don’t wash dishes or deal with food messes. Washing and putting away your dirty dishes will make it much easier for your pro to clean your sink and the surrounding areas. Plus, once everything’s all sparkling clean, you won’t have any additional chores to worry about.
Once you’re meeting with cleaning pros, communicate your needs clearly. For example, if your dusty Venetian blinds are driving you crazy, bring this up so your house cleaner knows not to miss them. If you’d like your house cleaner to do a quick walk-through with you, prepare all of your talking points beforehand so no time gets wasted.
It’s always wise to secure anything that could easily get broken. Accidents happen, and you don’t want your grandma’s favorite vase to come crashing down. If anything is especially valuable to you or needs to be cleaned in a specific way, let your pro know ahead of time.
Reputable home cleaners are honest professionals. However, if you're wondering what to do before cleaners come to reduce the risk of opportunistic thefts or just accidental damage, it’s sensible to take precautions. Don’t leave valuables, cash, credit cards, or confidential paperwork lying around on cleaning day. Store your top-notch tech, heirloom jewelry, and other important assets in a secure, out-of-sight location.
Good house cleaner etiquette means crating your pup and keeping your kitties behind closed doors. Your animals might get in the way during a house cleaning, especially if they follow your cleaner around looking for scratches. Your house cleaner may also have allergies or phobias, so it’s best to be considerate and tuck away the fur babies until they’re finished.
Researching house cleaning etiquette beforehand will prevent any awkwardness or miscommunications between you and your house cleaner. If you have any specific concerns or questions beforehand, make them known. You can also ask any pressing questions during the hiring process, as pros will be happy to set your mind at ease. As far as tipping house cleaners goes, it’s never a bad idea to give a little extra (around 20%) for a job well done.
When you’re hiring a cleaning service, you’ll usually have to choose between a general house cleaning versus a deep clean. Each has a set of basic tasks the house cleaner will cover. If you have anything extra in mind, be sure to communicate that—and prepare for any fees that might follow. Going in with clear expectations is the key to happiness and a spotless clean.
If you have a home security system with motion sensors or a PIN for a front door smart lock, you might need to turn off these features or provide a temporary code. Otherwise, the cleaner might be unable to enter the property without triggering an alarm. And, at least with smart home automation systems, you can remotely reset any security settings via an app after your cleaner leaves.
When searching for a house cleaner near you that best fits the bill, research and review your requirements. Do you want to hire an individual cleaner or a company? Independent cleaners often offer more flexibility, lower rates, and the opportunity to build personal relationships. However, hiring a company means you will have consistent coverage, and insurance and background checks are taken care of.
Some other considerations and questions to ask a house cleaning service to help you make a decision include:
Are quality references and reviews available?
How much does the house cleaning cost, and how do the rates compare to other cleaners?
What services are included in the rates? Surcharges for things like window washing, oven cleaning, or changing bed sheets are standard (and some companies won’t cover these services).
Do they use their own cleaning supplies? What sort of products do they use?
Does the company perform background checks?
Is the company insured and bonded?
How frequent is the service? Are seasonal deep cleans as well as regularly scheduled visits on offer?
Is there a contract to outline the terms of services?
The best clean I have ever had, She went above and beyond, spent 5 hours deep cleaning my entire house, cleaned the appliances inside and out, cleaned the blinds, all my shelves and even left the toilet paper in a cute design. She brought her own supplies, my house smells and looks amazing...
Ivina BasileI needed some light fixtures fixed and some other handyman work around the clinical office and at home. I called for services to be done and this company was reliable and prompt for the services. I did not need to supply any materials or equipment to get the work done. I would recommend this...
Beckman Remodeling and HandymanShe is the best, very detailing and she leave my house shine and clean as never.
Only SpotlessJasper Colman was excellent and quick!
All My Sons Moving & StorageWe had leaks around the three dormers at the front of the house, and are very pleased with our experience with Gerry and his team. We requested and received a quote very promptly. Gerry is very friendly and professional and pleasant to work with. The work was done promptly and we are very...
All Season Roof Repair, LLCMy son and his wife both have demanding jobs and just welcomed a new baby. House cleaning had fallen by the wayside. So, being a supportive Mom, I hired Bright House Cleaning for a deep clean of their place. My son really appreciated the work they did and was blown away by the quality of...
We had our first house cleaning with It's Maid Day yesterday and couldn't have been more pleased! Not only did the team show up exactly when promised but they finished on time as well. They did a great job and knew exactly what they were doing. We're looking forward to them coming every 2...
It's Maid DayThis was my first usage of Angi for anything, and I am very pleased with the results. Gustavo called me quickly after I submitted the Angi request, and he was able to come the next day (I know that won't always be the case for everyone). In 2 hours he replaced my old dead control box with a...
The Irrigation MasterDid good work at a reasonable price
KG ApplianceI absolutely love Ana! She is the BEST. She always does a great job cleaning my house. I love getting home from work to a fresh and clean house all thanks to Aâ s cleaning. I highly recommend her!!
A's Cleaning ServicesFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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