How to Prepare for Your House Cleaning Service

Hiring a professional company to clean your home can save you time and hassle, and allow you to relax, knowing that the professionals will take care of your home. But before you put your feet up, learn how to prepare for a professional house cleaning visit.

1. First time? Stick around

Most professional cleaning services recommend consumers try to be home for the initial cleaning visit. This allows the home owner to check the cleaning job and provide any feedback for future cleanings.

2. Familiar faces

Do you prefer to have the same cleaning crew visit your home each time? Check with the cleaning service to see if that’s possible. It may help to have some flexibility in your schedule.

3. Where are you?

If you are using a cleaning service on a scheduled basis, remember to update your contact information with the cleaning company.  This way the company can confirm each visit ahead of time. You also may get a follow-up call or email to ensure the cleaning service met your expectations.

4. Time to declutter

Because cleaning companies would like to focus on your cleaning, you’ll need to put away your personal belongings and declutter all surfaces to be cleaned before the cleaners arrive. This will help you to get the best possible result. Cleaners may not be able to partially clean a cluttered area due to liability issues.

You’ll need to put away personal belongings and declutter all surfaces to be cleaned before the house cleaning crew arrives. 

5. Make your expectations clear

Call or email ahead of time to let the cleaning company know any specific instructions. Your provider will review any instructions from you on the day of the service.
Remember to provide feedback as needed to your cleaning service. This helps to keep track of how the cleaning crews are doing. Some cleaning companies may offer incentives based on performance.

6. Cleaning supplies: Yours or theirs?

You can request that the cleaning service use your cleaning supplies instead of its own if you have specific preferences, such as environmentally safe products.

Yusuf Mehmetoglu is vice president of operations for Maid Bright, a family-owned and operated residential cleaning service in Sterling, Virginia, servng the greater Washington, D.C., area. Maid Bright has earned the Angie’s List Super Service Award from 2009 through 2014.
As of April 2, 2015, this service provider was highly rated on Angie’s List. Ratings are subject to change based on consumer feedback, so check Angie’s List for the most up-to-date reviews. The views expressed by this author do not necessarily reflect those of Angie’s List.