You do not need to pre-clean
This is worth saying plainly: tidying is part of what you are paying for on many visits, and nobody is judging your home. The point of preparing is not to do the work in advance. It is to remove the small obstacles that slow a crew down or create risk, like an unlabeled key box or a bedroom you would rather nobody enters.
The pre-visit checklist
Secure valuables and private items
- Put cash, jewelry, watches and small electronics somewhere private.
- Store sensitive documents, medication and anything you would not want handled.
- Close and label any room you want left alone.
Clear the surfaces you want cleaned
A counter covered in mail cannot be wiped without moving the mail first. If you want cleaning time spent on surfaces rather than sorting, take a quick pass at:
- Kitchen counters and the dining table
- Bathroom vanities
- Floors, especially toys, shoes and laundry piles
- Desks and side tables if you want them dusted
If you would rather we handle the tidying too, that is fine. Just tell us, so the visit is planned with that time included.
Make a plan for pets
- Tell us in advance what pets are in the home and where they will be.
- Crate, gate or place anxious or protective animals in a room we are not cleaning.
- Note any pet that must not get out through an open door.
- Flag heavy shedding so pet hair work can be quoted rather than squeezed in.
Leave clear access instructions
- How to enter: key box code, garage code, door code or where a key is left.
- Alarm details and how to disarm and rearm.
- Parking notes, building entry, elevator or gate access.
- A phone number to reach if something does not work.
Write down your priorities
The single most useful thing you can leave is a short note. For example: kitchen and primary bathroom first, skip the office, be careful with the marble, the guest room is not in use. Priorities let a crew spend time where it matters most to you.
Decide on extras before the visit
Laundry, dishes, inside the refrigerator, inside the oven, inside cabinets, interior windows, blinds, ceiling fans, wall spot cleaning and balcony work are extras rather than part of the standard checklist. Add them in your booking so they are scheduled and priced, not requested at the door. Recurring members save 10% on Care Extras.
Flag safety and fragile items
- Anything broken, loose or wobbly, such as a shower door or a shelf.
- Delicate surfaces that need a specific product, including natural stone and some wood finishes.
- Fragile or sentimental items you would rather nobody touched.
- Household allergies or product sensitivities.
- Anything hazardous, including biohazards, mold, pests or standing water, which are outside a standard clean.
The day of the visit
- Unlock or arrange access ahead of the arrival window.
- Secure pets.
- Leave your priority note somewhere obvious, like the kitchen counter.
- Keep your phone reachable in case the crew needs to confirm something.
- If you are home, pick a room to work in so the crew can move through the rest.
After the clean
Walk through when you can. If something is not right, tell us within 24 hours and we return within 48 hours to make it right at no additional charge. Feedback also carries forward, so a preference you mention once becomes part of how your home is cleaned.
Ready to book?
Get your personalized price, choose your time, and add any extras while you book so everything is planned before we arrive.