How to Get Ready for a House Cleaner

Pick up the clutter

The team's time should go to cleaning, not moving things. Before the visit:

• Clear the kitchen counters of mail, bags and dishes
• Pick up clothes, toys and shoes from the floors
• Put away anything on the bathroom counters you don't want moved
• Load the dishwasher or stack dishes in the sink

Clear surfaces get cleaned better, and clear floors get vacuumed and mopped edge to edge. In the kitchen, the biggest help is a clear counter and an empty sink, so the counters, backsplash and sink get fully cleaned instead of cleaned around.

Bathrooms

Move toothbrushes, makeup and skincare off the counters, and hang up or hamper the towels. Clear the tub and shower ledges of anything you don't want moved, so the tile and glass can be scrubbed.

Tell us what matters

Every house has a priority. Maybe it's the primary bathroom, or the kitchen floor, or the dust on the stairs. Tell us when you book, or text us before the visit. Tell us what not to touch, too: a desk covered in paperwork, a piece of art, a room that's off-limits. If you have surfaces that need special care, like natural stone or unsealed wood, tell us that too.

Pets

Let us know who lives there and how they do with visitors. Some dogs are happy to supervise. Others are calmer in a crate or a closed room. Either way, pick up pet toys and bowls so the floors are clear. If your pets stay in a crate, put it somewhere out of the main walkways so the team can work around it.

Getting in

You don't need to be home. Tell us how to get in when you book, and let us know about alarms or gates ahead of time. A lockbox or a door code is the simplest way in. If someone else will be home, let them know when to expect the team. If you're out, we text you photos when we finish.

Valuables

Put away jewelry, cash and anything irreplaceable. That's common sense with any visitor. Everyone who cleans in your home has passed a background check, and Bay Cleaning is insured, but there's no reason to leave valuables out. The same goes for prescription medications and important papers.

What to skip

Don't pre-clean. We bring all the supplies and equipment, so you don't need to buy or set out anything either. Your job is the clutter, and ours is the clean. You also don't need to stay home or check in during the clean.

If you're on a recurring plan

Prep turns into a quick routine: the night before, clear the counters, pick up the floors, and text us anything new. Need to move a visit because of guests or travel? Text (945) 294-3935. Want laundry done, the inside of the fridge cleaned or interior windows washed? Ask when you book or text us before the visit. Add-ons are charged only on the visits you add them to.

After the house cleaner leaves

Walk through when you get home. If something got missed, tell us within 24 hours and we'll come back and redo it free. On a recurring plan, the same team comes back every visit, so prep gets easier, since they already know the house.

Ready to book? See how our recurring cleaning works, or book your clean and text (945) 294-3935 with anything we should know.