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Should I Clean Before the Housekeeper Comes?

by garrettcarp92 - August 5, 2025

You’ve finally booked a cleaning service and can’t wait to enjoy a spotless home, but then the question hits: “Should I Clean Before the Housekeeper Comes?” It’s a thought almost everyone has before their first cleaning appointment.

The short answer is yes, but not in the way you might think. You don’t need to scrub or deep clean, just tidy up enough to make their job easier. Simple things like putting away clothes or clearing clutter can help your cleaners focus on what really matters: giving you a beautifully clean space.

If you’re unsure where to start or what to skip, here’s a quick guide to help you prepare before your housekeeper arrives.

Things You Should Do Before Your Hired Housekeeper Comes

Smiling maid holding bucket of cleaning supplies

When hiring a cleaner for the first time, you can be unsure what to do to get ready. Should you do the housework for the cleaners? Should you prepare a list of things to do? Knowing what to do for a first-time cleaning service can be confusing. Several things could vary depending on the maid service you hire or the location you are based. For example, if you are located in Nashville, TN and hire Nashville Maids for your cleaning, or if you are in Atlanta, GA and hire Atlanta Maids for your cleaning, the things you should do before your cleaner comes could be different.  

You can perform these five things to prepare the house for maid service:

1. Put away any personal items.

You are the only person capable of handling precious treasures and personal items. This rule applies to more than simply cash, passports, and jewels. Important trinkets, literature, and antiquities all have value.

Make sure you look through the house for any belongings you don’t want to be lost before the cleaning crew arrives. Remove them from areas where they may be relaxing, such as the dining room table or other locations. It will prevent the cleaning service from accidentally placing the item wherever it shouldn’t be while tidying up.

2. Organize your home’s laundry and any clothes cluttering the house.

Cleaning services are typically not taken care of by laundry (but others include this in their list of services). It would be preferable to pick up any soiled bedding, clothes, or other objects lying around the house.

Remember to empty the washer or a hamper after checking the bathroom, bedroom, or laundry room. After the cleaning crew has finished, you may enjoy your clean home by gathering the goods in one location.

3. Secure your animals, if necessary.

Each cleaning business has a distinct policy about animals. While cleaning, some cleaning services don’t mind if friendly dogs or cats wander the property. Other companies demand that you must secure or keep your animals in a container or safe area.

At Modern Maids, we don’t mind seeing friendly animals outside. Just ensure to clean up after them before we get there. Please confine any animals with aggressive inclinations.

4. Determine if you want to arm your security system.

If you have a security system and aren’t home while cleaning, you might not know how to lock up. You may, for example, provide the cleaning crew the instructions on how to arm and disarm. You can keep your security system unarmed, so we can clean your house if you don’t want to provide that information.

5. Remove any dirty dishes.

You want to feel at ease upon seeing your spotless home when you get home after the cleaners have completed. Unclean dishes might sour an otherwise positive mood.

Put the plates in the dishwasher before the cleaning crew arrives. You can create fewer obstructions in this manner. You don’t have to worry about the dishes afterward, and your cleaners can complete a more thorough job.

When Is Pre-Cleaning the House Not Necessary?

a couple cleaning their living room

#1. That task will be completed for you by the cleaning service.

There is no need to clean the restroom in advance if your service agreement includes a bathroom cleaning service. 

Allowing housekeepers to do their work by the terms of the contract you signed when you hired them is the best way to ensure you get the most value for your money. If you do this, you won’t be able to fully profit from a house cleaning service since otherwise, you’ll just be doing the work for them.

#2. Nothing needs to be put away.

Don’t have anything that you need to put away from view? After that, you won’t have to bother rearranging things to benefit your cleaning service. 

It’s critical to keep in mind that you are purchasing a service. Stop stressing and leave the house in the hands of the pros to ensure you have the most satisfactory experience possible.

#3. There is no need to clean the house.

It’s not required to organize your home before a housekeeping service arrives. While they work, reputable maid services and house cleaners try to assist you with cleaning. They might even fluff your pillows and fold the blankets on the couch for you.

What to Expect from a Housekeeper

Remember that not all cleaning services include items like cleaning the refrigerator’s interior, washing the dishes, cleaning the windows, doing the laundry, and so on.

When more demanding cleaning duties arise, you might want to think about adding a specialist service to your bill, such as deep cleaning, move-in or out, or seasonal cleaning.

You can anticipate the following regular cleaning duties from your hired housekeeper:

  • Disinfect and clean the surfaces
  • Clean, sanitize, and polish the showers and bathtubs
  • Sanitize toilets both inside and out.
  • Clean and sanitize light switches and doorknobs
  • Wash and sanitize the sink.
  • Clean, sanitize, and polish the refrigerator’s outside
  • A spotless kitchen table
  • Cleanliness throughout the microwave
  • Clean up cobwebs
  • Mop and vacuum the floor
  • Clean the baseboards, cabinets, and door panels.
  • Clean window sills and dusty blinds
  • Dust off furniture
  • Dust off framed photographs
  • Dust off the lamp and accent lights
  • Remove all garbage

Why Hire Modern Maids

house keeping service female smiling and posing at camera

When you make a reservation with us, you’ll get a confirmation email with a list of the tasks covered by your service. Before entering your prized home, every one of our seasoned cleaners undergoes a thorough background check and extensive training.

We arrive prepared to provide outstanding service with equipment, all-natural green cleaning supplies, and a smile.

If you happen to be home when the cleaning service is scheduled, our staff will be happy to adjust their schedule so you can do your daily business.

If you aren’t home, our staff will take great care of your home while you are out having fun. Our teams take the necessary time to give you the best outcomes possible.

In conclusion, cleaning before the cleaning service arrives is unnecessary. Just tidy up a few things to make it simpler for the cleaning crew to do the job.

Book Us for a Spotless Home!

Are you looking for a cleaning service to assist with your home’s upkeep? Consider Modern Maids.

It’s simple to schedule our housekeeping services. Go to our booking website and provide more information about your house and other details. You can specify the day, time, and frequency of our visits to your home to clean it for you. Select the extra services you want to use, then enter your address information. A cleaner will arrive at your house at the appointed time to provide expert cleaning services.

You can be sure that your home will be clean and clutter-free once we leave because we are committed to providing top-notch cleaning services. To schedule our maid cleaning services, contact us right away.

FAQs

What happens if I don’t clean up before the housekeeper arrives?

If your home is cluttered, cleaners may spend extra time organizing instead of deep cleaning. Tidying up first helps them focus on detailed cleaning tasks and ensures you get the most value from your scheduled service.

Should I clean before every scheduled visit or just the first one?

It’s best to tidy up a little before every visit. Simple tasks like putting things away and clearing surfaces make it easier for cleaners to work efficiently and maintain your home’s cleanliness between appointments.

Can I leave dirty dishes or laundry before the cleaners arrive?

Light mess is fine, but large piles of dishes or laundry can slow down the process. Putting them away beforehand helps the cleaners move freely and focus on sanitizing and polishing other areas of your home.

Should I tell my cleaners about cluttered or private spaces?

Yes. Let them know if there are areas you’d prefer they skip or rooms that need extra attention. Clear communication prevents confusion and ensures your cleaners respect your privacy while focusing on priority areas.