How to Prepare Your Home for a Cleaning Service (First Visit Guide)
Your first professional cleaning visit should be smooth and stress-free. Here's a quick guide to help your cleaners work efficiently and get the best results.
A little prep goes a long way
You don't need to clean before the cleaners come (we hear that a lot). But a few minutes of quick prep helps us work faster and get better results — which means you get more value from every visit.
Pick up clutter from floors and surfaces
Toys, clothes, shoes, mail, dishes — anything that's sitting on counters, tables, or floors. We can't clean surfaces we can't reach. The less clutter, the more time we spend actually cleaning.
Clear kitchen counters as much as possible
Move small appliances, fruit bowls, and random items off the counters so we can wipe the entire surface. You don't have to put everything away — just push it to one area.
Put away valuables and sensitive items
Jewelry, cash, important documents, and anything fragile or irreplaceable should be stored out of the cleaning area. Not because we'd take it — but because accidents happen and we want you to feel comfortable.
Secure pets or let us know about them
If you have dogs, cats, or other pets, let us know ahead of time. Some pets are fine with strangers in the house; others aren't. We're happy to work around them — we just need to know.
Tell us your priorities
Is the kitchen your biggest concern? Do you want extra attention on bathrooms? Is there a room you'd like us to skip? Let us know before we start so we can focus our time where it matters most to you.
Provide access instructions
If you won't be home, let us know how to get in — lockbox code, hidden key, garage code, etc. We'll confirm access details before your first visit.
Let us know about products or allergies
If you want eco-friendly products, have chemical sensitivities, or prefer we use your own products — tell us before the first visit so we can prepare.
Don't worry about...
- ✓Your house being 'too messy' — that's literally why we're coming
- ✓Dishes in the sink — we'll handle them if they're part of the kitchen clean
- ✓Unmade beds — we'll make them with fresh linens if you leave them out
- ✓Dust everywhere — that's what we're here for
- ✓Being home or not being home — either is fine
What happens on the first visit
Your first visit is usually a deep clean (we recommend this to establish a clean baseline). It takes longer than a regular maintenance clean — typically 3–5 hours depending on home size and condition. After that, recurring visits are faster because we're maintaining the standard, not starting from scratch.
We follow a documented checklist on every visit and can send before/after photos if you'd like. If anything isn't right, we come back the same day or within 24 hours.
Ready to book your first clean?
We serve Gridley, Yuba City, Chico, Sacramento & Northern California. Tell us your home size, location, and preferred schedule — we'll send you a clear quote.