Getting ready for the cleaners: what to do and skip

The night before a first cleaning visit, a lot of people start cleaning. They wipe the counters, run the vacuum, and scrub the tub so the crew does not see the house at its worst.

Please skip that part. We have been cleaning homes in Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Encino, and across Los Angeles since 1992, and the house at its worst is exactly what we are there for.

What does help is a different kind of prep. It is about clearing the way so the crew spends its hours on cleaning, and making sure we can get in, work around your pets, and know what matters most to you.

Prep matters most on the first visit, when the crew is seeing your home for the first time. After a few visits on a regular schedule, most of it turns into routine.

Clear the surfaces so time goes to cleaning

Crews book by the hour. Every minute spent stacking mail or moving shoes is a minute that does not go to the shower tile. A quick pickup before the visit puts more of your time into the work you are paying for.

You do not need to put everything away perfectly. Getting things off the floors and counters is enough.

If there is a room you do not want touched, like a home office with papers spread across the desk, close the door and tell us to skip it.

• Pick up toys, shoes, and bags from the floors so the crew can vacuum and mop edge to edge
• Clear the kitchen counters of mail, chargers, and anything that does not live there
• Put dirty laundry in the hamper; leave fresh sheets out if you want the beds changed
• If the sink holds a few days of pans, run the dishwasher or soak them so they do not eat the visit
• Move papers and small items off desks and nightstands you want dusted

Access, alarms, and a plan for pets

Most first-visit delays start at the door. If you will not be home, tell us ahead of time exactly how the crew gets in. Include any gate or building code, where to park, and which door to use.

If you have an alarm, tell us how you want it handled. Many people simply turn it off before they leave on cleaning day and set it again when they get home. Whatever you choose, tell us so nobody gets a surprise.

If your building has a parking permit or guest pass, leave it out where the crew can find it. Street parking near Ventura Blvd can be tight on weekdays, and a pass gets the crew inside sooner.

Then tell us about every animal in the house. A friendly dog that follows the crew from room to room is fine for most visits. A nervous dog or a cat that bolts for open doors is usually happier in a closed room or a crate while we work. Tell us which door stays shut and which room to skip, and leave a leash where we can see it in case the dog needs to go out.

Fragile pieces, valuables, and a short note

Put away cash, jewelry, and small valuables, the same as you would before any visitor. If there are fragile pieces that are hard to replace, like a ceramic bowl from a grandparent or a framed print that hangs crooked, put them aside or point them out.

Then write a short note. Two or three lines is plenty. Name the rooms that matter most this week, like the kitchen before a dinner or the guest bath before family arrives. Mention surfaces that need care, such as a marble counter, an unsealed wood table, or a vanity that scratches easily.

Add any product preferences. Our crews bring their own professional supplies. If you want a specific cleaner used on a specific surface, or want a fragrance-free product for someone with sensitivities, leave it out with the note.

On recurring service, the same crew keeps your notes in mind whenever scheduling allows, so the note gets shorter every visit.

What you can skip

Do not pre-clean. Scrubbing the bathroom before we arrive spends your evening on the job you hired out. It also hides what the crew needs to see to plan their time in your home.

You do not need to buy supplies, set out buckets, or find the mop. You do not need to apologize for the oven either. If the inside of the oven, the refrigerator, or the baseboards need real attention, ask for those deep-clean add-ons when you book so we plan the extra time.

A normal day of dishes can stay in the sink, too. Washing dishes is on our kitchen checklist. It is the week-old pile of pans that eats into the visit.

And you do not need to be home. Whether you live in Encino, Van Nuys, or North Hollywood, clear access instructions are enough for the crew to get in and for you to come back to a finished house.

After the visit

Walk through the house when you get home. Look at the rooms you named in your note first.

If something was missed, or something is not how you want it, tell us. We come back within 24 hours to make it right at no additional cost. Feedback after the first visit also helps the crew adjust the next one, whether that is a different product on the floors or more time in the kids' bathroom.

It helps to tell us what went well, too. If the crew got the kitchen exactly how you like it, saying so means they keep doing it that way.

Ready to book, or have a question about your first visit? Call or text 818-355-2962. Our office on Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks is open weekdays from 9 to 5 and Saturdays from 9 to 3.