How to Prepare Your Home (and Pets) for a Cleaning Visit

You do not need to clean before the cleaners come — that is what you are paying for. But about fifteen minutes of prep the night before makes every visit noticeably better, because it lets the team spend their time cleaning surfaces instead of clearing them.

What should you do before the team arrives?

The key distinction is decluttering versus pre-cleaning. Decluttering — yes: walk through with a basket and collect the shoes, toys, mail, chargers, and laundry so floors and counters are reachable. Pre-cleaning — no: do not scrub the tub or run the vacuum. A quick room-by-room pass covers it:

• Kitchen: clear the counters and deal with dishes. One sink of dishes is included in every visit; beyond that it is $7 per additional sink, so running the dishwasher the night before is the thrifty move.

• Bathrooms: clear toiletries and styling tools off the vanity so we can actually wipe it.

• Bedrooms: floors clear of clothes; if you would like fresh sheets, leave a set on the bed.

• Everywhere: tuck away valuables, medications, and confidential paperwork — not about trust, just about peace of mind for everyone.

What about pets?

We genuinely love them, but vacuums and unfamiliar faces stress some animals — and open doors tempt the escape artists. A crate, a closed-off room we are not cleaning, or a fenced yard keeps everyone relaxed. Tell us in advance who lives there and whether anyone bolts for open doors. Because our products are non-toxic, there is no need to keep pets off the floors after we leave. For the full fur-and-dander playbook, see cleaning a home with pets.

Do you need to be home?

No — it is entirely your call. Many clients like being home for the first visit to walk the team through priorities, quirky fixtures, and fragile items; after that, most are comfortable stepping out and coming home to the finished result. If you will be away, arrange access ahead of time — a spare key, garage code, or smart-lock code — and we cover the secure options in home access 101. Worth knowing: our teams work Monday through Friday, 9 to 5, and an initial Deluxe Deep Cleaning typically means 3–4 team members arriving at 9 am, so plan parking and access for a small crew.

What happens if you skip the prep?

Nothing dramatic — we will still clean — but you get less for your money. Every minute spent relocating clutter is a minute not spent on grout, baseboards, and fixtures. Cluttered surfaces also mean spots we simply cannot reach get skipped, and the “we cleaned around it” result satisfies nobody, least of all us.

Prep is half the partnership; the other half is a team that shows up consistently and communicates well, which is what our recurring Perfect Maintenance Cleaning is built around. Curious what scheduling the first visit actually looks like? How booking works walks through it step by step — or just reach out and we will get you on the calendar.

By the Dashing Maids team [PROOF: founder full name + title for byline] · Last updated July 2026

Customer Testimonials

I was extremely pleased with Ashley’s team and they left my house extra-sparkling, making me look good for my in-laws’ visit. All traces of puppy fur and hard-to-remove gunk removed, and the house smelled clean, like lavender (not harsh chemicals). This is thorough, professional, fairly priced, and courteous service. All the stars!”

Stacey P.

“We are very pleased with the service we received with Dashing Maids. Their communication and customer service is superb! Ashley is professional and has great attention to detail. She took the time to take notes on all the areas in our house that I wanted to have cleaned during our first walk through, which I really appreciated. In the past, I’ve done walk throughs with other cleaning companies, explained what I wanted cleaned, they nod “yes” and then didn’t follow through. When Dashing Maids came to clean on our scheduled date, they were very efficient. Everything looked great when they were finished and I’m looking forward to having Dashing Maids return on a regular basis.”

Kara S.

“I have never had a cleaning service, but considered it often. Dashing Maids put a flyer on my door which intrigued me enough to call them. I was impressed with their initiative and enthusiasm that I hired them after our initial meeting. Now every other week I get to come home to a wonderfully clean house with their charming additions that make me smile. I’m not sure they are trying to turn my “black thumb” into a greenish one, but I haven’t killed the lucky bamboo they left as a surprise yet. I’d fully endorse them as a cleaning, Dashing Maids service.”

Maggie B.

“It’s so nice to come home to a sparkling clean house! I’ve worked with other cleaning companies in the past and Dashing Maids always provides a more thorough clean than I’ve found with other companies for a very reasonable price. Plus, they’re great with my dog and don’t mind that he’s at home when they come to clean. I highly recommend Dashing Maids!”

Miriam T.

“There is no one that cleans our house as well as Katie does! She is meticulous and genuinely loves to clean, and it absolutely shows. We love it when it is our cleaning day. I could not be happier with the services provided by her and the Dashing Maids company. They are responsive, timely, and have overall been a pleasure to work with. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a reliable cleaning company.”

Kristin W.

“I have been using Dashing Maids for several years now, and appreciate the communication and consistency with which our home is cleaned. The cleaner that always treats our home as if it were hers is Katie. Thanks Katie for your hard work!”

Michelle C.

“Hannah G was great! She even left a nice note on my countertop that said, “Have a great weekend!” I love personal touches like that.”

Katelyn Z.

“Thank you Talon! It was great to walk into my office today to have it sparkly clean and ready for a week of patients!”

Emmy C.

"We have been dashing maids customers for a couple of years now and the service is always impeccable. Most recently our cleaning team has included Katie and Hannah, and I always get excited when I see them arrive. I know my house will be clean and I’ll get the pleasure of their company while they clean it. They do a great job and give me such peace of mind!”

Stephanie B.

“Ashley and her crew are the best house cleaning service I have ever employed. So friendly and so fast, yet so thorough. My house feels and smells so clean, and that freshness lasts. Would highly recommend to all my friends."

Kellie C.

We've been fortunate to have Dashing Maids clean our home for the past several years. Ashley and her entire team have been great to work with. We'd recommend them without reservation. Most recently, Tori and Carol cleaned our home with detail and care.

Rachel L.

We really appreciate our cleaner,
Lily! She does more than just a quick “once over”. She recently found a class ring that had been missing for ages- thank you for a job well done! Dashing Maids delivers thoroughgoing service every time

Larry S.

Such a positive experience the whole time they were in my home. And the results are amazing. Very happy with the service and the staff. I knew what to expect but the outcomes exceeded my expectations. Lily, Mikayla and Alicia did so great!

Jacey R.

Terry S.

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