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 editorial team · Last updated July 2026