A one-time cleaning appointment is a great way to catch up on extra cleaning that you might have missed, prepare for a move or special occasion, or an easy way to reset. It’s designed to take work off your plate and make your life a little simpler.
Since the point is having the cleaning done for you, you don’t have to clean your home before the professionals arrive, but there are a few things you can do to make your appointment go more smoothly and help you get more out of the cleaning experience.
Let’s take a look at a few great ways to prepare your home for a one time clean and how you can make the process easier and more enjoyable for both you and the cleaning staff.
Know What Your One-Time Cleaning Service Includes
One-time cleaning services can vary greatly depending on the service that offers them, so it’s important to review what is included before the visit. For example, some might include baseboard or wall cleaning, but not deep cleans for appliances.
Some services might only be available upon request for an additional fee, which is why it’s a good idea to check what’s standard, what’s not included, and which deeper cleaning tasks might cost extra.
It’s important to make sure the service you choose works for your home and does everything you need. If the website isn’t clear or you feel like you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to call and ask someone directly if a particular service is included with the base price or, if not, if it can be selected as an add-on.
You Don’t Need to Clean Before the Cleaners Arrive
It wouldn’t be much of a cleaning service if you had to do any cleaning yourself before the professionals arrive. You’re paying for the service, so you don’t need to feel embarrassed by the state of your home or feel obligated to do the work yourself before they arrive.
However, there are a few things you can do to make a cleaner’s job easier. It’s important to make sure they’ll have access to every area of the home that needs to be cleaned, that means clearing pathways, unlocking rooms, and moving anything that blocks access to surfaces or floors. They should also be given a clear list of instructions that highlights the priority areas around the home that you want cleaned first.
While they’re cleaning, you should take the time to focus on yourself. You can relax, watch TV, or do anything that doesn’t get in the way or create an additional mess that will need to be cleaned up.
Make Fragile or Personal Items Easy to Work Around
Some items around the home might need special care, especially if they’re fragile or have sentimental value. These should be flagged, either with a sticky note or by highlighting them to the cleaners when they arrive.
When possible, these important items should be kept out of the work area and temporarily moved to other places in the home. Busier areas should be as easy to access as possible for the cleaners, which might involve temporarily moving some items of furniture if necessary.
Decide Which Areas Need the Most Attention
As your cleaners will typically only have a set amount of time for your appointment, it’s important to identify your main priorities before they arrive. Any problem areas or rooms that require special attention should be pointed out to the cleaners when they arrive.
This will make sure that you’re satisfied with the job they do cleaning your home and save you from thinking a week later, “Oh, why didn’t I tell them about that carpet stain under the sofa in the living room? I wish they had cleaned that up instead of fixing up the guest bedroom we never use.”
This helps both you and the cleaners make sure their time is focused on the right areas of your home. You might be thinking that professional cleaners should know how to clean without being directed, but it’s more about time. With a limited amount of time, it’s important to let them know which areas of your home are the most important to you.
Make Sure the Cleaners Can Get In
If you won’t be home, you’ll also want to make sure that the cleaners will be able to get into your home. You should confirm entry instructions for them before they arrive, including providing any door or gate codes if needed.
If you’re in a shared building like an apartment complex, you’ll also want to tell them where they’re allowed to park and what information they need to access the building. If there’s an alarm or other home security features in place, they should also be explained and deactivated, or codes should be provided where appropriate.
Make a Plan for Pets
If you have pets, it’s important to let your cleaners know beforehand, especially if they tend to bark or get stressed out around new people. You may decide to take them with you if you leave the home or move them into another location, like a bedroom that isn’t being cleaned or an outside area if you have a fence.
They should be kept away from areas being cleaned for the benefit of the cleaners, the pets, and yourself. They can also create additional messes during cleaning, which can affect the quality of the work you receive.
As long as you have a plan to keep your pets on their best behavior, there really shouldn’t be an issue. If you were mopping in the kitchen, would you want your pets tracking dirt and hair all over the floor?
A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way
After you’ve scheduled a one time cleaning service for your home, you should never feel like you have to clean beforehand, either to make things easier for the cleaners or out of embarrassment. The cleaners have very likely seen homes far dirtier than yours (trust us on this one!) and will not judge you for the condition of your home.
However, a little bit of preparation can help you get the most out of your cleaning service. By focusing on ensuring easy access to all areas to be cleaned, creating and sharing a list of priorities with your cleaners, and making sure pets are comfortable, you can make things easier for yourself and the cleaning staff.
If you’re a little nervous about your first home cleaning, don’t worry! Knowing what to expect and how to prepare will make things easier for everyone. Once the cleaning starts, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the benefits of a freshly cleaned home.
Book a One-Time Cleaning With UrbanMop
Need some help catching up around the house? UrbanMop offers one-time cleaning for moves, special occasions, seasonal resets, or whenever your home could use a little extra attention. We’re ready to tackle the areas that have fallen behind and help get your home back on track. Book a visit and let our team take care of the cleaning for you.