If you’ve never hired a house cleaner before, it might be a bit of an intimidating process. You might wonder – is my house too messy? Is it safe to bring a stranger into my home to clean? What should I do to make sure everything goes smoothly?
We certainly get it: lots of first-time house cleaning clients have these same concerns, and they’re all completely valid.
In this post, we’ll address that final question: what you can do to make sure your house cleaning is a good experience for you – and your cleaner? We call these house cleaning etiquette tips, because they are things you can do to help your house cleaner do a better job for you.
Ready to dive in and understand this part of getting ready for your first house cleaning ever – or your first house cleaning with a new company?
Do a Light Decluttering
It may sound counterintuitive, but the first house cleaning etiquette tip we have for you is to do a little bit of decluttering here and there before your cleaner arrives.
Clear off countertops, tidy up any food mess, and put away any stray items that may be obstructing the cleaner’s access to the various areas of your home. This will ensure two important things. One, that your cleaner can focus on deep cleaning, rather than tidying up cluttered spaces.
Two, that your house gets cleaned in less time – this saves you money when you use a service like Summit Maids that is priced based on the time your cleaner takes. (Another way to think of it is that when your cleaner doesn’t have to declutter, they can clean more with the time they have.)
Do a Walk-Through
Before the cleaning begins, take the time to walk through your home with your cleaner. This is when you point out the areas that require special attention and the ones where you don’t want them to go. You can also show them where you store cleaning products you’d like them to use for specific items. Some of our clients have particular products they would like us to use on their floors, for example, so this is a great time to provide this for the cleaner.
Communicate Clearly
This house cleaning etiquette tip is related to the one above: communicate as clearly as possible with your cleaner. Good communication is crucial for any good relationship. And it’s no different for the relationship between you and your cleaner.
Be clear about your expectations, such as the specific areas you want to be cleaned and any specific cleaning products you prefer. If you have any allergies or sensitivities, make sure to inform the cleaner so they can avoid using any products that may cause a reaction. Finally, make sure to inform the cleaner of any fragile or valuable items in your home that require extra care when being cleaned.
Put Away Pets
Each company works with different policies for homes with pets. So the first thing you need to do is let your cleaning company know that you have pets and learn about their pet policies.
While Summit Maids is absolutely a pet-friendly house cleaning service in Cleveland, it’s still important for everyone’s safety to make sure your four-legged friend is secure.
If you have pets, it’s a good idea to put them away in a separate room or outside during the cleaning process. This will ensure the cleaner can focus on the task at hand without being distracted or interrupted by your furry friends.
Stay Home or Leave
Here’s another situation where communication is key. Decide whether you want to stay home during the cleaning process or leave to run errands. Some people prefer to be present to oversee the cleaning, while others prefer to give the cleaner free rein to do their job. If you don’t know what to do, you can ask your cleaner about their preferences. Whatever you decide, make sure to inform the cleaner so they can plan accordingly.
Respect the Time You Booked
This is a crucial item when incomes to the etiquette with house cleaners you should follow for everything to go smoothly. Make sure to respect the time you booked with the cleaner. If you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment, make sure to do so as soon as possible so the cleaner can adjust their schedule accordingly.
In the same line, be reasonable with the kind of cleaning you expect your cleaner to do in the time you’ve booked. It’s not feasible to leave a large house sparkling clean in just two hours.
Tip Your Cleaner
If you’re pleased with the cleaning service, consider leaving a tip for your cleaner. This is a great way to show your appreciation and encourage them to continue providing excellent service; we’ve got a guide for tipping your house cleaner that can help you understand this particular part of house cleaning etiquette.
Leave a Review
Last but not least, after the cleaning is complete, leave a review for the cleaner on the company’s website or social media pages. This will help other customers make an informed decision when choosing a cleaning service and will also provide feedback to the cleaner to help them improve their service. It’s also the best way you can possibly say thank you as it is the single biggest thing that helps us win new business. You can rest assured that we appreciate it!
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Hopefully that helps de-mystify some of what to expect when hiring a house cleaner. If you’re ready to take the plunge and hire your first Cleveland house cleaner, then we’d love to help! We offer free online estimates and scheduling so you can get a transparent price estimate when you want it.
