How to Prepare Your Home for a Cleaning Service

You hired a cleaning service — great. Now what? You do not need to scrub your house before the cleaners arrive (that defeats the purpose). But a few simple steps make a real difference in what your cleaning team can accomplish in the time they are in your home.

Quick Prep (10 Minutes, Big Impact)

• Clear countertops — Move mail, keys, chargers, and small items off kitchen and bathroom counters. This lets the team actually clean the surface instead of working around clutter.
• Pick up clothes and toys — Laundry on the floor and toys scattered across the living room eat into cleaning time. A quick 5-minute sweep through bedrooms makes a noticeable difference.
• Load or empty the dishwasher — An empty sink gives your cleaner full access to scrub and polish the basin and faucet.
• Secure valuables — Not because of trust issues (our team is background-checked and insured), but for your own peace of mind. Jewelry, cash, and sensitive documents are best kept in a drawer or safe.

What You Do NOT Need to Do

• Do not pre-clean — You are paying for cleaning. Let us handle the scrubbing, dusting, and mopping.
• Do not move heavy furniture — We will vacuum around and under accessible furniture. For deep cleans, we move lightweight pieces.
• Do not buy cleaning supplies — We bring everything: eco-friendly products, microfiber cloths, HEPA vacuums, mops. Your supplies stay in the cabinet.

Communication Tips That Improve Results

The best cleaning relationships in Winston-Salem start with clear communication:

• Tell us your priorities — "Kitchen and bathrooms matter most to me" is more useful than "clean everything." If you care most about the floors in your Ardmore bungalow or the master bathroom in your Reynolda home, say so.
• Mention problem areas — Hard water stains on shower glass, pet hair on furniture, red clay tracked into the entryway from your backyard in Pfafftown. The more we know, the better we clean.
• Share access instructions — Lockbox code, garage keypad, smart lock app, hidden key location. Many of our recurring clients in Buena Vista and Country Club give us access so we can clean while they are at work downtown or at Baptist Medical Center.
• Pet instructions — Where does the dog go during cleaning? Is the cat allowed in certain rooms? Any pet-specific products you prefer?

First Clean vs Recurring Visits

Your first cleaning takes longer because we are learning your home. We recommend starting with a deep clean ($159+) to establish a baseline, then switching to standard recurring service ($89+) to maintain it. After the first visit, your regular team already knows your layout, your preferences, and your priorities.