How to Prepare for a House Cleaner: A Peterborough Guide
Booking your first professional cleaning is a big step. Most people spend a while picking the right company, checking reviews and lining up a date. Then the day arrives, the team pulls up out front, and you suddenly wonder whether you should have done anything to get ready.
The short answer is yes, and it is less than most people think.
Why prep matters, especially on a first clean
Every new client starts with a First Time Clean. It is longer and more thorough than a regular visit, and it sets the baseline for everything after.
First cleans are also where prep pays off most. The biggest issues we see are on first cleans, especially in rentals where tenants or students live: personal belongings across the bathroom counter, clothes covering the bedroom floor, dishes stacked in the sink. Every one of those has to be moved by the cleaner before the surface underneath can be cleaned. That eats time, and it means less deep cleaning per hour.
Roughly speaking, fifteen minutes of prep on your end saves the team thirty to forty-five minutes of tidying on theirs. That is more real cleaning per visit, which is the whole reason you booked.
The one thing that matters most
If you take one thing from this guide, take this: tidy your personal belongings so the team can clean effectively.
Cleaning is about surfaces. We wipe them, scrub them, disinfect them, vacuum and mop them. Every belonging left on a surface is a surface we cannot clean.
Three rooms where this shows up most:
Bathroom counter. Toothbrushes, cosmetics, hair products, deodorant, jewellery, contact lens cases. A clear counter gets sanitised. A cluttered counter gets wiped around.
Bedroom floor. Laundry, shoes, gym bags, backpacks. A clear floor gets vacuumed edge to edge. A covered floor gets vacuumed around.
Kitchen sink. The team is there to clean and sanitise the sink and the counter around it, not to wash and dry your dinner plates. Load the dishwasher, run it, or stack the dishes on one side and clear the sink.
None of this is about tidying to impress the cleaner. It is about clearing the surfaces you are paying to have cleaned.
Access on cleaning day
We are flexible on how you let us in. Some clients meet us at the door. Some hide a key. Some use a lockbox, a garage code, or a smart-lock code that expires after the clean. All of that is fine.
The one hard rule is clear instructions.
- If we are using a code, spell out the code and the exact keypad.
- If the key is hidden, tell us where, and how to lock up when we leave.
- If we are being buzzed into an apartment building, give us the unit and the buzzer contact.
- If a family member will be home, let us know who to expect.
The booking form has a notes field on the checkout page. That is the easiest place for access instructions.
Pets and kids
Peterborough is a pet town, and most of our clients have at least one. That is welcome. What matters is that we know in advance.
Tell us about your pets in the booking notes: number, species and anything unusual — nervous around strangers, escape artist near the front door, protective of a specific room, sensitive to certain scents. If your pet has issues around new people or the vacuum, secure them during the clean, in a crate, a closed bedroom or a fenced yard.
If your pet is friendly and used to visitors, they are welcome to hang out. The team is used to sharing space with dogs and cats. We just need to know they are there so we can be careful with doors.
Kids and other family members are welcome to be home too. The one small ask is that people stay clear of the room the team is actively working in — it lets them move furniture, vacuum around baseboards and mop without waiting for someone to step aside every few minutes.
Sending special requests
Every home has a spot that needs extra attention. Grout in the main shower. A stain on the entryway rug. A window that never quite comes clean. Grease on the range hood.
Two easy ways to flag these. The notes field on the booking form takes special requests, problem areas, allergies and product preferences. And every new client gets a welcome email after booking, which outlines what to expect from us and what we expect from you — reply to it with anything else and that thread becomes the record we work from.
Valuables, cash and papers
Every contractor on our team is background-checked, owner-interviewed and insured, and only about one in ten applicants makes it through the hiring process.
That said, a bit of common-sense privacy protects everyone. Put cash, jewellery, passports and sensitive paperwork in a drawer or a bag before we arrive. It removes any ambiguity and gives you full peace of mind.
What we do not do on a regular clean
- Washing your dishes
- Handling pet waste, cat litter or accidents
- Doing laundry
- Cleaning inside the fridge, oven or dishwasher — available as an add-on
- Cleaning inside kitchen cabinets — included on move-in/out cleans only
- Handling biohazards
- Moving heavy furniture we cannot lift safely
Most of that list can be handled with an add-on or a specific service. If you want the inside of the oven done, say so when you book. For a full breakdown of a standard clean, what cleaning services actually include walks through it room by room.
Recurring clients: the bar drops
On a weekly, bi-weekly, tri-weekly or monthly plan, prep gets easier fast. By visit three or four the routine is dialled in, and a five-minute pass is enough:
- Bathroom counters cleared of the daily kit
- Bedroom floors cleared of laundry and shoes
- Kitchen sink cleared, or dishwasher loaded
- Coffee table and dining table cleared of paper and mugs
The deep work is already handled by the recurring schedule, so the prep stays light.
A quick before-we-arrive checklist
| Task | Why |
|---|---|
| Clear bathroom counters | So we can sanitise the surface |
| Pick clothes and shoes off bedroom floors | So we can vacuum edge to edge |
| Load or stack dirty dishes | So we can sanitise the sink and counter |
| Clear coffee and dining tables | So we can dust and wipe surfaces |
| Confirm access instructions in the booking notes | So we do not lose time at the front door |
| Secure any pets with issues | So they stay comfortable and the team stays safe |
| Put away cash and valuables | For everyone's peace of mind |
| Flag special requests in the notes | So we prioritise what matters to you |
Frequently asked questions
How much time do I need to prep before a house cleaner arrives? About fifteen minutes for most Peterborough homes. Focus on clearing surfaces in the bathrooms, bedrooms and kitchen. That short window can save the team thirty to forty-five minutes of tidying.
Do I need to be home when the cleaners arrive? No. Many clients hand us access through a key, a code, a lockbox or a garage keypad. Whatever you prefer works, as long as the instructions are clear in your booking notes.
Should I clean before the cleaner arrives? Tidy, yes. Clean, no. Clear personal belongings off surfaces so the team can reach them, and skip the scrubbing.
What about my pets during the clean? Flag them in the booking notes so we know to be careful with doors. If a pet has issues around new people or noise, secure them. Friendly pets are welcome to hang out.
Can I stay home during the clean? Yes. We just ask that you stay clear of the room the team is actively working in.
Do I need to provide cleaning supplies? No. The team brings everything, including equipment and products. If you have specific product preferences, note them at booking.