How to Prepare Your Home for a Professional Cleaning Visit

Hiring a professional cleaning service is one of the most effective ways to reclaim your time, reduce stress, and enjoy a consistently clean home. But if it’s your first time booking a service, or if you’ve ever wondered how to make the most of the experience, you might be asking: “What do I need to do before the cleaners arrive?” While you’re not expected to clean before the cleaning team comes—that’s their job—there are a few simple steps that can help ensure the process is smooth, efficient, and customized to your preferences. In this guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about preparing for professional cleaners, including what to do, what not to worry about, and how to get the best results from your appointment.

The first thing to understand is that you don’t need to deep clean your home before a professional cleaner visits. That’s what you’re hiring them to do. However, a little bit of preparation can go a long way toward helping the cleaning team work faster and more effectively. Think of it like this: the less time they spend sorting through clutter or guessing your priorities, the more time they can spend deep cleaning the areas that matter most to you.

Start with general decluttering. While cleaners will dust, mop, vacuum, and sanitize surfaces, they’re not typically responsible for organizing personal items. Picking up clothing, putting away toys, and clearing off countertops allows the team to access surfaces and floors more efficiently. This doesn’t mean your home has to be spotless—just make sure the major surfaces are reasonably clear so cleaning products and equipment can be used effectively. For example, clearing off your bathroom vanity helps the cleaner disinfect and polish it properly, instead of spending time moving toiletries around.

If you have pets, it’s helpful to secure them in a separate room or area during the cleaning visit. Even if your pet is friendly, having them underfoot can slow down the process or cause unnecessary stress. Our cleaning team at Angel’s Help is pet-friendly and trained to work in homes with animals, but for everyone’s safety and comfort, it’s best to keep pets contained during the appointment—especially if vacuums or unfamiliar tools are in use.

One of the most important steps in preparing for professional cleaners is communicating your priorities ahead of time. Do you want extra attention on the baseboards? Do you have a guest room that doesn’t need to be touched? Are there certain products you’d like us to use—or avoid—due to allergies or sensitivities? Sharing this information in advance, either when booking or during the initial walkthrough, ensures our team delivers the results you expect. We want to clean your home the way you want it cleaned.

If there are any areas of your home that are off-limits or contain valuables, let us know in advance. You can close doors to rooms you don’t want cleaned or leave a note on certain items or surfaces that need special care. Our team at Angel’s Help is trained to treat every home with respect and professionalism, but clear boundaries help us serve you better and avoid any confusion.

Another helpful tip is to leave out clean linens if you’d like us to change bedding. Many of our clients request that beds be made or fresh sheets be put on during recurring cleanings. Leaving linens in an obvious location—like the foot of the bed or on top of the mattress—makes it easy for our cleaners to handle this task without needing to ask or search through drawers.

Make sure your cleaning team has access to your home. If you’ll be home at the time of service, simply greet the cleaner, provide a quick walkthrough if needed, and then you’re free to carry on with your day. Some clients choose to stay home during the appointment, while others prefer to run errands or work remotely in a closed-off room. Either option works, as long as you feel comfortable. If you won’t be home, make arrangements for a key, garage code, smart lock, or concierge access, depending on your building or property setup. Angel’s Help cleaners are punctual and respectful of your time—we’ll arrive during your scheduled window and ensure everything is locked up securely when we leave.

Before the appointment, it’s also a good idea to remove any dishes from the sink if kitchen cleaning is included. While we’re happy to clean around a few dishes or run the dishwasher if requested, a sink full of dirty dishes can limit the effectiveness of kitchen sanitizing. Similarly, if laundry or folding services are part of your cleaning package, sorting clothes ahead of time allows us to jump right in and get the job done efficiently.

Wondering what cleaning supplies you need to provide? None. Angel’s Help brings all the products, tools, and equipment needed to complete the job—including HEPA vacuums, eco-friendly cleaning solutions, microfiber cloths, and specialty tools for bathrooms, kitchens, and floors. However, if you have specific products you prefer us to use—such as a wood-safe polish or natural cleaner for sensitive surfaces—just leave them out and let us know. We’re happy to accommodate those requests when possible.

Don’t worry about messes. Many clients feel embarrassed or nervous about the condition of their home before a professional cleaning, especially if it’s been a while since their last deep clean. Please know that we’ve seen it all—and we’re not here to judge. Our job is to help make your life easier, not harder. Whether your home needs a light refresh or a top-to-bottom reset, we approach every project with care, efficiency, and respect.

Once the cleaning is complete, you can expect to return to a home that’s refreshed, sanitized, and ready to enjoy. Many of our recurring clients find that preparing for professional cleaners becomes second nature after the first few visits. You may also find that having routine cleanings encourages you to stay more organized between visits, since your home feels so good afterward.

To summarize, preparing for a professional cleaning service is simple: declutter lightly, secure pets, communicate your priorities, arrange access, and relax. You don’t need to clean before the cleaners—but a little prep can help maximize the efficiency of your visit and ensure we meet your exact needs. Whether you’re a first-time client or looking to upgrade to regular service, the team at Angel’s Help is here to make your home shine.

Call 647-502-7472 today to schedule your next cleaning appointment and let us take care of the rest. With a few minutes of prep and the right cleaning partner, your home will feel like a sanctuary every time you walk through the door.