Getting Your Home Ready for a Cleaning Visit (and Why You Don't Need to Be There)

You've booked your first house cleaning. Now you're standing in the living room at 9 PM the night before, picking up kids' shoes and wondering whether you're supposed to clean before the cleaners come. It's a common feeling, and the answer is no, you're not. A little preparation helps, though, and most of it takes about fifteen minutes.

Do you need to be home?

No. Many Alithace Cleaners clients give access instructions and come back to a freshly cleaned home when the visit is finished. If you work during the day, travel, or just prefer not to hover, that's a perfectly normal way to do it. You can also stay if you like. Either arrangement works.

Access can be as simple as a door code, a lockbox, a hidden key or a call to say the garage is open. Pick whatever you're comfortable with and write it down clearly. Include the street address, the exact entrance to use, and anything unusual, like a gate that sticks or a door that needs to be pulled firmly to latch.

Put the small things away

The most helpful thing you can do is clear the surfaces. A cleaner can wipe a counter much faster when it's empty than when it's covered with mail, chargers and school papers. The same goes for floors. Toys, shoes, laundry baskets and pet bowls are all things that have to be moved before a floor can be vacuumed and mopped.

You don't need to do a full tidy. Think of it as a ten-minute sweep through each room, putting loose items in baskets or on a bed or table where they won't be in the way. Cleaning visits tend to go further when time goes into cleaning instead of moving objects.

• Clear kitchen counters and the sink of dishes, so the surfaces can be wiped.
• Pick up clothes, toys and shoes from the floors.
• Clear bathroom counters of the small stuff, like toiletries and cups.
• Bring laundry baskets and loose papers off the surfaces you most want cleaned.
• Take out the trash if it's full, or leave it so it can be emptied.

Tell the team what matters to you

When you book or message, mention anything that's important. Is there an area you want extra attention on, like a shower with buildup or a kitchen that needs a good scrub? Is there anything delicate, like a collection on a shelf or a piece of furniture you'd like left alone? Do you have pets, and where will they be during the visit?

Pets are worth planning for. A dog that's friendly with you may be anxious around strangers, and an open door is a risk for a cat. If your pets will be home, note where they'll be, or arrange for them to be in a room with the door closed. Let the team know about any alarm system, including the code and how to disarm it.

Supplies: leave the shopping list at home

One of the most common questions is what to buy ahead of time. The answer is nothing. The Alithace Cleaners team brings all necessary professional cleaning supplies and equipment to complete the service. They use all natural cleaners, which is a plus if anyone in your home is sensitive to strong smells.

If you have a preferred product for a specific surface, such as a stone countertop or a hardwood floor, let the team know in advance. Same if you have an allergy or sensitivity and want to talk through what will be used. A quick note when you book is the easiest way to handle it.

What to do with valuables

It's sensible to put away anything you'd be upset to see misplaced, like cash, jewelry, medication and personal paperwork. This isn't a statement about anyone's trustworthiness, it's the same habit you'd follow before any service visit. It also keeps those items from getting moved when surfaces are cleaned.

For a first visit, think about the reset

If this is your first cleaning, or the house hasn't been thoroughly cleaned in a while, consider whether a regular visit or a deep clean is the better place to start. A deep clean covers baseboards, detailed dusting, deeper kitchen and bathroom work, and hard-to-reach areas, and it often sets a better foundation for the visits that follow. You can read about the difference on the Deep Cleaning page, or ask when you book.

What to do when you get home

Walk through each room once. Look at the kitchen, the bathrooms and the floors first, since those are where most of the work is. If something doesn't look right, say so right away. The sooner you mention it, the easier it is to fix.

If you were happy with the visit, it helps to say what mattered most to you, so the next visit can be set up the same way. If you're thinking about recurring cleaning, this is the point to talk about how often makes sense for your household.

Booking is simple

You can book through the online booking system. Choose your service, select a date and confirm your appointment, which takes a few minutes. Prefer to talk? Call (208) 776-9022 or email info@alithace.com, Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 7 PM. Alithace Cleaners serves Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene, Hayden, Rathdrum, Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake. For the full list of what each service includes, the FAQ page has quick answers.