How to Prepare Your Home Before Your Housekeeper Arrives

Hiring a housekeeper or cleaning lady is an excellent decision to save time and enjoy an always spotless home. But did you know that a few simple steps on your part can significantly improve the efficiency of every cleaning session?

Whether you're using a house cleaning service for the first time or want to optimize an existing arrangement, this guide gives you all the keys to prepare your home and make your cleaner's job easier.

Why Prepare Your Home Before Cleaning?

It may seem paradoxical: why tidy up before someone comes to clean? In reality, there's a fundamental difference between tidying and cleaning.

Tidying vs. Cleaning: Two Distinct Tasks

Tidying means putting objects back in their place: clothes, toys, mail, dishes... This is a personal task because only you know where everything belongs.

Cleaning, on the other hand, concerns hygiene: vacuuming, mopping floors, disinfecting surfaces, cleaning the bathroom... This is the core job of your housekeeper.

If your cleaner has to spend 30 minutes tidying up before they can clean, you're losing precious time (and money). By preparing minimally, you allow them to focus on what they do best: making your home clean and healthy.

The Concrete Benefits

• More thorough cleaning: Less time wasted = more time for deep cleaning
• Better value for money: You're paying for cleaning, not tidying
• A trust relationship: Your cleaner appreciates being able to work efficiently
• Visible results: Clear surfaces are easier to clean and results are immediately visible

1. Store Personal and Valuable Items

Before each visit from your housekeeper, take a few minutes to secure certain items.

Valuables

This isn't about mistrust, but common sense. Store in a secure place:

• Jewelry and watches
• Cash lying around
• Important documents (passports, contracts, etc.)
• Fragile or collectible items

This protects your belongings, but also your cleaner: in case of loss (even accidental), there won't be any doubt or discomfort.

Confidential Documents

Bills, bank statements, personal mail... Your cleaning lady doesn't need to see this information. Store them in a drawer or folder. It's also about respecting your privacy.

Sentimental Items

Framed photos, travel souvenirs, inherited objects... Some items have no monetary value but are irreplaceable. Make sure they're safe or clearly point them out to your housekeeper.

2. Clear the Surfaces to Be Cleaned

The clearer the surfaces, the more effective the cleaning. Here are the priority areas.

The Kitchen

• Countertops: Remove appliances not used daily, mail, keys...
• Sink: Empty it of dirty dishes (or load them into the dishwasher)
• Table: Clear it completely

The Bathroom

• Sink and shower: Remove beauty products, toothbrushes, etc.
• Floor: Pick up dirty laundry, used towels
• Toilet: Remove magazines, phones, or other items

The Bedrooms

• Floor: Pick up clothes, shoes, toys (for children's rooms)
• Bed: Even if unmade, it should be accessible for changing sheets if planned
• Nightstands: Clear as much as possible

The Living Room

• Coffee table: Remove remote controls, magazines, cups...
• Sofa: Remove throws and cushions to allow vacuuming
• Floor: Clear away toys, cables, various objects

3. Communicate Your Priorities

Your housekeeper isn't a mind reader. If certain areas or tasks are priorities, say so clearly.

Before the First Session

Walk through the house together and explain:

• Which rooms to clean first
• Areas to avoid or treat with caution
• Your specific expectations (organic products, particular techniques, etc.)
• The desired frequency for each task

At Each Visit

If you're not present during cleaning, leave a note or send a message to indicate:

• A particular task to handle (stain on the carpet, oven to clean...)
• An area to prioritize that day
• Any changes from the usual routine

The Communication Notebook

A simple tip: keep a small notebook in a fixed location (kitchen, entrance). Your cleaner can note their comments, and you your requests. It's practical when you don't cross paths.

4. Prepare Products and Equipment

To Provide Products or Not?

This depends on your agreement with your house cleaning service. At Fast Clean, we bring our own professional products. But if you prefer that we use your products (organic, hypoallergenic, etc.), that's entirely possible.

If You Provide the Products

Make sure you have in stock:

• Multi-surface cleaner
• Glass cleaner
• Toilet and bathroom cleaner
• Dish soap (if dishes are included)
• Trash bags

Basic Equipment

Check that your equipment is in good condition:

• Vacuum cleaner: Bag not full, filters clean
• Mop and bucket: Clean and available
• Cloths: In sufficient quantity
• Step ladder: If high areas need to be cleaned

5. Secure Your Pets

Do you have a dog, cat, or other animals? Here's how to manage their presence.

For Their Safety

• Cleaning products can be dangerous for them
• Open doors present an escape risk
• Vacuum noise can stress them

For Your Cleaner's Comfort

• Not everyone is comfortable with animals
• An overly playful dog can slow down the work
• Pet hair in cleaning materials complicates the cleaning

The Solutions

• Confine the animal in a room or the garden during the session
• Warn your housekeeper about the animal's presence and behavior
• Mention any allergies or phobias on either side

6. Organize Access to Your Home

If you're not present during the house cleaning, access needs to be organized securely.

Common Solutions

• Hand-to-hand key handover: The simplest solution, requiring an initial meeting
• Spare key: To be handed over at the start of the collaboration
• Secure key box: With code, fixed outside
• Smart lock: You can create a temporary code for each session
• Caretaker or trusted neighbor: Who can open and close up

Codes and Alarms

Don't forget to communicate:

• The building or residence code
• The gate or garage code
• The alarm code and the procedure to deactivate/reactivate
• Any peculiarities (door that sticks, light that doesn't work, etc.)

The Question of Trust

Entrusting the keys to your home is significant. That's why it's important to use a professional cleaning service that selects and trains its staff. At Fast Clean, all our housekeepers are trustworthy and insured.

Checklist: Before Your Housekeeper Arrives

To help you, here's a quick list to go through before each session:

• Valuables and documents stored
• Dirty dishes in the dishwasher
• Clothes and personal items picked up
• Main surfaces cleared
• Products/equipment available and in working order
• Pets secured or confined
• Access organized (keys, codes)
• Day's priorities communicated

Summary

Preparing your home before your housekeeper arrives isn't mandatory, but it's a gesture that benefits everyone:

• You get more efficient cleaning and better value for money
• Your cleaner can work in good conditions and do a better job
• Your home is truly clean, not just tidy

A few minutes of preparation can transform an ordinary cleaning session into a truly effective service. And over time, these steps become automatic.