Getting Ready Before the Cleaners Arrive, and Living With Kids and Pets on Cleaning Day

Many people feel they have to clean before the cleaners come. It sounds backwards, but it is a very common instinct, and it usually comes from not knowing what to expect. The good news is that you do not need to scrub anything. You only need to get the house ready for someone else to do it.

If you share your home with children or animals, a few extra habits help even more. Here is how to set up cleaning day so it goes smoothly for you, your family and the people doing the work.

Tidy, don't clean

There is a real difference between tidying and cleaning. Tidying is putting things where they belong so surfaces are clear. Cleaning is what happens to those surfaces afterward. The more you clear, the more time goes into actually cleaning rather than moving stuff.

• Clear the kitchen counters and the bathroom sink of anything that does not live there
• Pick up toys, clothes, shoes and loose paper from floors
• Put away laundry so beds and chairs are free
• Empty the dish rack and put dishes in the dishwasher or the cupboard
• Move anything fragile or sentimental off low shelves and coffee tables

A single basket helps. Walk through the house with it, drop in everything that is out of place, and set the basket in a bedroom. The whole walk takes ten minutes and saves far more than that on cleaning day.

Put valuables and private things away

Even with a team you trust, it is sensible to put away anything you would be upset to see moved: jewelry, cash, important papers, mail with personal details and medications. A drawer or a closet that you close is enough. It keeps you from worrying, and it lets the cleaners work freely without wondering what is safe to touch.

Tell the team what matters most

Cleaners cannot read your mind, and a short list is better than a long hope. Tell them what bothers you most in your home, whether it is a shower that never looks clean or the floor under the kitchen table. Mention anything that should be left alone, like a desk with papers or a child's block tower that took all weekend. A few lines in a text before the visit, or a note on the counter, goes a long way.

Pets on cleaning day

Tell the team about your animals before the first visit, including anything about their temperament. If a pet is nervous around strangers, or a dog tends to bolt through open doors, say so. Many owners keep pets in a closed room or a crate during the visit, or take the dog for a walk. Put away food bowls and toys, and close up the litter box area so it is easy to work around.

Customers who share their homes with animals tend to mention how it goes. Melissa K. of Berkeley Heights wrote that the team is "so good with my dog!" and Lana M. of Montclair said they are "AMAZING with my 6 cats." Those are their words about their own experience, but they show the point: it is a normal part of the job, and it is worth telling the team about your animals up front so everyone is comfortable.

Kids and the chaos that comes with them

Children make a house busier, and a house with children gets messy in ways that a house without them does not: crumbs under the table, fingerprints on every glass door, a trail of socks. One busy family wrote that DA Maids is "absolutely amazing, especially with kid chaos," and called having help "a huge stress reliever." That fits what most parents want, which is to come home and find the house calm.

A few small things help. Let kids know that cleaners are coming and what the visit looks like, so a stranger in the house is not a surprise. Ask older children to put their own rooms in order, and tell younger ones that the cleaners are helping, not taking toys away. If you have a baby who naps, mention the schedule so the vacuum does not come at the wrong moment.

Are you staying or going?

Some people leave, and some stay home and work in another room. Either is fine. The important thing is to settle access and plans ahead of time. If you are going to be out, tell the team how they will get in and how to lock up. If you stay, pick a spot for yourself so you are not in the middle of the work.

Plans change, and that's okay

Sick kids, a late meeting and a sudden trip all happen. Let the team know as early as you can if you need to move a visit. Mary K. of Scotch Plains wrote, "I also appreciate them always working with me if I have to reschedule." A short, early message makes that easier for everyone.

If you are thinking about getting help at home, DA Maids offers free estimates. Call (908) 414-1425 or use the contact page, and mention the kids, the pets and what your mornings look like.