How Clean Should My House Be Before Hiring a House Cleaner???

I totally understand your feelings about that. But, as someone who cleans other people's houses.... I see where they "pick up " before I come. One of the people I clean for is my sister, and I tell her all the time, "stop trying to clean before I get there, that is what you are paying me for."

Here is the thing. When hiring someone to come in and clean for you. The most important thing that helps us is to have things picked up. What I mean by that, is by picking up the toys and putting them where they go, picking up clothes off the floor, etc.. will save you money as the house cleaner is then not having to spend her time doing all that picking up, they can spend their time, vacuuming, dusting, etc... which is what you probably really want to pay for. I have been in homes where there is a ton of clutter all over the kitchen counter. Well, I am afraid to move anything in fear that the people will not find it. I want to organize all that clutter for them, but they may not want that. But, it is difficult to 409 the counter tops when all that is there. And, when I do clean around all that clutter, I feel like it is still messy when I leave.

One lady I clean for, I will surprise her by bringing in little inexpensive baskets from the dollar store and rearranging a kitchen drawer that is full of pens, ketchup packets, twisty ties, keys, coins, etc..... I don't say anything to her, but she will text me later and thank me for doing that. Or, I have taken some boxes and containers and opened up all the kids fruit snacks, etc, and put in the bins so it is easier for the kids to get to, easier for Mom to see that she is running out of snacky stuff, and keeps the kitchen pantry more organized with less boxes, etc.

Most of that stuff, "cleaning people" don't do...but, as a busy Mom myself, I know that those "little" things help.. and sometimes, it is harder for us to do them ourselves.

The main thing you probably want someone to focus on is, bathrooms, kitchen, dusting, vacuuming and mopping... So with all this said, just pick up those areas so that who ever you hire, can get in there, do their job so you are paying them for what you really need... cleaning.. not picking up.

C.

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If you have the money try starting out once a month and see how you feel then. It does not matter how clean your house is or not... if you are under stress and feeling it's not where you want it, then try having someone come just once a month. That might help you have peace about it.

Also there is a difference between neat and clean, & organized and neat.

I am a Professional Orgaizer and Family Manager. I recommend a wonderful company that can clean your home... and leave it like you walked into a luxary hotel.....it's priceless

Maid for Cleaning www.maidforcleaningtexas.com

Hope I've been of help,

L. B.
www.GetOrganized.ws

1 mom found this helpful

I will personally come over there and wring your neck if you lift a FINGER to clean anything before someone comes over to clean! STOP! What is OK is to pick up clutter and stuff so it is easier to clean. The first time or two I had someone clean I picked up the piles of paper, displaced items, etc. just in front of her so that she could get to the places that desperately needed a deep cleaning. Once you get a handle on the cleaning aspect with someone's help then it gets a lot easier. Don't be embarrassed! All of our houses have looked MUCH worse at some point and time. I promise.

1 mom found this helpful

Dear E.,
I work full time and clean homes for extra income. Believe me I've been introduced to clients who could have cared less if their bathroom hadn't been cleaned in a year(literally!) and also clients that have a busy schedule and keep their houses tidy but needed a person to make sure the toilets and tubs are scrubbed, the floors were mopped and the sheets were changed. For the sake of communication, have a list of exactly what you would want her to do. Also
how often you want her to come. That way if its a big job, she can do it in shifts, such as clean the ceiling fans and blinds, mop and vacuum this time and next week we'll work on the kitchen and laundry. I would just straighten the house, then explain to her what your goals are. Also make sure you exchange emails and phone numbers. I'm very flexible and if my client is needing to entertain I come the day before or if she has family over, she calls and I schedule for the following week. She appreciates that. Good Luck and Happy cleaning!

I clean houses for a living and it really not a problem with me unless u r paying by the hour then i guess it would be faster

I understand. My husband and I tidy up the house before our house cleaner comes. We feel that they can spend more time cleaning than trying to clean around stuff. What you could do is pay them to do a deep cleaning the first time - they probably will charge you more if you haven't cleaned your house in a while anyway. Then after that you will just have to keep stuff picked-up.

As a former house pro...you are not the only one to ask, and really there is a bit of tidying up that needs to be done if you don't want to go broke!
Interview a minimum of three companies (CHECK REFERNCES) before deciding who you want to go with.
I worked for a company that came in the first time with a large team and we did a "spring clean"...we did it all top to bottom, then all we did after that was upkeep. Some tasks are a monthly task...others weekly and others can go every other week. A good company will be able to break this down for you.
Do you want laundry done? do you want dishes done? making the beds? This can be as simple or as complex as you want...just remember the more you want done the more it costs.
Basic rule of thumb...If your pet peeve is the floors don't make them spend two hours picking up the babies toys before they can even start...If your marble things can only be touched with this special stuff the dealer sells you, make it available and make sure we know how to use it. Once you get into a routine of knowing that the cleaning crew will be here on Tuesdays, you can make sure to have the areas to be cleaned available to them. If you want the kitchen cleaned...don't make them spend two hours on a weeks worth of dishes first...yes I had a client that did that and then wondered why we were there so long, she saved the dishes for the cleaning crew!
Bathrooms are quicker and easier if all towels and rugs are in the wash before we start, If you want them to use your products...make sure you provide it and tell them to let you know when it is almost gone. Most cleaning Teams have special products to use though. Basically if all you want is someone to come in and dust, vacuum, and mop the floors, make sure there is a path to get those things done...it is hard to dust around a weeks worth of laundry piled around the things to be dusted...and then to be picked up to do the floors.
Make a list of what you really don't have time to do and then start the interview process and tell them that this is what you want, no more...no less
Now you make me want to go clean... thanks a lot! have fun!

Just move the clutter so they can clean :)

Hi! I clean houses and the only thing that I ask, but some client don't is to pick up anything that is laying on the floor and cluttered areas. It makes it a lot easier to clean.

Hello my name is B. Anderson and I have a small family owned residential and commercial cleaning business. We are insured and bonded. We will clean from top to bottom (ceiling fans, baseboards, doors, wipe down cabinets, plus of course all the regular detailed dusting, kitchen, bathrooms, change linens etc) we truly customize it to fit your cleaning needs. We will take the time to organize things as well so you don't need to "clean" before we clean lol. We also use Melaleuca all natural cleaning products. Thank you we look forward to exceeding your cleaning expectations! Please visit our website for more information and to find out about the other services we ____@____.com
Thank you
B. Anderson
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I always straighten up the house before our cleaning woman comes. She seems to spend exactly 4 hours cleaning, no matter what state the house is in, so I'd rather have her spend the time cleaning and not picking up. That's b/c I don't mind picking up, but I'm terrible at cleaning!

However, you might want to have the house pretty clean the first time she/they come to clean or to give you a price. A filthy house might raise the price!!

Good luck and enjoy having someone else do it! I know I do!!

I have someone come in about once or twice a year and like you...I go nuts getting the house ready for the cleaners...

I do all my basic jobs and make sure things are picked up and out of the way. They do a thorough clean from the top down and it just makes me feel better. While they are here, I am usually cleaning blinds, windows, etc.

Don't feel silly....a lot of us clean before house cleaners arrive.

Hi, Before my housekeeper comes, I put EVERYTHING away, which takes some time. You have to make sure all things are off the dressers (except for decorative items) or it's impossible for the to dust. I empty the dishwasher so it can be loaded. Put out clean sheets on all the beds so they will be changed and set out towels. I have a two year old so I spend a lot of time picking up toys, or putting things back because he's grabbed something. Sadly, though a lot of the mess is mine. I have a lot of clothes on the floor/left on the couch to be put away/or just items I don't put back after I use them. So I really shouldn't blame the kids... I'm also a teacher, so finding the time to clean is almost impossible. It allows us to have more "quality" time as a family. I highly recommend it.

Not necessary to clean, generally. That's what they're there for!

You don't have to clean - just pick up. Anything you leave on the floors, counters, etc. will get cleaned around, which defeats the point of getting it done.

What area do you live? I just ran across a good source for house cleaning.

You just need to have stuff picked up. They do all the product cleaning. They don't do dishes or inside of fridge or microwave unless you ask for the fridge or microwave cleaned. If there is a sink full of dishes they will clean the sinks and counters and neatly put back the dirty dishes. They clean tables and chairs, t.v's, dust everything, clean bathrooms, baseboards,and of course the kitchen.

They will charge you more the first visit anyway since they have to do a thorough cleaning....then the next visits are maintenance (unless you are really dirty)..so I wouldn't clean too much. Just get all the clutter put away.

E.,
I use to clean houses. Just pick up all your clutter. They will come in to do the deep cleaning, dusting, mopping, vacuumning, wiping down counter tops, stoves, bathroom- sinks, counters, toilets, showers. Make up your beds before they come. Most don't do anything to your beds. Some will change the sheets. Just ask what they are willing. Usually ceiling fans sometimes can be an extra charge. Make sure there are no dirty dishes in sink.

I clean homes in the Garland area, and I just prefer if the clutter is picked up. If you just don't have the time, I just stack whatever is in the room into a central location. Hope that helps you!

In the past when I've used a house cleaner my goal was to pick things up off of the floors and counters. I wanted the cleaner to clean floors, bathrooms, and the kitchen so my goal was to get my personal things up so they could do the deep cleaning.

Hi E.!
i clean houses (in flower mound and surrounding areas ;)!!)
what i tell my customers is that i can charge you less if at least 75% of the stuff is picked up. UNLESS you WANT for your house cleaner to p/u and you come to an agreed fee for it then its TONS easier to actually CLEAN and not spend the majority of the time picking up! I always say, i like to get in and out for your convienance and mine....that way i leave your house sparkly in a fair amount of time!!! If you have any questions feel free to contact me!!

I felt the same way you did. When my cleaning lady came out for my quote I picked up but did not clean bathrooms or dust. The cleaning company's are way to over priced. I am using a lady that comes every 2 weeks and does a GREAT job. I have 4 kids and a husband. She charges me 100.00 every 2 weeks. It has taken such a load off me.My lady does the microwave, dishes, & even wipes out the oven.

This is just my opinion and I have no basis for it, but I did pick everything up before I interviewed my housekeeper. My thought was I want her to see what condition the house will be like when she comes so she can give me a fair price. I work very hard to make sure EVERYTHING is picked up so all she has to do is clean. I think most people that clean houses appreciate this. I'm not saying you need to scrub the floors with a toothbrush, but pick up, do the big stuff (sweep the floor even if you can't mop, maybe vaccuum) and be honest with her of what you'll do to make her job easier and hopefully she'll give you a fair price.

just pick up the clutter! if she can see the floor to vacuum and the tables to dust, then that's all that is needed. otherwise you may end up having to tell her where things go. but other than that, no way, i pay enough to have them clean for me to do it too is silly.

I straighten / pick up / put away so that she can clean. She will not know where I want everything to go anyway! Plus then she can spend her time actually cleaning. And thr bonus is when she leaves the house is CLEAN and STRAIGHT! (for a moment)

I am a house cleaner. I have two clients right now. All I have ever asked for them to do is pick up the clutter so I can dust, mop, vaccumm, sweep and clean the bathrooms. I ususally hand wash any dishes left in the sink, so I don't ruin anything by running the dishwasher.

Please make sure you communicate what type of cleaning that you want from your service. I come in a clean as if you are having company, so I don't do baseboards or anything like that. My clients now we sometimes swap out; instead of regular cleaning I do the deep stuff. It just depends. These are people I know from church and I am self employed.

To answer your question, if you want it dusted move the clothes, if you want it vaccuumed pick up the stuff, If you want the counters wiped, put the dirty towels in the hamper. That is all I ask you to do.

Hope this helps....