How to Prepare for a Professional House Cleaning: 15-Minute Checklist
You don’t need to clean before the cleaners arrive — but 15 minutes of preparation lets the crew spend every paid minute on actual cleaning. Here is what our team leads ask customers to do.
You don’t have to clean before the cleaners come. But a few small things make a big difference to how much our crew gets done in the time you’re paying for. These are the tips our team leads give most often after thousands of visits.
The night before
1. Pick up the clutter
Cleaners clean surfaces; they don’t decide where your belongings go. Put away clothes, toys, papers and dishes so counters, floors and tables are clear. Every minute spent working around clutter is a minute not spent on baseboards or grout.
2. Write down your priorities
Tell us the three things that matter most — the shower glass, the oven, the stairs. If time runs short, the crew starts with what you care about. You can add notes when you request your quote.
3. Check your add-ons
Inside the oven, fridge, cupboards and windows are add-ons, not part of a standard clean. If you want them, add them before the day so the crew brings the right time and products. Oven cleaning is the most-added extra in our records — on 1,043 jobs so far.
On the day
- Access: leave a key, lockbox code or buzzer number, and tell us if a concierge needs a name.
- Parking: let us know where the crew can park. In condo buildings, book the visitor spot or service elevator if needed.
- Power and water: both need to be on. We bring all supplies, tools and equipment.
- Pets: keep them in a separate room or out for a walk — safer for them and quicker for us.
- Valuables: put away jewellery, cash and anything fragile or very personal.
- Laundry and beds: leave fresh sheets out if you want beds changed.
Special cases
Move-out cleaning
The home should be empty. Furniture left behind blocks floors and walls, and landlords check exactly those spots. See our move-in and move-out cleaning checklist and the deposit-back guide.
After a renovation
Wait until the trades are fully done, including paint touch-ups. Fine dust keeps falling for a day after the last sanding, so book post-renovation cleaning for the day after, not the same day.
Before selling
Schedule the clean after staging furniture is in place and before the photographer arrives — usually one or two days before. Our pre-sale cleaning is built around listing dates.
What you don’t need to do
- Buy cleaning products — the crew brings everything.
- Pre-clean bathrooms or the kitchen — that’s our job.
- Be home the whole time — most customers leave access and come back to a finished home.
Quick printable checklist
| When | Task |
|---|---|
| 2–3 days before | Confirm add-ons (oven, fridge, windows) and priorities |
| Night before | Clear counters, floors and tables; load the dishwasher |
| Night before | Put away valuables; leave clean sheets out |
| Morning of | Leave access details; settle pets; book parking |
| Within 48 h | Walk through and report anything missed |
Frequently asked questions
Should I clean before the cleaners come?
No. Just tidy up: clear surfaces and floors so the crew can clean instead of moving your belongings. The actual cleaning is our job.
Do I need to be home during the cleaning?
No. Most customers leave a key or lockbox code. You can be home if you prefer; just keep pets in a separate room.
Do I need to provide cleaning supplies?
No. Our crews bring all supplies, tools and equipment. You only provide access, power and water.
What if something is missed?
Tell us within 48 hours and we’ll come back to re-clean that area free of charge.
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Vetted, insured crews in Ontario, BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Nova Scotia. Free 48-hour re-clean if anything is missed.
Get a free quoteSee pricesRelated guides
- Move-Out Cleaning: Deposit-Back Guide
- Hiring a Professional House Cleaning Service
- Cleaning Services in Canada 2026: Costs & Trends
Figures come from AnyClean’s own booking records: 5,686 completed jobs between May 2024 and October 2026. Prices are what customers paid, before tax; your quote depends on size and condition. We refresh these numbers regularly.