How to Get Ready for Your Cleaner: 10 Simple Tips

Ten simple ways to prepare for your cleaner so the time you pay for goes on cleaning, not tidying.

TidyGo team12 October 20263 min read

You pay for your cleaner's time, so a little preparation goes a long way. These ten tips help your cleaner spend every minute on the things you care about.

1. Tidy up first

Your cleaner's time is best spent cleaning, not tidying. Put away clothes, toys, papers and dishes so surfaces and floors are clear. A clear room can be cleaned in half the time.

2. Decide what matters most

If the time is limited, what should come first? The kitchen? The bathroom? Write your top priorities in your booking notes so nothing important gets missed.

3. Add photos when you book

Photos of the oven, the bathroom or a stubborn stain help your cleaner understand the job before they arrive. With TidyGo, you add photos to every booking.

4. Sort out access

Will you be home? If not, explain where the key is or how to get in, and include any door codes. Mention parking, especially in areas with permit-only parking.

Holding house keys at the front door

5. Tell them about pets

Let your cleaner know if you have pets, whether they should be shut in a room, and anything they shouldn't be let out of.

A small dog resting on a sofa by the window

6. Mention anything fragile or off-limits

Point out delicate surfaces (marble, wood, antiques), rooms not to clean and items not to move. It's better to say it up front than to worry about it afterwards.

7. Leave out your supplies (if you have favourites)

If you prefer particular products, for example for wooden floors or a stone worktop, leave them out and mention them in your notes.

Cleaning supplies and tools laid out on a counter

8. Empty the sink and dishwasher

A full sink stops the kitchen being cleaned properly. Empty the dishwasher so the clean dishes can be put away and dirty ones loaded.

9. Be realistic about time

A 2-bedroom flat usually takes about 3 hours for a normal clean and around 5 hours for a deep clean (see how much a cleaner costs in London). If you book less time, decide what can wait until next time.

10. Give feedback

After the clean, say what went well and what you'd like done differently next time. Good cleaners welcome feedback, and if you're happy, you can book the same cleaner again.

A quick checklist

Clothes, toys and papers put away
Sink and dishwasher emptied
Priorities written in the booking notes
Photos added
Access, keys and parking explained
Pets and fragile items mentioned