A thorough cleaning service aims to leave your home looking immaculate. But for a deep clean, our cleaning technicians need room to work their magic. If you take a few minutes to tidy up before we get there, we can clean faster and do a better job. Here are some tips for getting your home ready before your All Seasons Cleaning service appointment.
Clear the Floors
Please pick up anything cluttering the floors before we get there. Put away kids' toys, clothing, shoes, books and anything else that would keep us from vacuuming, sweeping and mopping properly. With open paths, our technicians can reach every bit of floor. They can clean under and around furniture without anything in the way.
Check under beds, sofas and other furniture for stray items. And don't forget to look for clutter in less-used areas like closets, the garage, the basement and storage spaces. The more open floor there is, the better and more complete the clean we can give you.
Tidy Up Counter Tops
Kitchen counters, islands, bathroom vanities and other flat surfaces tend to collect clutter. Before we come to clean, please clear off small appliances, dishes, toiletries, plants, paperwork and anything else that's sitting out. Our cleaning technicians aren't instructed to organize personal items. We try not to move your belongings out of place.
With the counter tops clear, we can thoroughly sanitize surfaces, clean under small decor and reach edges and corners. Our disinfectants and cleaners do their best work with full contact on the counters we're cleaning. A few minutes of quick pick-up goes a long way toward a sparkling clean.
Put Away Valuables
For your own peace of mind, we recommend putting valuables away before our cleaning crew gets there. Only you know which of your belongings have special meaning or are worth money. Store precious items out of sight so we don't handle them by mistake.
Gently pack up fragile décor, antiques, jewelry, watches, cash, important documents, passports, electronics and other prized possessions. Don't forget to check dining tables, office spaces, bathrooms and other common areas where valuables may be lying around. Once they're put away, you'll know your things are safe and sound while we tidy up.
Secure Pets
All Seasons Cleaning is a pet-friendly service. Still, pets need a little extra care to stay comfortable and out of harm's way while we clean. Before the crew gets there, make sure dogs and cats have food, water, a potty break and any medications they need.
Then decide if your pet would do best in another room, securely penned in the yard or in their crate. Keeping curious pets contained stops escape attempts while doors open and close. It also keeps them away from the cleaning products we use and the equipment we move around your home. Tell us about any special pet handling requests, and we'll make a note in your account.
Check Entryways & High Traffic Areas
Entryways tend to collect lots of dirt and debris tracked in from outside. Hallways, staircases and main living areas get heavy foot traffic every day. Clear the clutter out of these busy spots before we get there, and we can give them a much deeper clean.
Sweep or vacuum entryways and mats. Pick up shoes, bags, outerwear and umbrellas. Put away paperwork, pet accessories, projects-in-progress and anything else that's out in the main paths or on the stairs. When we can get to everything, we can thoroughly clean floors, sanitize doorknobs and railings, dust corners and edges and freshen up the busiest spaces.
Straighten Furniture
Putting moved furniture back in place lets us reach every side for cleaning. Before the crew comes, please push chairs neatly under tables and set furniture back where it usually goes. That way our cleaners don't have to haul heavy pieces back into place. It also keeps them from accidentally scraping walls and floors if something has to slide across the room.
And don't forget to lift rugs and doormats. We want to get under them to trap dirt and grime you can't see. With the furniture tidied up, we can make quick work of getting the whole area clean and freshly arranged.
Take Out the Trash
One of our finishing touches is emptying wastebaskets throughout the home. As a courtesy, please take out the kitchen and bathroom trash ahead of time so extra garbage doesn't pile up. That includes bringing out bins from bedrooms, offices and other rooms outside the main living spaces.
Putting all the trash into fewer bags cuts down on leftover odors. Lifting out heavy loads ahead of time also means fewer spills and torn bags. We're always happy to take out whatever's left and reline the bins. Taking out the trash gets the cleaning started on the right foot.
Load & Unload the Dishwasher
All Seasons technicians are used to working around dirty dishes when they clean the kitchen. But unloading and repacking a full dishwasher takes extra time and can slow down the whole visit. Before the crew comes, please unload the clean dishes and put the dirty ones in the sink to soak.
Then we can get into the dishwasher and fully sanitize it. And with no clean dishes in the sink, we can hand wash and shine up any pots, pans and serving pieces. A quick swap of what's in the dishwasher keeps the kitchen cleaning moving.
Put Laundry Away
To properly clean bedrooms, bathrooms and other living areas, we need open floors and surfaces. Before your next cleaning, please put away clean, folded laundry so bins and piles aren't in our way. Gather dirty clothes into hampers, too. Then our team doesn't have to dig through and handle soiled clothes to reach the garbage cans and other cleaning tasks.
With the laundry put away, we can get to dressers, nightstands and other furniture for dusting. We also appreciate any fresh towels and linens you lay out so we can swap them into the bathroom. Keeping laundry under control lets us freshen up your home without handling your clothes much.
Take Advantage of Dry Weather
Rain and moisture tracked inside can really add to the cleaning work. If the forecast looks clear, open the windows to air out the home and let sunlight naturally sanitize surfaces. Make sure porch areas are dry so we can sweep away debris without extra mopping. And put away outdoor gear so it doesn't pick up extra dirt when it's wet out.
Our cleaning team can freshen up floors and deep clean bathrooms much faster in dry weather. We like to take advantage of low humidity so you come home to a beautiful, dry, clean interior.
Schedule Recurring Cleanings
Regular cleaning appointments let us keep your home tidy week in and week out. If you book every week or every other week, your technician will get to know your home's layout and cleaning plan. With regular appointments, our team doesn't waste prep time relearning the spaces and routines of your house.
With recurring cleans, our crew can easily spot deep cleaning needs outside the standard tidying. We notice things like soap scum build-up, dusty baseboards, ceiling fans or windows right away, before they turn into huge projects. Regular appointments mean higher quality cleans in less time.
Book Your Next Clean
A few minutes of prep lets our All Seasons Cleaning technicians give your home the highest standard of cleaning service. We appreciate you taking the time to tidy up, put away valuables, contain pets and clear clutter out of our way. Those simple steps help us work quickly, so you come home to sparkling clean floors, surfaces and furnishings. Contact us today to schedule your next thorough All Seasons Cleaning!
Summarized Table of Cleaning Preparations - Recommended Tasks and Descriptions
Task
Description
Clear the Floors
Pick up clutter so we can vacuum, sweep and mop thoroughly.
Tidy Up Counter Tops
Clear off kitchen counters and other surfaces so we can sanitize and clean them quickly.
Put Away Valuables
Put valuables away and keep them out of the areas we're cleaning.
Secure Pets
Make sure pets are comfortable and safe while we clean.
Check Entryways & High Traffic Areas
Clear clutter from entryways and high-traffic areas for a deeper clean.
Straighten Furniture
Put furniture back in place and lift rugs so we can clean everywhere.
Take Out the Trash
Empty wastebaskets around the home so garbage doesn't pile up.
Load & Unload the Dishwasher
Unload the dishwasher and put dirty dishes in the sink so the kitchen goes faster.
Put Laundry Away
Put laundry away so we can reach everything without handling your clothes much.
Take Advantage of Dry Weather
Use dry days to make cleaning faster and more thorough.
Schedule Recurring Cleanings
Book regular appointments for consistent, personalized cleaning services.