A bit of prep before the cleaners arrive turns an okay clean into a great one. We’re not talking about cleaning before the cleaners come (you really don’t need to). We’re talking about clearing the way so they can do their best work in the time you’ve paid for.
This guide covers everything you need to do before your Perth Cleaning Care team, or any cleaning service, shows up. The day before, the morning of, what to communicate, what to skip. Most of it takes 15 minutes total.
Why Preparing Matters
Cleaners work to a time budget. A 3-hour booking is 3 hours of cleaning, not 3 hours of moving toys, sorting laundry, clearing benches, and then cleaning whatever’s left. The more cluttered the space, the less actual cleaning happens.
Quick example. If your kitchen bench has 30 items on it, the cleaner has to move and replace each one to wipe the bench properly. That’s 5 to 10 minutes per surface. Multiply that across the whole house, and you can lose a third of the booking to non-cleaning tasks.
Prep is about getting your money’s worth.
The Day Before
Five things, that’s it:
- Confirm the booking (date, time, duration, address)
- Pick up obvious clutter from the floors
- Clear personal or sensitive items off open surfaces
- Run the dishwasher overnight or hand-wash dishes so the sink and benches are clear in the morning
- Throw a load of laundry through if linens or towels need replacing
The dishes one is bigger than people think. A sink full of dishes blocks access to the tap, the splashback, and half the bench. Most cleaning services (including ours) don’t do dishes as part of a standard clean, so leaving them slows down the whole kitchen.
The Morning Of
About 15 minutes of work, maximum.
- Make the beds, or strip them if linens are being changed
- Tidy floors of toys, shoes, and bags
- Clear the bench tops of anything you don’t need on display
- Put away food and any open packets in the kitchen
- Take the bin out if it’s full
- Open curtains and blinds so the cleaners can see what they’re doing
- Set the air con or heating to a comfortable temperature (cleaners work hard, ventilation matters)
You’re not cleaning. You’re clearing the runway.
What to Do About Pets
Pets are the bit most people forget. A few options:
- Crate them or shut them in a separate room (let the cleaner know which room to skip)
- Send them to doggy daycare or a friend’s place for the day
- Take them on a long walk during the booking
- If they’re calm and friendly, fine to leave them out, but tell the cleaner upfront
What to mention to the cleaning team:
- Names and temperament
- Whether they can go outside or must stay in
- Any rooms where the pet isn’t allowed
- Litter trays that need emptying (or specifically not emptying)
- Food and water bowls to leave alone
Most cleaning teams are completely fine with pets. We are. A heads-up just makes the whole job smoother. Reactive dogs especially need to be secured, more for their sake than ours.
Securing Valuables and Personal Items
Reputable cleaners are police-cleared and insured (every Perth Cleaning Care team member is). Even so, common sense applies:
- Put cash, jewellery, and watches away in a drawer or safe
- Move important documents off open surfaces
- Sensitive paperwork (bank statements, ID, passports) goes in a drawer
- Don’t leave laptops or tablets on the bench unattended all day
- Firearms must be locked away (legal requirement regardless)
- Point out anything fragile or sentimental so it doesn’t get moved
This isn’t about distrust. It’s about removing any awkwardness later. Most missing items turn up behind the couch a week later, but putting things away upfront means there’s no question to begin with.
Sorting Access
How is the cleaner actually getting in?
Common options:
- You’re home and let them in
- Lockbox with a code
- Keys left in a discreet spot (last resort, not ideal)
- Building a concierge or reception
- Spare key handed to the cleaning company (common for ongoing weekly bookings)
Whatever the plan, confirm it the day before. Other access details to share:
- Parking (visitor bay, street, paid parking, no parking)
- Building entry (intercom code, fob, swipe card)
- Lift access for apartments
- Gate codes for gated estates
- Alarm code, or disarm it before they arrive
- Any rooms or areas that are off-limits
Cleaners arriving and not being able to get in costs everyone time. A quick text the night before with parking and entry instructions saves a lot of trouble.
What to Tell Your Cleaner Before the First Visit
If it’s a first-time clean, send a short rundown the day before:
- Priority rooms (where do you most want focus)
- Problem areas (the oven, mould in the shower, sticky floors near the bin)
- Surfaces that need special care (marble, antique furniture, solid timber floors)
- Products you do or don’t want used (eco-friendly only, no strong scents, asthma in the house)
- Any pets (covered above)
- Anything previous cleaners did that you didn’t like
For ongoing regular cleans, this gets easier. The team learns your home over the first two or three visits, and you stop having to repeat yourself.
At Perth Cleaning Care, we do a quick walkthrough on the first visit so the team gets your priorities straight from day one.
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Specific Instructions Help More Than General Ones
Things worth flagging:
- “Don’t move that vase, the cat knocks it down.”
- “The third bedroom is my office, vacuum the floor, but don’t touch the desk.”
- “The guest bathroom isn’t used, skip it.”
- “Fresh linens are on the dining table. Please put them on the beds.”
- “Use the back door; the front lock is broken.”
- “Watch the second step on the stairs.”
Specific is useful. Vague isn’t. “Be careful in the office” is less helpful than “don’t touch anything on the desk, just vacuum the floor”.
What You Don’t Need to Do
A short list because people waste time on these:
- Don’t clean before the cleaner arrives. That’s literally what you’re paying us for.
- Don’t pre-vacuum. We bring vacuums.
- Don’t pre-strip beds unless linens are being changed (just say so when you book)
- Don’t apologise for the mess. We’ve seen much worse.
- Don’t buy products. We bring our own.
The pre-clean before the cleaner is the most common waste of effort. We genuinely don’t need it, and you’ve spent your Saturday morning cleaning when you could have been doing literally anything else.
During the Clean
Two approaches both work:
Stay home. Fine, do what you’d normally do. Most clients work, watch TV, or potter around. The cleaners will work around you. If you’re going to be in a specific room for a while, mention it so they can adjust the order they tackle rooms.
Leave the house. Also fine. Lock up when you go, and let the cleaner know they’ll need to lock up too. Many of our regulars head out for breakfast or run errands during the cleaning and come back to a finished home.
If you stay home:
- Don’t follow the cleaner around (awkward for both of you)
- Don’t redo their work in front of them
- Do flag missed areas in the moment if you spot something, easier than calling later
After the Clean
Walk through with the cleaner if they’re still there. Check the rooms while they’re packing up. If something’s missed or off, mention it then. We can fix it on the spot, much easier than coming back another day.
For ongoing bookings, give honest feedback after the first one or two cleans. If you want different products, more time on a specific area, or a tweak to the routine, say so. Cleaners can’t read minds. The clients who are happiest long-term are the ones who told us what they wanted in the first month.
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First-Time Clean: What to Expect
The first cleaning is usually longer and a bit pricier than ongoing visits, especially if the home hasn’t been deep cleaned for a while. There’s a reason. We have to get the home to a baseline before regular cleans can maintain it.
What to expect:
- 25 to 50% longer than the standard recurring time
- Higher price for the first visit (always quoted upfront, no surprise pricing)
- More attention to detail spots: skirting boards, tops of cupboards, behind appliances
- Sometimes, a recommendation for an oven or carpet steam cleaning add-on is needed
After the first clean, regular weekly or fortnightly visits are faster because we’re maintaining a clean home, not catching up.
Tipping in Perth
Not expected in Australia, but appreciated. Most regular cleaning clients tip occasionally rather than every visit, usually around Christmas or after a particularly big job. Honestly, a short positive review online is more valuable to a small local business than a tip in cash.
Preparing for a Cleaning Service: FAQ
Do I need to clean before the cleaner arrives?
No. A quick tidy of clutter on floors and surfaces helps, but the actual cleaning is what you’re paying for.
Do I have to be home?
No. Plenty of our regular Perth clients work full-time, and we let ourselves in via lockbox or with a held key. Just make sure we know how to access the property.
Should I provide cleaning products?
Not unless you want specific products used. We bring our own eco-friendly products on every job. If you have allergies, asthma, or strong preferences, let us know, and we’ll work around them.
What about my pets?
Mention them when you book. We’re fine around dogs and cats. Reactive pets should be crated or shut in a separate room. We won’t open external doors that pets could escape through unless told it’s safe.
Can I leave special instructions?
Yes, the more specific the better. Send them via the booking notes, text, or email so the team has them on arrival.
How long does a typical home clean take?
A standard 3-bedroom Perth home usually takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours with a 2-person team for a regular clean. A first-time deep clean takes longer, usually 4 to 6 hours.
Do you bring your own vacuum and equipment?
Yes. Vacuums, mops, microfibres, eco-friendly products, the lot. Nothing is required from you.
What if I’m not happy with the result?
Tell us. We have a 100% satisfaction guarantee, which means if anything’s missed or below standard, we come back free and make it right.
What suburbs do you cover?
Every Perth suburb. From the CBD through to the northern, southern, eastern, and Hills regions, plus Mandurah and the Peel.
The Bottom Line
Preparing your home for a cleaning service is straightforward. Clear clutter, secure valuables, sort access, and communicate anything specific. Skip the panic-cleaning before the cleaners arrive. We’re there to do that part for you.
If you’re booking with Perth Cleaning Care, our team will guide you through the prep on your first visit and learn your home quickly after that. Get a free quote, and we’ll take it from there.
