What do you do before the cleaner

[mypropertea]

So I am about to get a cleaner (squeeeeeee) and the reality has set in that I need to leave the house in a state that allows it to be cleaned. So I ask...

What do you do before your cleaner comes?

If your a cleaner- what would you like your client to do before you clean?

So far I am thinking that I will
Empty and load the dishwasher
Leave a note about any rooms that shouldn't be done that week or any special jobs that can be done if they have time
Make shore that there isn't rubbish on the surfaces so they can actually be cleaned
Put away he kids toys so the floor can be hoovered.

What have I missed?

:)

[Artandco]

The house basically needs to be left tidy, so cleaner can come in and actually clean

[allegretto]

Nothing - if I had to clean up before the cleaner came I wouldn't bother having a cleaner.

[mypropertea]

I will also be putting cleaner down the loo and changing the pet's bedding... Don't want them knowing I live in a tip (I do but the tip always has a clean loo and pet's a well looked after). The biggest challenge may be convincing my other half that cloths that have been worn but are clean can go back in the cupboard- he insists on folding them into a neat pile by the bed (this is by far the most annoying thing he does).

[Artandco]

But a cleaner cleans, they don't tidy. Well they can but you need to pay twice as long if they need to tidy surfaces and floors before they can even start cleaning

[orenisthenewblack]

I tidy up and clear the sink. Hide junk and personal stuff. I love coming home on the day she's been . (Two hours every two weeks)

[allegretto]

I suppose it depends on the agreement you have with your cleaner. Mine tidies, cleans, picks the kids up from school and various other things. But I know her really well - and she probably knows better than I do where things go as she has worked for us for about 7 years.

[Artandco]

Alle - that sounds like a housekeeper more than a cleaner

[SallyVating]

i fill and run the dishwasher so she can empty it
put a load of laundry on if there's any so she can put it away
bleach in the loos
strip the beds so she can change them
try and leave as little actual clutter/crap lying around as I can, although she's good and does tidy up and move things if need be

[Theknittinggorilla]

I try and tidy up, not leave dishes and no clothes on floor. But my cleaner likes tidying so if I don't have time or we are out of control (often) she tidies for me. I love her.

Once a month she does an extra hour and will do whatever is needed (ironing, change beds, washing, deep clean, kitchen cupboards). It depends on the cleaner - best to talk to them and agree what would work?

[mrsmugoo]

Just make sure it's more or less clutter free but my lovely cleaner will pick up the odd toy or clear away the odd stray mug etc...

[EllaHen]

I leave out money.

I will ask the kids to tidy their rooms if need be. House us generally tidy.

[trinity0097]

My previous cleaner I would ensure the toilet was visible streak free (I.e. Tell hubby clean up the toilet before he went to work) and left out £30!

Just moved and tried new cleaners from an agency last week, hopeless, refused to have them back.

Got another coming tomorrow, will make sure the house is tidy and will be writing a detailed list of what I expect, things I presumed the ones last week would do, e.g. Empty bins!

[DanglyEarOrnaments]

As a cleaning service we include within our terms a section on preparing the home on cleaning day, it just basically outlines to pick up the areas you would like to be cleaned during that visit, store away clutter and valuables and to please book and pay for any additional work in advance so we can schedule this into our day before the teams set off for the day.

I think most of it is common sense, most clients seem to know these things anyway, especially if they have used another service before us.

[birdsdestiny]

I make sure there are no skids on the loo. Any items that have been left lying around for a week by dh, I throw them outside.

[Vvlgari]

We tidy up, empty bins and strip the bed. People often make fun of us for it, but as I keep having to point out, she's there to clean, not pick up after us.

We leave new sheets out and she makes the bed. She will also empty the dishwasher if there's clean stuff left in it. She's fab, actually. We've employed her for about five years and she always does a great job.

[GreenHen]

I don't have a cleaner any more but I used to do the following:

• make sure everything was put away (including dishes)
  
• empty bins
  
• clean loos (didn't expect or want her to do this)
  
• make beds

[lasttimeround]

Clear surfaces and floors and clean the rims of loos. Leave cash out.

[prokupatuskrakedatus]

I use an agency but only ever book the same person - as he's great and likes cats.
I make sure the loos are clean and the cleaning stuff needed is there.
I clear the bathroom shelves (put everything in a basket - because it speeds things up - no need for him to sort through the 1 million different hair products my DD uses).
And that's it and works great.

[JustBoppinAlong]

I am a cleaner and most of my customers:

Pick up things from bedroom floors and dump them on bed
Clear spaces where they want cleaning or dusting
Leave clean bedding out on each bed that they would like us to change
Leave a list if extra things need doing like internal Windows or specify if certain things are to be left this time
Some leave out ironing board and clothes so that we know to iron.

As a rule we empty bins but some customers can be a bit funny about recycling. So maybe leave a note if you want your recycling rubbish taking out and state what coloured bins take what.

I have no problem tidying in houses. But it can be hard to dust bedside tables and cabinets if they are piled high with cosmetics etc.

We also only do washing and drying if specifically asked to. Same goes for letting dog out, walking dog, tidying rooms that look like a bomb site.

I'm surprised that most of you clean the toilet before the cleaner comes!! Isn't that what you are paying them for? I have no issues cleaning toilets as its part of the parcel of my job! Okay some can be disgusting, but I would still clean it and wouldn't grumble. I usually put bleach down the loo and spray it and leave it to do its thing whilst I crack on with the rest of the bathroom. We can also wear gloves if really needed.

[OneEpisode]

We do use the cleaner day as punctuation in our routine.
I put the bathroom towels in the wash in the am. Get new ones out in the evening.
Dh is in charge of cleaning supplies (we provide them, some cleansers prefer their own) and makes sure the vacuum cleaner is empty. In our house we all vacuum but Dh is in charge of emptying....
You don't need to though.

[Kwirrell]

You have to decide if you want her to tidy and clean, or just clean. I just need the cleaning side of thing so I declutter before she arrives. I put a box in each room and load it with anything on the surfaces that will get in the way of cleaning.

I clear out all the bathroom stuff into a plastic box so that she can spend more time in there.

One thing I learned above all else, it that I have too much crap. Quite often I did not have time to put the stuff back before she came again the next week. Made me realise I did not need it to be there in the first place.my cleaner is amazing, she polishes tiles, does the windows, every ledge and washes the paintwork.

[ASAS]

Kwirrell how did you cut down/downsize on stuff? Any strategies warmly received.

[Kwirrell]

First of all ornaments, vases, photo, frames, plant pots. Once they were all off the surfaces, the place looked so much better, even before the cleaner. I just thought, what a waste of time to take that all off and put them all back each week. So charity shop got those

Then I found the Marie Kondo thread so I started to clear out the cupboards and drawers. Next I went to Muji who have the most incredible storage boxes. Make-up, perfume, jewellery, diaries, pens, IPads and pods went inside the cupboards and drawers that were vacated by unneccary crap.

For example, 9 gardening jumpers and old trousers, (I never garden) 11 bottles of cough mixture, old toys, 59 felt tip pens all dried out, colouring books, never used pots and pans, linens, glasses, crockery.I would say that having a cleaner has made me a tidier person because I don't like spoiling her work!

[ASAS]

Thanks. I'm already kondoing and love it. It's surfaces and arts and crafts stuff next. Agree whether you are a professional cleaner or DIY it's impossible to actually clean around stuff/crap.

[lovelyredshoes]

Yes to what Kwirrell has said re realising how we have been hanging on to far too much stuff we didn't need. I have just had three years without a cleaner to save money, but rehired one two months ago and I'm so happy I did. I now have time to sort through all of the stuff I need to get rid of and start planning shelves/better storage etc. Before that all my time was taken up trying to keep the house in shape on top of everything else.
I do a quick clear around, making sure floors and most surfaces are tidy and ready to be dusted/hoovered. I also leave out clean bedsheets and they change the beds.