“Should I clean before the cleaners come?” It’s one of the most common questions we hear, usually with a laugh. The short answer is no. You’re paying someone to clean, and you don’t need to do their job for them.
But a little prep makes a real difference. Every minute a team spends moving laundry piles or looking for a way into the building is a minute they’re not spending on your shower or your baseboards. Here’s what actually helps, whether you’re in a St. Pete condo, a family home in Pinellas Park, or a cottage in Gulfport.
Pick up, don’t clean
The single biggest thing you can do is clear the surfaces the team needs to reach. Clutter slows down the cleaning process more than dirt does.
- Clear kitchen counters and the dining table of mail, dishes, and odds and ends
- Get dishes into the dishwasher or sink, so counters and the sink area can be cleaned
- Pick up toys, shoes, and laundry from floors so they can be vacuumed and mopped
- Clear the bathroom counter and the edge of the tub of bottles you don’t use every day
- Take bedding off the bed if you’d like it changed, and leave fresh sheets out
If tidying is the part you need help with, that’s a different service. Tampa Bay Home Services does offer maid services that can include tidying up, and we scope that with you after the first cleaning.
Put away what you’d rather not have handled
Professional cleaners are careful, but it’s always smart to put away:
- Cash, jewelry, and other valuables
- Medications
- Fragile or sentimental items, like heirlooms or a delicate collection
- Paperwork you don’t want moved
If there’s a room you want skipped, like a home office, close the door and let the team know.
Plan for pets
Plenty of our clients have dogs and cats. We just need to know about them ahead of time. Some pets are fine roaming. Others get anxious around vacuums or try to slip out an open door. If yours is the second kind, a crate or a closed room with water is the kindest option for everyone.
Tell us about any surfaces, products, or areas to avoid because of pets, too, like a litter box area or a bird room.
Sort out how the team gets in
If you won’t be home, let us know how the team will get in: a key, a lockbox, a door code, or a front desk. If you’re in a gated community or a building with a front desk or parking rules, share that too. There will be a travel charge if the cleaners arrive and can’t get in, so this one is worth getting right.
Make a short priority list
A quick list tells the team where to spend extra attention. It doesn’t have to be long:
- The shower that’s bothering you
- The guest room someone’s about to use
- Anything to skip or handle gently, like a marble counter or an antique table
Leave it on the counter or share it when we confirm your booking. On a first visit, if you’re home, the team will also do a quick walkthrough with you before they start.
What you don’t need to do
- Buy supplies. The team brings their own supplies and equipment.
- Pre-scrub anything. Leave the soap scum and the greasy stovetop. That’s the job.
- Be home. You’re welcome to stay, work from home, or head out for the day.
For a step-by-step look at the whole visit, see what to expect from your first house cleaning.
Tampa Bay Home Services is a locally owned St. Petersburg company. Every cleaner is a background-checked, bonded W-2 employee, and you can see what each type of cleaning includes on our Services page. We clean homes in St. Petersburg, Pinellas Park, Gulfport, and across Pinellas County. Get your price and book your first visit.