What should you do before the house cleaners arrive?

Spend about 15 minutes picking up: clear floors and counters, put dishes in the dishwasher, and tell the team your top priorities. You are not supposed to pre-clean; you are clearing the way so their time goes to cleaning instead of moving your things.

The 15-minute prep checklist

• Floors: toys, shoes, laundry and cords off the floor so every room can be vacuumed and mopped edge to edge.
• Counters: mail, small appliances you rarely use, and kids' artwork moved to one spot.
• Sink: dishes into the dishwasher or stacked to one side so the sink can be scrubbed.
• Beds: leave fresh sheets on the bed or folded on top if you want the linens changed.
• Bathrooms: clear toiletries off the vanity and tub ledge so surfaces can be scrubbed, not wiped around.
• Breakables and paperwork: put away anything you'd rather nobody touch.

Tell the team

• Your top two or three priorities, such as the shower glass or the kitchen floor.
• Surfaces that need special care: natural stone, unsealed wood, antique finishes.
• Rooms to skip and where pets will be.
• Parking: street, driveway, or a visitor pass for apartments.

Want extras done?

Book them ahead so the team has the time: inside refrigerator or oven ($35 each), inside cabinets or interior windows ($45 each), garage sweep ($30), patio or deck ($25). Prices for the clean itself are on the Omaha cost page. If the house needs more than a tidy-up, a deep clean is the better first booking.

Next steps

• Residential cleaning
• Omaha house cleaning prices
• Do I need to be home?

Quick FAQ

Related answers

• How often should you get your house professionally cleaned?
• What is the difference between a deep clean and a standard clean?
• Do I need to be home when the house cleaners come?