Do I have to be home during the cleaning?

No. Most Queen of Maids members aren't home during cleanings. We use a garage code, door code, or smart lock to get in, and we secure everything when we leave. If you'd rather be home — especially for the first visit — that's fine too.

What should I do with my pets?

Secure anxious or escape-prone pets in a closed room or crate. Friendly pets that aren't a flight risk can usually stay in the main living areas. Let your cleaner know in advance about any pets and any behaviors they should know about (door-darting, food aggression, etc.).

Will my cleaner clean rooms I don't want touched?

Only if you don't tell them. If there's a room or area that should be left alone (a home office mid-project, a teenager's room, a nursery during nap time), tell us in advance — it gets saved to your account and shared with every cleaner who comes to your home.

What if I run out of time to prep?

Don't worry about it. Cleaners are trained to work around clutter when they have to, and the cleaning will still get done — just possibly not as deeply on surfaces that are buried. If prep just isn't going to happen on a given day, leave a note saying "sorry, skip whatever you can't get to easily" and we'll prioritize.

How to Prepare Your House for a Cleaning Service (Without Cleaning First) | Queen of Maids

Q: Should I clean before my cleaner gets there?

No. Cleaning before your cleaner arrives defeats the purpose. The most useful prep is tidying clutter off surfaces, securing pets, and leaving any notes about specific requests — but actual cleaning is what you're paying the cleaner to do.

You don't need to clean before your cleaner arrives — that's literally what they're being paid for. But spending 10 minutes preparing the home makes the visit faster, the results better, and the experience smoother for both of you. The most useful prep is tidying clutter off surfaces, securing pets, and leaving notes for anything specific you want addressed. Anything beyond that is optional.

The 10-minute pre-cleaning prep

If you have time before the cleaner arrives, do these in order — they have the highest impact on cleaning quality:

•Clear surfaces. Pick up papers, mail, dishes, and clothing off counters, dressers, dining tables, and floors. Cleaners can't dust or wipe a surface that's covered in stuff — they'll either skip it or take time moving things around.

•Make beds and clear floors. Cleaning teams can usually make beds, but doing it yourself (or leaving sheets out if you want them changed) saves time. Clear floor clutter so vacuuming is straightforward.

•Take out the trash. Empty bins get a fresh liner; full bins eat into cleaning time.

•Run the dishwasher or load it. A sink full of dishes prevents kitchen counter cleaning. Either load them or leave them in the sink with a note ("don't worry about these").

•Secure pets. Especially anxious dogs, cats that hide, or any animal that might dart out an open door. A pet in a closed bedroom or crate is much easier for both your cleaner and your pet.

•Leave notes. A sticky note on anything specific you want addressed ("please don't move this", "extra attention here", "this stain has been here a while") gives your cleaner direction without needing to ask.

What you don't need to do

Skip these — they're the cleaner's job:

•Wiping counters before they arrive

•Vacuuming

•Cleaning bathrooms

•Mopping

•Dusting surfaces

•Putting laundry away (unless it's blocking access to a room)

If you're tempted to pre-clean because you're embarrassed about the state of the home — don't be. Cleaners have seen every kind of mess, and the more your cleaner sees of how your home actually lives, the better they can target their work to what you really need.

How to communicate preferences

Most issues between cleaners and clients trace back to unclear expectations. The best ways to communicate:

•First-visit walkthrough. When your cleaner arrives the first time, take 2–3 minutes to walk them through the home. Point out anything important: a fragile heirloom, a stained surface that won't come out, a room that's off-limits, a child's room that's off-limits during nap time.

•Saved preferences. With Queen of Maids, your preferences (preferred products, no-go areas, special instructions) are saved to your account and visible to every cleaner who comes to your home.

•Notes on the day. A sticky note or text the morning of the visit covers anything situational — "please skip the upstairs bathroom today, plumber was here yesterday" or "would love extra attention to the kitchen, hosting tomorrow."

What to do for first-time deep cleans

Deep cleans benefit from a bit more prep, because they cover more areas:

•Move small valuables and breakables out of the cleaner's path

•If you want inside the oven cleaned, empty the oven of trays and pans

•If you want inside the fridge cleaned, throw out anything expired the night before

•Clear off baseboards (no boxes or furniture pushed against them)

•If you have specific allergy or fragrance concerns, let the company know in advance so they can bring appropriate products

Entry, payment, and timing

A few logistical things to handle before the visit:

•Entry. Most Queen of Maids members share a garage code, door code, or smart lock combination. We don't keep keys.

•Payment. Recurring members are billed automatically on the cleaning date. One-time clients can pay through the booking system before the visit.

•Timing. We give a 1–2 hour arrival window. You don't need to be home for the cleaning — most of our members aren't.

How to Prepare Your House for a Cleaning Service (Without Cleaning First)

The 10-minute pre-cleaning prep

What you don't need to do

How to communicate preferences

What to do for first-time deep cleans

Entry, payment, and timing

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