“Homeowners should focus on removing clutter from high-traffic spaces prior to their cleaning appointment, but they should not feel like they need to do any actual cleaning,” Peterson says. “Leave the hard work to the cleaning team!”
Many professional cleaning companies will only expect you to tidy prior to their arrival. Although you hear jokes about people cleaning before the cleaners come all the time, it is NOT necessary. By tidying, however, you ensure that the cleaners will be able to access everything that they want to clean.
If you stay home when the maids come, you may feel like you are in the way or being intrusive. After all, cleaning is their job, and they may not want you looking over their shoulder the entire time. If you prefer not to feel awkward, it may be best to leave for a couple of hours and allow them to do their job.
“For the most effective use of the cleaning team's time, it is best if the homeowner does the tidying up prior to the cleaning team's arrival,” Peterson explains. “Items like clothes, toys and dishes get in the way and prevent cleaning professionals from doing their best job.”
This one entirely depends on you. If you are uncomfortable having other people in your home when you're not around, it's all right to stay. Your house cleaner wouldn't mind as long as you or any family member are not getting in their way. However, if you would like to grab the chance to step out of the house, go ahead!
The golden rule of housekeeping is simple: clean as you go. It may sound obvious, but this rule can make a big difference in how clean and organized your home is. Cleaning as you go means cleaning up messes and spills as soon as they happen, rather than letting them sit and become harder to clean later.
Whether you choose to stay or leave your home while the cleaners work is entirely up to you. Your cleaners might have an easier time without anyone home, especially children. But if you're not comfortable having people in your home while you're not there, it's also acceptable to stay while they're cleaning.
If the same team cleans your home each week, you might want to tip once a month. If your house cleaners change from week to week, stick with tipping each visit.
The amount of time it takes to clean a house professionally can vary depending on the size of the house and the level of cleaning required. A general deep cleaning of a 1,500 square foot home can take anywhere from 4 to 6 hours. A standard cleaning of a 3,000 square foot home can take around 8 to 10 hours.
So, what is the correct order of cleaning? Generally, it's best to start with decluttering each room, followed by dusting surfaces from top to bottom. Next, clean windows and mirrors, then tackle the floors by vacuuming and mopping. Finish with the kitchen and bathrooms to ensure they're hygienically spotless.
Typical responsibilities include vacuuming, dusting, laundry, mopping and waxing floors and changing and laundering linen. Some housekeeper positions also require cooking or food preparation and heavy cleaning, like cleaning windows and furniture.
The Kitchen: A Cleaning Challenge
The kitchen is the home's heart for so many people. Unfortunately, it is also one of the hardest rooms to keep clean. With all those surfaces, appliances, and utensils, it's not surprising that the kitchen often takes the longest to tidy.
Key Concept. The 72-hour rule is an unwritten guideline in the hotel industry that dictates that a hotel room should be cleaned and ready for the next guest within 72 hours of the previous guest's departure.
The 'Reduce', 'Reuse' and 'Recycle' elements are referred to as the '3 R's' Reducing - Try to reduce the amount of waste you produce, as this is the best way to help the environment!
Respect and professionalism are two crucial elements of proper house cleaner etiquette. Your cleaner will assist you, so treat them courteously as any other professional. This means being punctual for scheduled cleanings, providing a safe working environment, and refraining from micromanaging their every move.
Here's what they can accomplish in 2 hours: Wipe the surfaces in all of the rooms, with some light dusting. Disinfect the toilet, scrub water fixtures in the bathroom, and wipe down the mirror. Clean the kitchen, which includes countertops, appliance fronts and tops, floors, cabinet fronts, and the sink.
But before you step into your freshly scrubbed bathtub or launch into your skincare routine at your squeaky-clean sink, experts recommend you pause first to give your bathroom some breathing room, especially if you've used potent cleaners to sanitize and disinfect the surfaces.
Standard cleaning takes into account everything that involves cleaning a home. For example, basic cleaning bathrooms, kitchen, living room, dusting, vacuuming and mopping floors, and so on.