The best way to prepare for a house cleaning service visit is to spend ten or fifteen minutes clearing the way, not scrubbing the place yourself before your cleaner walks in. After more than a decade of cleaning homes across Canberra, this is the mix-up we see most from new clients booking their first regular clean. You’re paying for a thorough clean, not a tidy-up, so the goal is simply clear access to every surface, corner and floor.
Key points
- Clearing surfaces and floors means more of each visit goes toward actual cleaning, not tidying.
- Canberra’s dust and dry climate mean window sills, blinds and skirting boards build up faster than you’d expect, so don’t skip them.
- Booked extras like laundry, bed making or fridge cleaning go further with a few minutes of set-up.
- Pets, valuables and access are worth sorting the night before, not the morning of.
- Tenants and property managers get more from a visit by sharing inspection dates and access details up front.
What your cleaner actually needs from you
Plenty of people feel a flash of guilt at the idea of a cleaner walking into a messy house, so they scrub the bathroom the night before. You can skip that. Our teams are trained to clean surfaces where they sit, not to organise your home for you. What actually helps is clearing the clutter on top of those surfaces, so we can get straight into dusting, wiping and mopping instead of finding a home for your mail first.
Clear the surfaces and floors, then set up your extras
Start with the spots that collect the most day-to-day mess: kitchen benchtops, the bathroom vanity, coffee tables and bedside tables. Move small appliances, mail and loose items into a drawer or basket, and wash up or load the dishwasher. Then do the same for the floors, since toys, shoes, cables and stray laundry all get in the way of a proper vacuum and mop, particularly if carpet cleaning is on the schedule.
One thing we notice a lot in Canberra homes: window sills, tracks and blinds gather dust faster than in more humid climates, and gum leaves and grit get tracked in from the yard more than people expect. A quick mention to your cleaner means these get proper attention rather than a light wipe.
If your plan includes add-ons like bed making, ironing, laundry or fridge cleaning, a couple of small steps help your team get through them properly. Strip the bed rather than leaving fresh linen in a pile, clear the fridge shelves of anything you want kept, and pull dirty laundry into one spot.
If you have pets
Cats, dogs, and other pets are usually fine to stay home during a clean. Set up a quiet, closed-off room with water and a favourite toy so they feel settled, and mention any anxious habits around visitors or vacuum cleaners beforehand.
Protect valuables, then sort access
Put jewellery, important documents and anything fragile or sentimental somewhere safe before your appointment. This isn’t about trust; it just removes any chance of an accident.
Also decide whether you’ll be home during the visit or need another form of access, such as a key safe or a code. Mint Cleaning’s regular house cleaning service is built around this flexibility, with visits typically running from two hours upward depending on your home.
Tell your cleaner what matters most
A short note or a quick chat before your first visit goes a long way, and it’s the single biggest thing that separates a good clean from a great one. Mention areas you’d like extra attention on, allergies in the household, or spots that tend to get overlooked, like skirting boards or window tracks.
A note for tenants and property managers
If you’re renting or managing a property in Canberra, a regular clean often needs to work around more than one household. Share inspection dates as soon as you have them, confirm who holds keys or codes for cleaning day, and if you manage several addresses, keep a simple record per property: preferred day, access method and any standing instructions.
A cleaner home, with less effort
None of this takes long, and it means every visit is used for what it’s meant for: a genuinely thorough clean. If you’re still weighing up whether a regular schedule suits your household, our piece on why Canberra families choose regular house cleaning covers what changes once cleaning is off your plate.
Ready to book your next visit? Get a quote from the Mint Cleaning team today.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need to clean my house before the cleaner arrives?
No. A quick declutter of surfaces and floors is all that’s needed. The deep clean, dusting, vacuuming, and mopping is our job, not yours.
2. How far in advance should I prepare?
Fifteen minutes the night before or the morning of usually does it. Build it into your routine ahead of a regular clean, and it becomes second nature.
3. What should I do with my pets during a cleaning visit?
Set your pet up in a comfortable, closed-off room with water and something familiar, or let them roam if they’re relaxed around visitors. Mention any nervous habits to your cleaner beforehand.
4. Can I leave the house while my cleaner works?
Yes. Many Canberra households arrange a key safe, a door code or another form of access so cleaning can go ahead whether they’re home or not.
5. What if I’ve booked extras like laundry or fridge cleaning?
Give your cleaner a clear run at them. Pull dirty laundry into one spot, clear fridge shelves of anything you want to keep, and strip beds rather than leaving fresh linen out.
Author
Mint Cleaning
With over 10 years of experience, we take pride in delivering exceptional cleaning services to our clients. Our team is made up of skilled and dedicated individuals who are committed to providing a meticulous and thorough clean, no matter the task.
