Is My House Too Dirty for a Cleaning Service? 7 Ways to Prep Your House for a Professional Cleaning
There are Cheerios strewn across the kitchen floor, your new puppy just tracked mud from one end of the house to the other, and you fear that the ring around your bathroom tub may be here to stay.
We get it.
Family life can be crazy busy. And with everything that’s going on, finding the time to clean the house may very well be the last thing on your list.
You'd love to hire a cleaning service, but you're wondering if a cleaning service would even be willing to tackle a house like yours.
Is my house too dirty for a cleaning service?
Learn everything you need to know about prepping your house for a professional cleaning and how we can tackle even the dirtiest of homes.
How Clean Should Your House Be Before Cleaners Come?
Before hiring a professional cleaning service to tackle your home, you should consider tidying up, but don’t feel like you need to dust, vacuum, or perform a deep clean.
Although professional cleaners can handle an extraordinary amount of dirt, dust, and grime, it’s always appreciated when clients focus on cleaning off surfaces and putting away personal belongings so we can clean your space efficiently.
Tidy Up Portland! offers professional cleaning services in the Portland area, so you don’t have to stress about a dirty home. Contact us today to learn how we can help.
Can a House Be Too Dirty for a Cleaning Service?
While professional cleaning services will tackle an extreme amount of filth, there can be circumstances where your home is too dirty for a cleaning service. If your home doesn’t seem safe to clean, most professional cleaning services will not do it.
These circumstances might include:
Homes with excessive trash
Homes with mold or asbestos; or
A house containing hazardous materials, including things like excrement left in toilets, etc.
If you think your home might be too dirty for a professional cleaning, reach out. Our team at Tidy Up Portland! is happy to chat with you to determine if your home qualifies for our cleaning services.
More often than not, it does! If you think your house is too dirty for a cleaning service, you’re not alone.
Perceptions of Dirtiness
If you’re like many homeowners, having a professional cleaner work in your home when it feels dirty and dusty feels embarrassing, keeping you from seeking help. But the truth is that cleaning services are designed to deal with dirty homes. As professionals, we’ve seen it all. What might feel extremely dirty and unlivable to you could simply be a layer of dust on surfaces and dirt across the floor.
Tidy Up Portland! works without judgment, so any homeowner can feel comfortable having our team in their home. We’ll leave your space feeling fresh and clean every time.
7 Ways To Prepare Your House for a Professional Cleaning Service
If you feel like your house is too dirty for a cleaning service, it’s probably time to hire a professional. We never expect you to fully clean your home before our arrival, but we do appreciate a quick tidying up so we can work efficiently to leave your home feeling clean and clutter-free.
Before your professional cleaning service, consider the following:
#1: Get Organized
Here’s the bottom line: A disorganized mess of a home is harder (and typically more expensive) to clean. If you’ve collected a fair amount of stuff, consider organizing a bit before having your cleaners arrive.
“A place for everything, and everything in its place” should be your motto.
Take a quick look around and clear out the clutter by:
Picking up toys
Putting away clothes and shoes
Folding throw blankets
Etc.
#2: Clear Surfaces
We all know there’s a counter underneath all of that clutter somewhere. Whether it’s your kitchen counter, bedroom dresser, or bathroom vanity, clearing the flat surfaces in your home is a great way to prepare for your housekeeping team’s arrival.
Put away:
Toothbrushes
Makeup
Towels and washcloths
Mail
Vitamin and medication bottles
Charging cords
Stray cups and plates
Etc.
#3: Wash and Put Away Your Dishes
Cleaning the three-day-old macaroni and cheese pan or the skillet coated in a thick layer of greasy bacon residue doesn’t sound fun — we get it. While some cleaning companies are willing to do your dishes, others are not. Be sure to find out if this is included in your cleaning service before they arrive.
If it’s not, wash and put away your dishes before your team arrives at your home so your kitchen can be properly cleaned.
At Tidy Up Portland!, if you subscribe to our Tidy Up Package or our Mommy’s Helper Package, you can leave the dishes to us!
#4: Give the Bathroom a Once-Over
We’re not asking you to scrub your sinks and toilets — that’s our job — but the wad of hair collecting at the bathtub drain and the used tissues that missed the wastebasket should be picked up before your housekeeper arrives. This ensures your team can focus on the most important bathroom tasks like cleaning the toilet, bathtub, floors, vanity, and more.
#5: Clean Up After Your Pets
We know you love your fur babies — we do too! But, as adorable as they may be, they can make cleaning tough.
If your favorite feline made a kitty litter mess all over the laundry room or your Goldendoodle pup had another accident on the rug, we appreciate you cleaning that up before we arrive.
While we’re talking about pets, keeping them behind closed doors or in crates always makes it a bit easier for your cleaning team to work efficiently, too.
#6: Have Clear Expectations
Do you want your baseboards cleaned? Does the inside of your oven need a scrub? Maybe you like your hand towels placed “just so” on the towel bar.
Making your expectations clear with your housekeeper is important to ensure you get the cleaning you want. If your requests are beyond the service you’re seeking, we’ll recommend a service that covers all that you need.
When you book with Tidy Up Portland!, we’ll talk through your expectations right off the bat. You’ll have the opportunity to let us know what you do and do not want so we can ensure we clean your home to your standard.
#7: Do a Little Pre-Cleaning
While we can clean just about everything (and we have!), having a professional house cleaning service doesn’t mean you should skip cleaning altogether.
Taking the time to do a little pre-cleaning — or simply keeping up with the small cleaning tasks in between your professional cleanings — can save your cleaning team a considerable amount of time.
We don’t expect you to deep clean your stovetop or scrub your baseboards, but it’s always appreciated and helpful if you:
Clean up spills
Take out the trash
Wipe out the microwave
Put your shoes away
Pick up clutter
Load the dishwasher
Etc.
Looking to ease the burden even more? If you subscribe to our Tidy Up Package or our Mommy’s Helper Package, several of the above items are included! Additionally, if our Maintenance Cleaning Package makes more sense for your needs, we also offer additional services to cover some of these pre-cleaning items.
Tidy Up Portland! Offers Exceptional, Judgment-Free Professional Cleaning Services You’ll Be Glad You Booked
Is your house too dirty for a cleaning service? Likely not! Tidy Up Portland! has seen it all — from dusty dens to cluttered countertops — and we don’t judge, we just clean.
Whether it’s a grime-covered bathroom vanity or a kitchen that’s clearly been serving up meals to hungry kids all day, every day, we’re ready to tackle any mess, any size, so you don’t have to.
We offer maintenance cleanings, quick tidy-ups, and deep cleanings to make life a little less chaotic for you and your family.
Kick up your feet and relax when you choose a professional cleaning service that can handle even the dirtiest of homes. Contact Tidy Up Portland! today!
