How to Get Your Home Ready for a Cleaning Visit

You don't need to clean before the cleaners come, and nobody expects the house to be perfect. A little preparation does help, though, and it means the whole visit goes into cleaning instead of working around obstacles. Here is a practical rundown based on how Green Flamingo Cleaning Services runs its visits in Saint Hedwig and the surrounding area.

Sorting out access

You don't have to be home. Plenty of customers leave a key, a door code or a lockbox, and the team works from there. The company hands number-coded keys back after the visit, so they don't float around loose. If you're giving a code, double-check it before the visit, since a mistyped digit can leave the team waiting at the door and cost you part of the visit.

If you do plan to be home, that's fine too. Just let the team know which rooms you'll be working in so they can plan their order around you. If you work from home, a quiet corner with the door closed is usually all it takes. Either way, a quick text the day before with any changes, like a new code or a guest staying over, keeps the morning running smoothly.

Safety first: firearms and heavy items

Firearms must be locked away before the team arrives. It's a firm part of the company's policy, and it protects everyone in the house. Take a minute the night before to put them in a safe or lockbox.

Two more policies are worth knowing. The team doesn't use ladders, so ceiling fans or fixtures that need one to reach will be limited to what an extension pole or a reach from the floor can do. And the team doesn't move items over 35 pounds, which includes large furniture, heavy rugs and appliances. If you want the floor cleaned underneath something heavy, shift it ahead of time, or plan for that area to wait.

Clear the surfaces, not the whole house

The team can dust around your belongings, but the more that's piled on a surface, the less of it can be wiped. A quick pass before the visit makes a difference:

• Put away loose papers, mail and toys, especially on counters and nightstands.
• Pick clothes up off the floor so the vacuum and mop can reach everything.
• Clear the sink and load the dishwasher if you can, though dishes are part of the standard kitchen list.
• Set aside anything fragile or valuable you'd rather not have handled.

If something does break, tell the company within 24 hours so it can be sorted out properly.

Pets

Plenty of the homes Green Flamingo cleans have a dog or a cat in residence, and the team is used to working around them. Let them know about any pet that might slip out an open door or get underfoot, and if a dog or cat is nervous around visitors, put them in a quiet room for the visit. A closed door with a note on it is plenty. Pet hair is a normal part of the job: one customer wrote about the team working through layers of dust and dog hair and leaving the house looking like it did when they first moved in. If your pet has a favorite spot, a bed or a blanket the team should leave alone, mention that too, and they'll work around it.

What the team doesn't clean

There are a few things outside the scope of a regular cleaning visit. Knowing the list ahead of time avoids any surprise:

• Soiled clothing.
• Vomit.
• Animal droppings.
• Litter boxes and pet cages.
• Biohazards.

Empty the litter box and deal with any accidents before the team arrives, and set aside any laundry that's soiled. If you'd like help with clean laundry, up to three loads can be added as an extra service.

Arrival times and the 48-hour window

Because of traffic around San Antonio, arrival times are only guaranteed for 8am clients. If you need a firm start time, ask for the 8am slot. Otherwise, call or text 210-996-8854 and the office can give you an estimate for your day. Hours run Monday through Friday, and visits are scheduled within business hours.

After the visit, walk through with the checklist. If anything was missed, report it within 48 hours and the team will come back and re-clean those specific areas at no cost. The sooner you call or text, the easier it is to fix.