Getting startedOctober 3, 20263 min read

How to Prepare Your Cincinnati Home for a Cleaning Service

Short answer: you don't need to clean before the cleaners come. Here's what actually helps.

Sunlit front entry of an upscale Cincinnati-area home with white oak floors, a wooden bench with a neat basket of shoes beneath it, a handwritten sticky note on a marble console table beside a set of house keys, and a calm cat watching from the bottom of the staircase.

You booked a cleaning. Nice. Now you’re wondering if you need to do something before the cleaners show up. Maybe vacuum a little? Hide the pile of mail on the counter? Wipe down the sink so nobody judges you?

Short answer: no. Here’s what actually helps, what doesn’t matter, and what to expect when we’re done.

1. You don’t need to clean before we arrive

The most common thing we hear is “Sorry about the mess.” Please don’t apologize. That’s literally why we’re here. You hired us to clean, and that’s what we’re going to do.

The one thing that does help: pick up loose items from floors and surfaces. Toys, shoes, clothes, mail, anything that would stop the cleaners from reaching the surface underneath. You don’t need to organize or deep-tidy. Just clear the path. That’s it.

2. Secure your pets

We like animals, genuinely. But vacuums are loud, strangers are stressful, and a nervous dog following the cleaner from room to room slows everything down. Cats tend to hide, which is fine, but some will bolt through an open door given the chance.

The easiest solution: put your dog in a bedroom or the backyard, or take them for a walk during the appointment. For cats, just let us know they’re around so we’re mindful of doors. Mention pets when you book; pets in the home are a $20 per visit add-on. Your pets will be happier, and the cleaners can work faster and more thoroughly.

3. Tell us about special surfaces or sensitivities

If you have hardwood floors that need a specific product, a marble countertop that can’t handle acidic cleaners, or someone in the house with sensitivities to certain products, tell us.

The best time to mention it is during booking: add a note, or leave a sticky note on the surface on the day. We’d rather know upfront than risk damaging something that matters to you.

4. Decide if you’ll be home

Totally up to you. Some clients like to be around. Others prefer to come home to a clean house without being in the way. Both are completely normal.

Many of our Cincinnati clients provide a spare key, garage code or lockbox. Every cleaner is background-checked and the company is insured. If you’re thinking about giving a cleaner access while you’re out, our guide to handing over a house key covers what to ask. If you’re home, we just ask that you stay out of the rooms being cleaned at the moment; it helps the visit stay on schedule.

5. Know the scheduling basics

If something comes up, give us at least 48 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule. Changes with less notice may carry a fee of up to 50%, and a same-day cancellation or a missed visit may be charged in full. We clean every day from 8 AM to 8 PM, so there’s usually another slot that works.

6. What to expect when we’re done

After a standard visit, surfaces are wiped and dusted, floors vacuumed and mopped, bathrooms and kitchen cleaned, trash emptied, and beds made if you’ve left linens out. We follow a room-by-room checklist, whether it’s your first appointment or your fiftieth. Inside the oven, inside the fridge, inside cabinets and interior windows are add-ons, so choose them at booking if you want them done. Here’s what’s included in each service.

If anything isn’t right, tell us within 24 hours at (513) 951-7799 and we come back to fix it at no charge. That’s our re-clean guarantee.

Booking for the first time? Read what to expect from your first house cleaning, or go straight to booking and see your price before you confirm.

Questions people ask

Do I need to tidy up before my house cleaner arrives?
No. Just pick up loose items like toys, shoes, clothes and mail so the cleaners can reach the surfaces underneath. You don't need to pre-clean.
Should I be home when the house cleaner comes?
It's up to you. Many Loveland Cleaning clients provide a key, garage code or lockbox. Every cleaner is background-checked and the company is insured.
What if something isn't cleaned the way I expected?
Tell us within 24 hours and we come back to fix it at no charge. That's our re-clean guarantee.
What if I need to reschedule my cleaning?
Give us at least 48 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule. Changes with less than 48 hours' notice may carry a fee of up to 50% of the visit, and a same-day cancellation or a missed visit may be charged in full.

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