What your cleaning lady wishes you knew often comes down to preparation, communication, and realistic expectations. This guest contribution from Sofia Martinez of Sparkly Maid Austin was edited and reviewed by The Cleaning Lady. Drawing on her professional cleaning experience, Sofia shares what she wishes customers understood before a cleaner arrives.
From Sofia:
We’re not judging you (well, maybe a little)
Let’s address the proverbial elephant in the room first: Yes, we do notice when you have “pre-cleaned” when we arrive. That frenzied ten-minute whiz around tidying up underwear on the floor and cleaning toothpaste off the sink is not fooling anyone. But here is the thing—we actually appreciate it! Not because it makes it easier for us to clean (though it definitely does), but because it is a display of respect for our time.
If you want the appointment to run more smoothly, these steps to prepare for a cleaning service can help you decide what to tidy before the cleaner arrives.
Last month I visited a new client and discovered a week’s worth of dirty dishes stacked up to create a leaning tower of Pisa in the sink. When I explained that we charge extra for a lot of dishes, she seemed surprised. “But you are here to clean, aren’t you?” Yes, but there is cleaning and there is archaeology.
Your products matter (and so does where you keep them)
I have no idea how many times my team has opened a cupboard in hopes of finding cleaning supplies and been greeted by a graveyard of near-empty bottles. Five glass cleaners with a meager three sprays in each is useless.
Quality matters too. Yes, those cleaning products in the dollar store might be cheaper, but they can create more work. If you are on a budget, white vinegar and baking soda can each be useful for certain jobs. Check the manufacturer’s care instructions first, avoid using them on unsuitable surfaces, and remember that mixing them largely neutralizes their cleaning action.
And please, if you have particular cleaning products that you would like us to use on particular surfaces, leave them out with a note. We are fine, but not mind readers!
The hidden dirt you don’t see (but we do)
What keeps me up at night is baseboards. Seriously. No one ever sees them, and yet they collect an amazing amount of dog hair and unexplained sticky substances (especially in homes with small children) as well as a lot of dust.
The same goes for ceiling fans, kitchen cabinet tops, and the areas around and behind toilets. These are blind areas in most homes. I had a client who didn’t realize that she had allergies every day until I thoroughly cleaned ceiling fans for her—years had passed since they had been last cleaned and had a thick layer of dust that would fill a small pillow.
We’re not miracle workers (though we try)
The red wine spill on your white carpet that has been lingering since last Christmas. The limescale in your shower that has been building up since you moved in three years ago. The burnt grease in your oven from years and seasons of Thanksgivings past. These are not things that can be completely removed in a routine cleaning session.
Deep-rooted stains and years of dirt require special care, typically in a series of treatments. I wish I had a magic wand (yes, I have looked on Amazon), because certain messes are just too embedded to disappear in a flash.
I remember one customer who was upset that water spots on her marble countertop could not be removed through a routine cleaning. Such issues require professional treatment—perhaps professional restoration. We are not stone restoration specialists or magicians.
Decluttering is not the same as cleaning
The biggest myth that I encounter is that cleaning and organizing are one and the same. They are not. When we are called in to clean a home with clutter on every surface, we simply can’t clean.
Let’s consider an example. If you have a coffee table with magazines, mail, TV remotes, and last night’s coffee cup on it, do you have a decision between moving everything and risking placing it in a new and perhaps incorrect location or cleaning around it and not disturbing most of the surface. Neither is an acceptable solution.
My team spent 30 minutes of a two-hour clean session moving items from surfaces to clean under and putting them back. That is 25% of clean time spent on item management rather than cleaning.
Communication is everything
The clients I love most aren’t necessarily the ones with the cleanest homes—they’re the ones who communicate clearly. If you have a specific area that needs extra attention, tell us! If there’s something we did last time that you loved (or didn’t), let us know.
I had one client who would place Post-it notes in strategic locations around her house with specific requests: “Use special wood cleaner under sink on this table” or “Leave inside this closet alone today.” Simple, effective, and very useful.
We see your pets’ secrets
As a pet owner myself, I understand the difficulty of animal hair and accidents. Something you might not realize is that frequently we come across evidence of animal behavior that you might not be aware of.
Does your cat have a secret hiding place behind the couch where it has been coughing up hairballs? We are aware. Is your dog snuggling on the forbidden couch when you are at work? The hair trail is a giveaway. We are not here to gossip, but be aware—wink-wink.
The bathroom truth
Bathrooms are the most revealing area in your home and most often the most forgotten. Here is a simple fact: a five-minute daily tidy saves you hours of scrubbing in the future.
Men in residence? Check around the toilet base on a regular basis. No matter where their aim is going, physics and splatter are very real things that create a sanitizing nightmare in the long run.
Those wet towels balled up and sitting in a corner are mildew and stinky odor havens that are increasingly more difficult to remove from fabrics.
Final thoughts
Ultimately, we both want the same thing that you do: a clean and beautiful home that is a joy to live in. The most successful relationships are those where there is respect and open communication.
You don’t need to be a cleaning pro or have a clean-as-a-whistle home. Just being mindful of these few pain points makes a huge difference for your cleaning experts—and ultimately results in a better experience for everyone.
You are not alone. With us by your side, you can have a home that reflects and exudes authentic happiness and coziness in every corner of life.
