What to Expect From Your First Professional Cleaning

Hiring a professional cleaner for the first time feels weird. Is it awkward? Should you leave? Do you need to clean before they clean? We get these questions all the time, so here's the honest rundown.

Before the Cleaning

You don't need to deep clean before your cleaner arrives — that defeats the purpose. But doing a quick 10-minute pickup helps them be more efficient:

• ✓Put away personal items, dishes, and clothes
• ✓Clear countertops so they can actually clean the surfaces
• ✓Make sure they can access the bathroom and kitchen
• ✓Secure pets or let them know about any animals
• ✓Leave a note if there are specific areas you want them to focus on

What Happens During the Cleaning

A standard cleaning covers kitchen, bathrooms, dusting, vacuuming, and mopping. The first visit always takes longer because there's built-up grime that doesn't exist once you're on a regular schedule. Don't be surprised if a first-time cleaning takes 3–4 hours for a 1-bedroom when it'll take 2 hours on the second visit.

Most people leave their apartment while the cleaner works. You don't have to — some people work from home and that's totally fine — but it's generally easier for everyone.

After the Cleaning

Walk through your apartment and check the work. If something was missed, say so — good cleaning services want to know so they can fix it. The first clean is also about learning your space, so the second and third visits get progressively better as your cleaner learns your apartment's quirks.

Payment is usually handled beforehand or at the time of service. Tips are appreciated but not required — typically 15–20% for a job well done.

The Biggest Surprise

Most first-time clients tell us the same thing: "I didn't realize how much I was living with." When someone else cleans your space, you notice things you'd been blind to — the dusty baseboards, the grimy light switches, the film on the bathroom mirror. It's a little humbling, honestly. But that's exactly why it's worth it. See our transparent pricing and customer reviews to see what to expect.