The day before a house cleaning, the most useful thing you can do is clear the surfaces: floors, counters and the bathroom vanity. You do not need to pre-clean anything. The rest is information: how the cleaners get in, where the pets will be, and which rooms or materials need special attention.
Put things away so the surfaces underneath can be cleaned
A cleaner can wipe a counter only where nothing is standing on it, and vacuum a floor only where nothing is lying on it. That is why the page for PavMa's regular house cleaning asks you to pick up personal belongings beforehand wherever it is practical.
Time spent lifting and sorting your belongings is time not spent on the kitchen, bathrooms and floors. Half an hour the evening before usually covers the whole home:
- Floors: shoes, laundry, toys, bags and phone chargers off the floor, so every room can be vacuumed and mopped edge to edge.
- Kitchen counters: mail, groceries and small items back in their places. Appliances you use daily can stay.
- The sink: washing dishes is not on the regular checklist, and a sink full of them cannot itself be cleaned, so run the dishwasher or wash them the night before.
- Bathroom vanity and tub edge: toothbrushes, razors, makeup and bottles into a drawer or a basket, so the sink, faucet and the tub surround can be reached.
- Beds: making beds is done on request, so say if you want it when you book.
- Valuables and papers: jewellery, cash, medication and private documents in a drawer or a closed room, so nobody has to move them.
None of this has to be perfect. The aim is to give the cleaners open surfaces, not to tidy to a standard.
Six details to pass on when you book
Most of what makes a visit go well is settled before anyone arrives. PavMa's quote is based on the service, the size and condition of the home and the extras you choose, and the scope is confirmed before the cleaning begins, so these details belong in the quote request rather than in a note left on the counter.
| Mention | What it changes on the day |
|---|---|
| Parking and how to get in | Visitor parking, a buzzer code, a concierge desk or a lockbox decide whether the visit starts on time or with a phone call from the lobby. |
| Pets in the home | Access to rooms, extra time for pet hair, and the products used around animals are planned in advance. |
| Delicate materials | Natural stone, unsealed wood, antiques or a surface that is already damaged can be left alone or treated with care if the cleaners know about it. |
| Allergies and product preferences | PavMa uses professional equipment and safe cleaning products, with family- and pet-conscious products where appropriate; a preference stated up front is part of the setup. |
| Rooms that come first | If guests arrive in the evening, the kitchen and the guest bathroom can be done before the bedrooms. |
| Extras you want | Inside the oven, inside the fridge, inside cabinets, interior windows, a finished basement, pet hair and wet-wiped blinds are optional add-ons that take their own time. |
If you are not sure how much work a room needs, photos sent on WhatsApp help choose the service and prepare the free estimate.
Access, pets and add-ons each need a plan before the morning
Three things cannot be improvised at the door, and each one is easier to arrange the day before.
If you will not be home
You do not need to be there. Share the access instructions when you book, and PavMa confirms the arrangement with you before the visit. The evening before, check that whatever you agreed on is in place: the key where you said it would be, the concierge told that cleaners are expected, the alarm code or the instruction to leave it off.
If a dog or cat will be in the home
Decide which room the animal will spend the visit in, or whether it will be out with you. A closed door is easier for everyone than a dog following the vacuum from room to room. If that room should still be cleaned, say so, and say how the animal reacts to strangers.
If you added an appliance or cabinet interior
An inside-fridge clean goes faster when the shelves are not packed to the door, so it is worth using up or throwing out old food the night before. For inside cabinets, ask when you book how emptying the shelves will be handled, because a shelf can only be wiped once it is clear.
On the morning of the visit, five quick checks
- Pets settled in the room or crate you planned, with water.
- Entry ready as arranged: key, code, concierge or your own phone switched on.
- A last look at the counters and floors for anything that came back out overnight, such as breakfast dishes or a gym bag.
- Any change written down. If a room is now off-limits or a new spill needs attention, a short note or a text before the visit keeps the plan current.
- If you stay home, pick one room to work in and move to another when the cleaners reach it.
After the cleaners leave, walk through each room
A quick walk-through while the visit is fresh is the simplest way to spot anything that was skipped. If something was missed, contact PavMa as soon as possible, and they will work with you to make it right. The same walk-through tells you what to change in your notes for the next visit, whether that is a one-time clean or a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly routine.
To book, use the house-cleaning quote form and add the details from the table above, or call 437-889-1213. If the home has not been cleaned in a while, compare the checklists for deep cleaning first.
Getting the home ready for a cleaning visit
Do I need to clean before the cleaners come?
No. What helps is clearing personal items off floors and counters, so the cleaners can reach the surfaces underneath and spend the visit cleaning them. There is no need to wipe, scrub or vacuum anything yourself beforehand.
Should I wash the dishes before a regular cleaning?
Yes, if you can. Washing dishes is not part of PavMa's regular house-cleaning checklist, which covers the kitchen sink and faucet, countertops, cabinet and appliance exteriors and the cooktop. A sink that is empty can be cleaned properly.
Do I have to be home during the cleaning?
Not necessarily. Share your access instructions when you book, whether that is a key, a code or a concierge desk, and PavMa confirms the arrangement with you before the visit. Check the evening before that everything you agreed on is in place.
What should I do with my pets while the home is cleaned?
Mention them when you request the quote so access, pet hair and product preferences can be planned. On the day, many owners keep the animal in one closed room or take it out, and tell the cleaners whether that room still needs cleaning.
