First-time clients often ask us: what should I do before the cleaning team arrives? The honest answer is 'not much' — but a few small steps help your crew put every minute into actual cleaning instead of working around obstacles. After four decades of cleaning homes in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and across the Peninsula, here's what we suggest.
Declutter, don't clean. There's no need to clean before the cleaners come — that's our job. But picking up loose items from floors, counters, and surfaces means we can dust and disinfect the surfaces themselves rather than organizing what's on them. Ten minutes of tidying translates directly into more detailed cleaning.
Point out your priorities. Every home has its challenging areas — the guest bath before in-laws visit, the kitchen after a week of cooking, the playroom. Tell your team what matters most on this visit. Our maids follow a full checklist regardless, but knowing your priorities lets us concentrate extra time where you'll notice it.
Plan for pets. We love them, and our eco-friendly products are safe for them — but a nervous dog or an escape-artist cat is happier settled in a quiet room or out on a walk during the visit. Let us know your pet's routine and we'll work around it.
Secure valuables and communicate access. Put away irreplaceable items for everyone's peace of mind, and let us know how you'd like entry handled — many of our long-term Palo Alto clients simply trust us with a routine, since the same crew arrives every time. That consistency is a big part of why families have stayed with us for 25 years and counting.
Finally, give feedback after the first visit. Your preferences become part of your home's cleaning routine, and each visit gets more dialed-in. Ready to schedule? Call American House Cleaning at (650) 222-0058 for a free home evaluation anywhere on the SF Peninsula — and enjoy 15% off your first service.