Before the Cleaner Comes
Hide the dishes in the oven, shove the clutter into closets, and pray. The tongue-in-cheek guide to preparing for your cleaning service — with an actual checklist so they can clean.
Updated: April 2026 · 5 min read
You've booked the cleaner. Congratulations — you're already winning at adulting. But now there's an uncomfortable 24 hours between now and their arrival, and your home looks like a tornado had a love affair with a Amazon delivery truck.
Here's the truth: our cleaners are professionals. They've walked into homes that look like a disaster movie, finished the job, and left those same homes looking like a magazine spread. But their time is your money — and every minute they spend navigating around your stuff is a minute they're not scrubbing grout.
This guide is about the 15% of cleaning prep that makes the other 85% way more effective. We're not here to make you feel bad. We're here to help you get your money's worth.
Stop reading this and book a cleaner already
Indy Cleaners serves Hamilton County, Indiana — same-week availability. We bring the supplies. You provide the parking directions.
or text us at 317-483-1400
✅Actually Helpful Things to Do Before We Arrive
- Gather up the obvious trash — pizza boxes, Amazon packaging, that suspicious mug from last Tuesday
- Do a 60-second clutter sweep: close bathroom cabinet doors, gather visible laundry
- Move cars out of the garage so the cleaner can actually get to the floors
- If you have pets, do a quick litter box area cleanup — not because we're judging, but because the cleaner needs functional floor access
- Point out any areas you want extra attention — the stove after a big cooking weekend, the grout behind the toilet
- If anything is broken or needs a specific product, leave a sticky note — don't assume clairvoyance
- Put away any valuables or personal documents on open surfaces
- Make sure there's a parking spot clearly available — the cleaner is coming from Hamilton County too
🤯Things People Actually Leave Lying Around
We promised honesty. Here it is. These are real things our cleaners have reported finding in clients' homes. No names. No addresses. Just the receipts.
Dishes... everywhere. The sink. The counters. The coffee table. Once, inside the bathroom sink.
Underwear on the bathroom floor. It's fine. We clean. But maybe.
The dog's toys. All 47 of them. In a pile. In the middle of the living room.
That weird stain on the couch that you've been meaning to 'deal with' for three weeks
Mail. So much mail. Opened, unopened, sorted into 'sort later' stacks everywhere
Your child's artwork scattered across every horizontal surface
A litter of protein shake bottles next to the couch. The blender is still there too.
Socks. Just socks. In random rooms. No explanation.
The bathroom scale. Weighing yourself in front of a stranger is awkward for everyone.
Used q-tips on the nightstand. We'd like to unsee this.
A heating pad on the bed that you fell asleep in. Still plugged in.
To be clear: if any of this is you, we don't care. We've seen worse. But if you want us to actually clean the floors, maybe do a 5-minute pickup first.
🗒️The Pre-Clean Checklist (10 Minutes, Max)
- Start a 'clutter bowl' — one basket or bag, walk through each room, toss in loose items. Put the bowl in a closet afterward.
- Run the dishwasher so it's empty when the cleaner arrives
- Take out the trash if it's more than half full
- Strip the beds if you want the cleaner to change sheets (let us know in advance)
- Close the bathroom cabinet doors
- Do a 2-minute sweep of the bathroom floor — no, it won't be perfect, but it helps
- Put sensitive documents away (just the obvious ones — bank statements, medical stuff)
- Clear the kitchen counters enough that the cleaner can wipe them down
- Leave the heat or AC on a normal setting — we need to be comfortable too
- Text us any special instructions the night before — specific products, problem areas, gate codes
Serving Hamilton County, Indiana — Available Nationwide
You do the pre-clean. We do the rest.
Book a recurring clean and we'll handle every visit from there. All you have to do is the 10-minute pre-clean and text us if you need anything special.
or text us at 317-483-1400
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need to pick up before the cleaner comes?
Ideally yes — the cleaner is here to clean, not organize your life. If every surface has stuff on it, they can't clean those surfaces. A 15-minute pickup the night before goes a long way.
Is it embarrassing to have people see my mess?
Our cleaners have seen it all. The dishes in the oven (yes, we know). The 'chair chair' situation in the living room. The kitchen floor that hasn't been mopped since the Super Bowl. We promise: we've seen worse, and we're not here to judge.
What if I can't pick up beforehand?
Let us know when booking! We can do a light pickup pass first, then clean — it takes a bit longer but we'll get to everything. Just know you'll be paying for that extra time.
Should I hide my valuables?
Not necessary, but go ahead and put away anything personal. We carry insurance and our cleaners are background-checked. But we get it — just do the obvious.
Do I need to provide cleaning supplies?
No. We bring our own professional-grade cleaning products. If you have specific products you prefer (eco-friendly, fragrance-free, something for delicate surfaces), just leave them out and we'll use those.