Video doorbells, hallway thermostats, and robot vacuums are now common in Northern Virginia homes. This doesn’t change what a cleaning visit is. But it does change how we work.
Why Smart Devices Need a Different Touch
Electronics and sensors need different cleaning than wood or tile. Water near a speaker, spray cleaner on a screen, or bumping a button can break things. The rule for smart devices is: less is more. Use a dry or barely damp cloth for dusting. Don’t spray directly. Don’t press buttons or screens unless they’re clearly made to be wiped.
What We’re Careful Around
Video doorbells and cameras are important to mention. Some people want to turn them off or cover them while we clean, for privacy. That’s your choice. Just tell us ahead of time. Touchscreens like smart thermostats or wall tablets get a dry or barely damp wipe only. Regular cleaners can damage the screen coating. Smart speakers and hubs should be dusted around, not wiped, because water near inside parts can cause problems.
Smart Locks and Entry
Many people now use smart locks or keypads instead of keys. This makes scheduling easier. We can use a temporary code for our cleaning time without you being home. If you have a smart lock, tell us how you want us to get in. We can use a code, a shared app, or you can unlock the door. This way there’s no confusion on cleaning day.
Robot Vacuums and Automated Devices
If you have a robot vacuum or mop on a schedule, pause it on cleaning day so it doesn’t turn on while we’re here. We don’t run, reprogram, or fix automatic devices. That’s not part of cleaning. But we can leave it where it’s docked and work around it if you tell us.
Talking to Us About Device-Specific Instructions
The easiest way with lots of smart devices is to send a quick note before your first visit. Tell us which devices to avoid, which ones we can dust, and where sensitive equipment is. Our guide on How to Prepare Your Home Before the Cleaning Team Arrives has more details.
What We Don’t Do
To be clear: we’re not electricians or tech people. We don’t fix, reprogram, reset, or take care of smart device settings or connections. Our job is to clean around them carefully, not to run or fix them. If a device needs technical help, that’s a different service.
Coordinating Access
If your smart home helps you let us in when you’re away for work, our post on How to Handle Cleaning Access When You’re Out of Town explains how.
If you have a device we should not touch, tell us when you book on the booking page, or call 571-350-0866 and we will add it to your account.