Not all cleaning needs fit neatly into “standard” or “deep.” Maybe you want the bathroom cleaned first, not the garage. Maybe your cat needs to stay in a closed room. Maybe you have a shelf with fragile things you don’t want anyone to touch. Tell your cleaning team about these things before they come. This post shows you how and what to mention.
Why Instructions Matter More Than You’d Think
A cleaning visit usually follows the same order: kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, common areas, floors. This routine works well for most homes. But every home has special needs. Maybe a room should not be touched. Maybe a pet needs to stay in one room. Maybe one surface needs different cleaning. Without telling your cleaner about these things, they just follow the basic routine. This means the things you care most about might get skipped.
The Best Ways to Leave Instructions
- When you book. If you know about a special request ahead of time — a fragile item, a room to skip, a specific area you want extra attention on — mention it at booking rather than waiting until cleaning day. This gives your cleaning team time to plan for it instead of adjusting on the fly.
- A written note on the day of the visit. A sticky note on the counter or kitchen table works well, especially if you won’t be home. Keep it short and specific: “Please skip the office today” is clearer than a long explanation.
- A text message. If you have a direct line of communication with your cleaner or the company, a quick text the morning of covers anything that came up at the last minute — a spill, a sick pet, a schedule change.
What’s Worth Flagging
- Fragile or sentimental items you’d rather your cleaner not move or handle directly.
- Pets — whether they need a closed door, are fine to be around, or get anxious with visitors in the house.
- Rooms to skip entirely, such as a home office mid-project or a room currently being used for storage during a move.
- Priority areas if your visit is shorter than usual or you have guests arriving and want specific rooms handled first.
- Anything recently repaired or freshly painted, where you’d want a gentler approach than standard cleaning products or techniques.
- Access details — a stubborn lock, a gate code that changed, a dog that needs to be let out first.
Keep It Specific, Not General
Vague instructions are harder to follow than clear ones. Say “Please be careful in the living room” and the cleaner might guess wrong. A better instruction is “The lamp on the side table is loose at the base – please don’t move it.” This tells them exactly what to do. Clear instructions mean they will do the job exactly how you want it.
If You’re a Recurring Client
If you get visits every week or every two weeks, create a list of standing requests. These are things that don’t change, like “skip the nursery closet” or “dog goes in the backyard during the visit.” Once you set these up, you only need to mention changes. This keeps communication simple.
The Bottom Line
A short, specific note is usually enough. Say which room to skip, which pet is inside, or which shelf to leave alone. Send it before the visit or leave it on the counter.
If you are often away when cleaning happens, see our guide on how to handle cleaning access when away, and how to prepare your home before cleaning. Book your next visit or call 571-350-0866 with special requests.