We're CleanIt4u, a cleaning company working across Norfolk and the surrounding area, and we handle deep cleaning for homes of all sizes. A bit of preparation before we arrive makes a real difference to what we can reach, so here's how to prepare for deep cleaning without spending your whole weekend on it.
Why preparation matters
A deep clean is about surfaces, not belongings. We're scrubbing skirting boards, descaling taps, wiping inside cupboards, cleaning behind appliances and getting into the corners a weekly tidy never touches. If those surfaces are covered in post, laundry, toys or boxes, we end up moving your things around instead of cleaning.
Think of it this way: every minute spent shifting a pile of magazines is a minute not spent on the oven door. Clearing the decks first means the time goes where you want it.
What to do the day before
Clear the flat surfaces
Worktops, dining tables, coffee tables, bedside tables, window sills and the tops of chests of drawers. Take off anything that isn't fixed down and put it in a box or a spare room. We'll clean the surface properly and you can put things back afterwards. This is the single most useful thing you can do.
Pick things up off the floor
Shoes in the hallway, clothes on bedroom floors, toys in the living room, bins and boxes under desks. Floors get a lot of attention in a deep clean, so the clearer they are, the better the result. The same goes for bathroom floors — move the scales, the laundry basket and the bin out onto the landing.
Deal with the washing up
An empty sink and an empty draining board let us get at the taps, the plughole and the splashback. If the dishwasher's running when we arrive, that's fine, but try not to leave a full sink of soaking pans.
Strip the beds if you want them changed
If you'd like fresh bedding on, leave the clean sheets out on each bed and we'll know what you want. If you'd rather sort the beds yourself, that's absolutely fine too — just tell us when you book.
How to prepare for deep cleaning room by room
Kitchen
If you want the inside of the oven, fridge or freezer done, say so when you book and empty them beforehand. A fridge full of food can't be cleaned properly, and a freezer needs defrosting first — that's not something we can do on the day. Clear the worktops right back, including the toaster and kettle if you can, and empty the bin.
Bathrooms
Take shampoo bottles, razors and flannels out of the bath and shower. Clear the shelf above the sink. If there's a shower curtain you'd like taken down and washed, mention it. Point out any limescale that's been building up for a while — heavy scale may need a second treatment and it's better we know in advance.
Bedrooms
Clothes away, floors clear, bedside tables tidied. If you've got jewellery, watches, cash or anything valuable sitting out, put it somewhere safe. That's not a trust issue — it just means nobody has to think twice about moving it.
Living areas
Move small ornaments off shelves if you'd like the shelves wiped. Fragile or sentimental items are best boxed up or moved to a room we're not doing. Tell us about anything delicate that stays put, like a glass cabinet or a particular surface that needs a specific product.
Practical things to sort out
Access. Let us know how we're getting in — you'll be home, a key's with a neighbour, or there's a key safe with a code. If parking is tight where you are, a quick word about where to leave the van saves time.
Pets. Cats and dogs are welcome to be around, but tell us in advance so we're careful with doors and gates. If your pet gets stressed by vacuuming and strangers, a quiet room with the door shut usually works best.
Hot water and power. We need both. If the boiler's playing up or a socket's dead in a particular room, mention it.
Problem spots. Mould in a window corner, a stain on a carpet, a hob that hasn't been touched in months — point these out at the start rather than hoping we spot them. We'd much rather know.
Anything off limits. If there's a room you don't want entered, a surface that needs a particular cleaner, or something that's broken and shouldn't be moved, tell us before we start.
What you don't need to do
Don't clean before we arrive. People do it, and we understand why, but there's no need — we'd rather see the house as it actually is. Don't move heavy furniture either; leave that to us and we'll work out what's safe to shift.
You also don't need to supply anything unless you've agreed otherwise. If you have a product you want used on a particular floor or worktop, leave it out with a note.
Moving out rather than deep cleaning?
If you're preparing for a landlord inspection or handing keys back, an end of tenancy clean is a different job with different expectations — the property normally needs to be empty of furniture and belongings first. Have a look at our home cleaning services if you're not sure which one you need.
To book a deep clean or ask what's included, get in touch with CleanIt4u and we'll talk it through.