The first visit with a recurring cleaning service sets the tone for the relationship. Five minutes of preparation makes the visit go better and starts you off on the right foot. Here's the checklist.
The day before
- Confirm the visit time (or check the email confirmation)
- Make sure you have a plan for entry — will you be home? Lockbox? Hidden key?
- Quick tidy of floors and counters — not actual cleaning, just removing clutter
- Decide what's off-limits (a closet, a specific room, etc.)
The morning of
- Run the dishwasher if dishes are in the sink (most services don't do dishes by default)
- Take out trash if cans are overflowing
- Secure pets (crate, separate room, or backyard for the visit)
- If you'll be home, do a 5-minute walkthrough with the cleaner when they arrive
During the visit
- Don't hover. Let them work.
- If you have questions, save them for the end
- Don't apologize for the state of the home — they've seen worse
After the visit
- Walk through within 24 hours and check spots that matter to you
- Send specific, kind feedback to the service — what was great, what to adjust for next time
- Note any preferences you want them to remember (the way you fold towels, where you keep the dog's water, etc.)
Before the second visit
If anything from the first visit needed adjustment, confirm with the service that the cleaner has been briefed. Don't assume — verify. After visit 2 or 3, the relationship locks in and adjustments get fewer.
Want help with this? Learn more about recurring cleaning from River Trail Cleaning — flat-rate pricing across Greater Little Rock and Central Arkansas.