Before the Clean: How to Prepare
You don't need to clean before your cleaner arrives — that's the entire point of hiring one. But a few minutes of preparation makes a significant difference in what the team can accomplish.
Tidy the clutter, don't clean it
Put away items that are on counters, floors, and furniture — mail stacks, dishes, clothes. Your cleaning team is trained to clean surfaces, not to sort or organize your belongings. Clutter covering a surface means that surface doesn't get cleaned. Five minutes of decluttering before the team arrives makes the difference between a partial clean and a full one.
Move valuables or fragile items out of the way
Professional cleaners are trained to work carefully around objects, but removing irreplaceable or very fragile items from surfaces eliminates risk entirely. This isn't about trust — it's about sensible preparation. Put them in a drawer or closet before the team arrives.
Decide on access — and communicate it clearly
Will you be home? Will you leave a key with a doorman? Is there a lockbox code? Confirm the access method with your cleaning company the day before. Ambiguity around access is the #1 cause of scheduling problems on first-time bookings. A clear plan — "lockbox code is 4821, I'll be at work, text me when done" — means the team can start on time and you don't need to interrupt your day.
Note any specific priorities or sensitivities
If there's a room that needs extra attention, a surface that's particularly delicate, or a product you don't want used (fragrance-free for allergies, no bleach around pets), communicate this before the team arrives — not during. Most booking confirmations include a notes field. Use it.
Secure your pets
If you have pets, put them in a room that won't be cleaned, or make arrangements for them to be out of the apartment. Some pets are fine with strangers in the home; others aren't. A stressed dog or cat is stressful for your cleaning team and slows things down. Letting your cleaning company know about pets in advance also helps them bring appropriate products if you requested pet-safe cleaning.
During the Clean: What Your Team Is Doing
A professional cleaning follows a structured room-by-room process. Teams typically start with the bathroom (the most intensive area), move through bedrooms, then tackle the kitchen and living spaces last. This order minimizes cross-contamination — bathroom cleaning tools never go near kitchen surfaces.
- Toilet scrubbed inside and outside, sanitized
- Shower and tub scrubbed, grout cleaned
- Sink, faucets, and fixtures wiped and shined
- Mirror cleaned streak-free
- Floor mopped, baseboards wiped
- Trash emptied
- All surfaces dusted including headboard and nightstands
- Mirrors wiped
- Floor vacuumed or mopped
- Under the bed vacuumed
- Light switches and door handles wiped
- Countertops cleared, wiped, and sanitized
- Stovetop and hood cleaned
- Microwave cleaned inside and out
- Sink cleaned and faucet shined
- Cabinet fronts wiped
- Floor swept and mopped
- All surfaces and shelves dusted
- Upholstery vacuumed
- Rugs vacuumed, hard floors mopped
- Window sills dusted
- Light switches and handles wiped
- Trash emptied
Standard cleaning does not include: inside oven, inside refrigerator, interior window washing, laundry, or organizing personal items. These are deep-clean add-ons. If you want them covered, request them at booking — they add time and cost accordingly.
After the Clean: What Good Results Look Like
When a professional clean is done correctly, the difference is immediately obvious — but knowing what to look for helps you evaluate the results objectively and communicate any issues clearly.
Bathroom: no water spots, no soap scum, toilet bowl visibly clean
Faucets and fixtures should shine, not just be wiped. The mirror should be streak-free. The toilet should smell neutral. If there's visible limescale still on the faucet or ring still in the toilet bowl, flag it.
Kitchen: counters clear and sanitized, no grease on stovetop
Run your hand along the back edge of the counter near the stovetop — no sticky film. Stainless steel sinks should have no water marks. Cabinet fronts near the stove should be wiped clean.
Floors: no visible dust or hair, corners clean
Check corners and under furniture — these are the areas most often skipped by lower-quality services. On hardwood, there should be no streaks or cleaner residue. On tile, grout lines should be the same tone throughout.
Surfaces: dust-free, not just wiped around objects
Shelves and furniture should be dust-free even where items were moved, not just wiped in the open spaces between them. Run a finger along the top of a door frame or window ledge — a thorough clean gets these too.
Smell: neutral and fresh, not perfumed
A clean apartment should smell neutral — clean air, not air freshener. Strong artificial fragrance is sometimes used to mask areas that weren't properly cleaned. If your apartment smells heavily of artificial products but something still looks off, check the areas that are usually covered by scent.
Common First-Timer Concerns, Answered
These are the questions we hear most often from clients booking their first professional clean.
"Do I need to be home?"
No — and most clients aren't. The majority of TotalClean bookings happen while the client is at work. You'll receive a message when the team arrives and a completion notification when the clean is done. If you'd rather be home the first time to meet the team and see the process, that's completely fine too.
"What about my pets?"
Let us know about pets at booking. Most dogs and cats do fine with a professional cleaning team — the team is used to working around animals. If your pet is anxious with strangers, putting them in a single room or crating them for the duration is the simplest solution. All TotalClean products are pet-safe as standard.
"What if I have a very messy apartment?"
There's no such thing as too messy for a professional clean — but accuracy of description matters. If your apartment has significant buildup (hasn't been cleaned in months, or has post-party level mess), mention this when booking. It affects how long the clean takes. An honest description means an accurate quote and an accurate time estimate, not a judgement.
"Can I give specific instructions?"
Yes — use the notes field at booking. Common requests include: skip a specific room, pay extra attention to the kitchen, use only fragrance-free products, leave the oven alone, don't move the desk. The more clearly you communicate your priorities before the clean, the better the result. Notes are shared with the team before arrival.
"What if something goes wrong?"
TotalClean is fully insured and bonded. If something is damaged, contact us immediately with a photo — our insurance process covers it. If an area was missed or doesn't meet the standard, contact us within 48 hours and we'll return to re-clean it at no charge. No negotiation, no back-and-forth — that's the guarantee.
First Clean vs Recurring Cleans: Why the First One Takes Longer
If you're booking recurring service, expect the first clean to take noticeably longer than subsequent visits — and cost slightly more. This is normal and not a bait-and-switch.
The first clean starts from whatever condition your apartment is currently in. Bathrooms have mineral buildup. Stovetops have accumulated grease. Corners have dust that hasn't been touched in months. The team has to address all of this before they can establish the baseline that recurring cleans maintain.
From the second visit onward, the team is maintaining that clean baseline — not rebuilding it from scratch. A recurring clean on a maintained apartment takes 30–60% less time than the initial clean. The price reflects this.
This is why recurring service is often better value than booking one-time cleans repeatedly — you get more efficient visits each time because the apartment stays at a higher baseline between cleans.
First Cleaning FAQ
Do I need to clean before the cleaning service arrives?
No. You don't need to clean — but tidying helps. Put away clutter, get dishes off counters, move laundry off the bathroom floor. Your cleaners are there to clean surfaces, not organize your belongings. Five minutes of decluttering makes a real difference in what the team can cover.
Do I need to be home during the cleaning?
No. Most clients leave a key with the doorman, use a lockbox, or provide a smart lock code. You'll get a notification when the team arrives and when the clean is complete. If you prefer to be home for the first visit, that's fine — but it's not required.
Why does the first cleaning take longer than later visits?
The first clean starts from your apartment's current baseline — however much buildup exists. Subsequent cleans maintain the clean standard already established, which takes significantly less time. This is normal and expected, not a problem with the service.
What if I'm not satisfied with the first cleaning?
Contact TotalClean within 48 hours of your appointment. We'll return and re-clean any area you flag at no charge — no questions asked. This guarantee applies to every booking, including the first one.
TotalClean Solutions — Brooklyn's Top-Rated Cleaning Service
4.9 stars · 500+ Brooklyn apartments cleaned since 2021. Fixed prices, re-clean guarantee, insured and bonded. Same-day and next-day availability across all Brooklyn neighborhoods.