Preparing for Your First Cleaner Visit: A Practical Checklist
Published 29 October 2026 ยท 4 min read
Short answer
Agree a priority list and who supplies products, sort out access, settle pets, put valuables and private things away, and do a quick tidy so the time goes on cleaning. Be home at the start to walk through the home, and give feedback after.
Before the first visit, agree what matters most and who supplies products, sort out access and pets, put away valuables, and do a quick tidy so the cleaner's time goes on cleaning. Then be home at the start to walk them round.
A little preparation makes a big difference to the first clean, and the first clean sets the tone for the whole arrangement.
A week before: agree the basics
Confirm these in writing, by email or text:
- Date, start time and number of hours
- The price, and how and when you pay
- Your priority list, in order
- Who supplies products and equipment
- How the cleaner gets in, and the alarm if you have one
- Pets, allergies and any products to avoid
- Parking, if it is tight on your road or estate
Our cleaning brief builder puts most of this into one message. If you are still choosing, see how to choose a house cleaner.
If you are employing the cleaner directly rather than using a company or self-employed cleaner, you also need to give them core written terms within five days of starting, including duties, pay and expected hours. See domestic worker rights in Ireland.
Write a priority list
A first visit may not cover everything, especially in a home that has not been cleaned professionally in a while. A short ordered list makes sure the important jobs get done:
- Kitchen: counters, hob, sink, appliance fronts
- Bathroom: toilet, shower or bath, sink, mirror
- Floors throughout: hoover and mop
- Dusting in the living room and bedrooms
- Beds changed (if you want this, say so)
- Extras if there is time: inside the microwave, skirting boards, glass doors
Adjust the order to suit you. For what a standard visit usually covers, read what a regular house clean includes. For a realistic sense of how much fits in, see how long a house clean takes.
Products and equipment
Agree who supplies what. Arrangements vary: one Dublin provider's 2026 guide says customers supply products and equipment unless they buy an add-on, while other cleaners bring everything.
| If you supply | Have ready |
|---|---|
| Hoover | Working, emptied, with attachments |
| Mop and bucket | Clean mop head |
| Cloths | Microfibre cloths, laundered |
| Kitchen | Degreaser or multi-surface spray, washing-up liquid |
| Bathroom | Bathroom cleaner, toilet cleaner, limescale remover |
| Other | Glass cleaner, bin bags, rubber gloves |
A few notes:
- Allergies or asthma at home? The Asthma Society of Ireland recommends a HEPA-filter vacuum with good suction and damp-dusting surfaces.
- Microfibre cloths can remove dirt with water and reduce chemical use, but need laundering so they do not spread dirt between surfaces.
- Delicate surfaces. Tell the cleaner about natural stone, hardwood or special finishes. Vinegar, for example, can damage natural stone and hardwood finishes.
Store chemicals safely
If you leave products out for the cleaner, keep them together in one place, in their original labelled containers. The National Poisons Information Centre advises keeping chemicals out of children's reach and sight, ideally in a locked press, and never decanting cleaners into drinks bottles.
Never mix products. Bleach with ammonia, or bleach with acids such as vinegar and some toilet cleaners, can release toxic gases that damage the lungs. If you would rather the cleaner did not use bleach at all, say so.
The Poisons Information Centre's public line is 01 809 2166, 8am to 10pm every day. In an emergency, ring 112 or 999.
Pets
Tell the cleaner about pets before they arrive. Some people are allergic or nervous around dogs, and some animals hate the hoover.
- Keep pets in a closed room, a crate, or out for a walk during the clean
- Mention any rooms the pet must not get into, and doors to keep shut
- Ask which products the cleaner uses. Phenol-based disinfectants are particularly toxic to cats, and concentrated essential oils such as tea tree can be toxic to dogs and especially cats
- Keep pets and their bowls and toys off freshly cleaned floors for as long as the product label says
Valuables and private things
Put away cash, jewellery, passports, documents and medication. Close doors to rooms you do not want cleaned, and tell the cleaner which ones. This protects you both and avoids misunderstandings later.
The night before: a quick tidy
You are paying for cleaning, not tidying. A quick reset helps:
- Clothes and shoes off the floor
- Dishes into the dishwasher or stacked by the sink
- Kitchen counters and bathroom surfaces cleared
- Toys gathered into a box
- Bins emptied if they are full
- Clean bedding out, if you want beds changed
If your home is well past a quick tidy, that is fine. Our guide to cleaners for very messy homes explains how to get help without tidying first.
On the day
- Walk round together at the start. Show where products, the hoover, the bins and the stopcock are.
- Point out anything delicate: a temperamental shower, an antique table, a floor that marks easily.
- Show the toilet and the kettle and make clear the cleaner can help themselves.
- Say how to get in touch if they have a question while you are out.
- Then leave them to it. Hovering slows things down. Our guide to cleaner etiquette covers working from home during the clean.
Afterwards: check and give feedback
Walk round with your priority list. Was the hob degreased? The shower screen done? The floor mopped under the table? Then give feedback within a day or two, specific and kind: what was great, and what to change next time.
If something was not done that was on the list, raise it calmly. With a business, you are entitled to a service carried out with reasonable care and skill. See what to do if the clean was poor.
Once the first visit has gone well, you may want to think about giving your cleaner a key. Still looking? Browse house cleaners by county.
Questions people ask
Do I need to buy cleaning products before my cleaner arrives?
Ask first. Some cleaners and companies bring everything, while others expect you to provide products and a hoover. Agree it in writing so nobody turns up without what they need.
Should I be home for the first clean?
It helps to be there at the start to show the cleaner around, explain priorities and point out anything delicate. You do not need to stay for the whole visit.
What should I do with my dog or cat during the clean?
Tell the cleaner about pets before the visit. Some cleaners are allergic or nervous around dogs, and hoovers upset some animals, so a closed room, a walk or a crate during the clean often works best.
How do I make sure the cleaner focuses on what matters to me?
Write a short list of priorities in order, from most to least important. If time runs out, the jobs at the bottom wait for the next visit rather than the ones at the top.
