How to prepare your home for a cleaner

Before the first visit

• Tidy, do not clean. Clear benchtops, floors and bathroom surfaces so every surface can actually be cleaned.
• Put away valuables, cash, documents and medication. It protects everyone and avoids awkwardness.
• Decide what happens with pets: in another room, in the yard, or out with you. Mention them in the booking notes either way.
• Confirm access: parking, intercom, key safe or who will be home. Say it in the app message before the day.
• Check your products and equipment are ready for a regular clean, unless you chose the “cleaner brings everything” option. Deep and end of lease cleans include everything.
• Write your priorities in the booking notes so your cleaner can plan the hours.
• Make sure the hot water and power are on, and the vacuum has an empty bag or bin.
• Be contactable during the first visit, or there for the first five minutes, in case there are questions.

What to put in the booking notes

• Rooms to focus on, and rooms to skip
• Surfaces that need care: natural stone, oiled timber, induction cooktops, delicate finishes
• Products to use or avoid, including allergies and fragrance preferences
• Pets, and where they will be
• Where to find the vacuum, mop, bin liners and cleaning products
• Alarm codes, key safe codes or lockbox details, and where to leave the keys afterwards

Notes travel with the booking, so your cleaner reads them before they apply and again before they arrive. For anything that changes on the day, message them in the app.

How many hours should you book?

Every clean on Ousie has a 3 hours minimum. Many people book the minimum for a small apartment that is in reasonable shape and add time for each extra bedroom and bathroom, for a first clean, or when it has been a while. If it has been months since a proper clean, book a deep clean first and set up regular visits afterwards.

If your cleaner needs more time on the day, they ask in the app, and nothing is added unless you approve it. After the first visit you will know whether the hours were right, and you can adjust them for the next one.

On the day

• A five-minute walk-through on the first visit saves time later: point out the priorities and anything that needs care.
• Keep the conversation in the app so both of you have a record of what was agreed.
• Stay within the scope of the clean you booked. Outside windows, carpet steam cleaning and pest control are separate jobs.
• If something is not right, say so straight away in the app so it can be fixed while the cleaner is still there.
• If you chose cash when booking, have it ready for the end of the clean.

After the clean

• Walk through the home while it is fresh in your mind.
• Pay by card in the app or online, or in cash if that is what you chose.
• Leave an honest rating. It helps the next person choose, and it helps your cleaner.
• Liked the clean? A regular booking keeps the same cleaner coming back each visit.
• Any problem you could not resolve with your cleaner, contact Ousie.