January 16, 2026Cleaning Tips

Preparing Your Home for Professional Cleaners: A Southern Maine Homeowner's Guide

You've made the smart decision to hire a professional cleaning service for your Southern Maine home. Whether it's your first appointment or you're establishing a regular cleaning schedule, a little preparation goes a long way in helping your cleaners work efficiently and deliver exceptional results.

At Portside Cleaning, we serve homeowners throughout Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Arundel, and the surrounding communities. Over the years, we've learned what helps us provide the best possible service—and we're sharing those insights with you.

Why Preparation Matters

Professional cleaners are skilled at transforming your home, but they can only clean what they can access. When you prepare your space before your appointment, you're setting the stage for a more thorough, efficient cleaning. This benefits everyone: your cleaners can focus on actual cleaning rather than tidying, and you receive better value for your investment.

According to industry trends for 2026, the demand for professional cleaning services continues to grow as busy families seek ways to reclaim their time. With the cleaning services market projected to reach $330 billion globally by year's end, more homeowners than ever are discovering the convenience of professional help.

The Day Before Your Cleaning Appointment

Declutter High-Traffic Areas

Professional cleaners consistently emphasize one point: clutter slows everything down. Before your appointment, spend 15-20 minutes picking up items that don't belong on surfaces:

Living room: Gather toys, books, magazines, and blankets
Kitchen: Clear countertops of mail, small appliances you don't use daily, and miscellaneous items
Bedrooms: Put away clothes, personal items, and anything on nightstands that could be knocked over
Bathrooms: Remove personal toiletries from the shower and counters if you prefer

This doesn't mean your home needs to be spotless—that's why you're hiring professionals. Simply ensure surfaces and floors are accessible.

Secure Valuables and Fragile Items

While professional cleaning companies like ours are fully insured and employ trustworthy staff, it's always wise to:

Store jewelry, cash, and important documents out of sight
Move fragile heirlooms or antiques to a safe location
Secure any items with sentimental value that could be accidentally damaged

This protects your belongings and gives your cleaning team peace of mind as they work.

Communicate Your Priorities

Share Special Instructions

Every home is unique, and yours likely has specific needs. Before your deep cleaning or regular maintenance visit, consider sharing:

Problem areas: That stubborn soap scum in the master bath, the grease buildup behind the stove
Off-limits zones: A home office where papers shouldn't be disturbed, a child's room arranged just so
Product sensitivities: Allergies to certain fragrances or preferences for eco-friendly products
Pet information: Where your furry family members will be during the cleaning

Clear communication helps your cleaning team prioritize their time and meet your expectations.

Point Out Coastal Maine Challenges

Living near the coast in Southern Maine presents unique cleaning challenges that are good to mention:

Salt residue on windows and entryways
Sand accumulation in specific areas, especially during beach season
Humidity concerns in bathrooms or basements
Tracked-in mud from our sometimes unpredictable New England weather

Your cleaners will appreciate knowing about these issues so they can address them properly. For floors that take a beating from salt, sand, and moisture, professional tile and floor cleaning can restore their original beauty.

Morning of Your Appointment

Do a Quick Walkthrough

About 30 minutes before your cleaning team arrives:

Pick up any items that accumulated overnight
Make sure beds are stripped if you want fresh sheets put on (or leave clean linens out)
Ensure all areas to be cleaned are accessible
Put dirty dishes in the dishwasher or wash them

Prepare Your Pets

Our team loves animals, but for everyone's safety and comfort:

Secure dogs in a crate, closed room, or yard during the cleaning
Keep cats confined to one area if they're anxious around strangers
Make sure litter boxes are accessible for cleaning
Inform cleaners about any pet-related areas that need special attention

Clear a Path

Especially important during Maine winters:

Make sure your entryway is clear for cleaners carrying supplies
If you have a mudroom, keep it organized so cleaners can access it
In icy conditions, ensure walkways are salted and safe

What Professional Cleaners Handle (and What They Typically Don't)

Understanding what's included in your service helps set realistic expectations:

Standard Cleaning Services Usually Include:

Dusting all accessible surfaces
Vacuuming and mopping floors
Cleaning and sanitizing bathrooms
Kitchen surface cleaning and appliance exteriors
Emptying trash cans
Making beds (with existing linens)

Services Often Requiring Special Requests:

Inside oven and refrigerator cleaning
Window interior cleaning
Laundry and folding
Organizing closets or drawers
Moving heavy furniture
Cleaning inside cabinets

When booking your appointment, discuss exactly what you need. If you require a more comprehensive service, ask about our specialized cleaning options.

Tips for Regular Cleaning Clients

If you've scheduled recurring service—weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly—here are ways to maintain your home between visits:

Daily Habits That Help

Wipe down kitchen counters after cooking
Squeegee shower walls after use to prevent buildup
Deal with spills immediately
Put items back where they belong

Weekly Maintenance

Quick bathroom surface wipe-downs
Spot-clean high-traffic floor areas
Manage clutter before it accumulates

These simple practices help your professional cleaners focus on deeper cleaning tasks, giving you better results overall.

Working with Your Cleaning Team

Building a Relationship

The best cleaning experiences come from good communication. Don't hesitate to:

Provide feedback after each visit
Adjust your cleaning plan as needs change
Ask questions about products or techniques
Request the same cleaner for consistency when possible

Home Access Considerations

If you won't be home during cleaning:

Arrange key exchange or smart lock access
Provide alarm codes and instructions
Leave your phone number for any questions
Specify how you'd like the team to secure the home when finished

Ready to Experience Professional Cleaning?

Preparing your home doesn't require hours of work—just thoughtful attention to a few details. When you take these simple steps, your cleaning team can focus entirely on making your Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, or Arundel home sparkle.

At Portside Cleaning, we're committed to providing Southern Maine homeowners with reliable, thorough cleaning services tailored to your needs. Our locally-based team understands the unique challenges of coastal living and treats every home with care.

Ready to reclaim your weekends? Contact us today for a free estimate and discover why your neighbors trust Portside Cleaning with their homes.

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