Booking your first professional house cleaning in Peterborough can leave you wondering how much to do before the appointment. Should you tidy every room? Leave instructions? Stay home?
You do not need to clean the house first. The most useful preparation is to make the areas you want cleaned accessible and explain your priorities.
Clear a little space
Put away loose clothing, toys, paperwork and other personal items where practical. Clear the bathroom counter and move dishes out of the kitchen sink if those areas are part of your booking.
Aim to give the team access to the surfaces and floors on your task list. Leave the scrubbing and dusting for the appointment. If clutter is difficult to manage, mention it when arranging the service so expectations are clear.
Choose the areas that matter most
Think about what would make the biggest difference to you. That might be the kitchen and bathrooms, floors throughout the home or a guest room before visitors arrive.
Write a short list of your top priorities and any areas you want left alone. If you have a time or budget limit, discuss what should come first before the visit. Cleaning is billed by the hour, and the final bill reflects the actual cleaning time, which may differ from the estimate.
Confirm what your booking includes
Check the agreed cleaning scope before the visit. Our house cleaning service page gives examples of household tasks, but your appointment should have its own agreed priorities.
If you have an additional request, such as cleaning inside an appliance or cupboard, ask about it in advance. Confirm whether it can be included and whether the booking needs to change. Mention significant buildup when requesting your estimate.
Share surface and product instructions
Koala brings cleaning supplies and equipment. Tell us before the appointment about product preferences, surfaces with specific care instructions, loose fixtures or areas that should not be touched. Keep any relevant manufacturer's instructions handy.
Put away jewellery, important documents and small sentimental items so there is no uncertainty about handling them.
Arrange access and a plan for pets
We recommend being home for the first visit so you can show us around and explain your priorities. If you cannot be there, agree on clear entry instructions and the work to be completed. Confirm how the team can reach you during the appointment.
For an apartment or condo, mention parking arrangements and building access requirements. Tell us about pets before the visit and agree on arrangements while cleaning is underway. Flag rooms that need to stay closed or household routines we should know about.
Check the details before cleaning day
- Confirm the appointment time and agreed tasks.
- Make the surfaces and floors on your list accessible.
- Share any entry, pet or special care instructions.
- Review payment arrangements. Koala accepts debit or credit card through Square only, at the time of cleaning or prepaid before booking.
If you need to cancel, please give at least 24 hours' notice. Cancellations with less notice may incur a fee equal to one hour of cleaning at the rate for your booking. We may waive the fee at our discretion on a case by case basis. See our cleaning FAQs for the full policy and other visit details.
To arrange your first cleaning, request a quote with your location, approximate home size, bedroom and bathroom count, preferred date and priorities. These details help us discuss the work and check appointment availability.