Hiring a professional cleaner can feel like giving your home a mini makeover every time they visit. With spotless floors, fresh-smelling rooms, and everything in its right place, it’s no wonder people look forward to their cleaning appointments. Just glance at some My Maid Service of Cincinnati reviews, and you’ll see how much of a difference a great cleaning service can make. But while most homeowners are thrilled to delegate the chores, there’s often a learning curve when it comes to what to request – and what’s better left unsaid. If you’ve ever wondered what’s okay to ask your house cleaner (and what isn’t), you’re not alone.
Let’s dig into the top three requests people commonly make – and explore a few things to avoid if you want a long, happy relationship with your cleaning team.
1. “Can You Pay Special Attention to the Kitchen?”
The kitchen is the heart of the home – and a magnet for mess.
Among the most popular requests house cleaners receive is to focus extra effort on the kitchen. It makes sense. Between splattered stovetops, sticky counters, and crumbs hiding in every corner, this room tends to wear the scars of daily life more visibly than others.
Professional cleaners know the kitchen is a high-priority zone and often give it more time than any other room. But if you’re hosting guests or recently did a big cooking project, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask your cleaner to spend a few extra minutes here. Whether it’s degreasing the range hood, sanitizing cutting boards, or freshening up the garbage disposal, most cleaning professionals will be happy to oblige.
Fun fact: The average kitchen sponge contains more bacteria than a toilet seat. That’s one reason professional cleaners often replace or disinfect sponges and cloths regularly during visits.
2. “Would You Mind Doing the Inside of the Fridge or Oven?”
Deep cleaning requests are a close second on the list.
While many house cleaning services include surface cleaning of appliances, the inside of ovens and fridges usually require more time and elbow grease. Homeowners frequently ask for this as an add-on service – especially around the holidays, before a big family event, or during a spring-cleaning blitz.
The good news? Most professional cleaning services are happy to do it – just not on the fly. These deeper cleans usually require specific tools and more time, so it’s always best to schedule them in advance. If you spring it on your cleaner when they arrive, they may not have the time or supplies to do a proper job.
Pro tip: Cleaning your oven regularly can help your food cook more evenly. Grease buildup can mess with temperature distribution and even cause smoke.
3. “Can You Tidy Up the Kids’ Playroom?”
Where chaos reigns, professional cleaners often bring peace.
If you have kids, you know how quickly a tidy playroom can turn into a toy tornado. It’s no surprise that parents often ask their cleaners to help manage the madness. While most cleaning pros are happy to vacuum the carpet and dust the shelves, organizing Lego sets or separating puzzle pieces may not fall under their job description.
Still, many cleaners will help with general tidying – stacking books, putting toys in bins, or folding blankets – if it’s part of your agreed-upon service. Want something more in-depth, like full toy sorting or label-making? That might be a job for a professional organizer.
Did you know? On average, kids under five spend more than four hours a day playing – and playrooms can rack up some serious grime. That makes regular cleaning not just a matter of tidiness, but health, too.
What Not to Ask Your Cleaner (Even If You’re Tempted)
While most cleaners are flexible, there are a few things that cross the line.
- Personal errands: Asking your cleaner to grab groceries or pick up dry cleaning may seem harmless, but it blurs professional boundaries. They’re there to clean—not to act as a personal assistant.
- Heavy lifting: Moving furniture, flipping mattresses, or carrying boxes up and down stairs can lead to injury. Most cleaning agreements exclude tasks that involve physical strain or safety risks.
- Watching pets or children: Even if your cleaner adores animals or is great with kids, it’s not part of their job to pet-sit or babysit. Asking them to do so can cause liability issues and is generally considered inappropriate.
Respect Builds the Best Clean
Professional cleaning is about more than a sparkling home – it’s about trust, communication, and mutual respect. As the team at Orchid Maids of New London, CT can attest, when clients are clear, polite, and appreciative, cleaners are more likely to go above and beyond. After all, everyone likes to feel valued.
So the next time your cleaner arrives, don’t hesitate to ask for that extra fridge scrub or a little more love in the playroom – just make sure to do it with kindness (and maybe a smile). A good cleaner can transform your home, but a great relationship with one? That transforms your whole week.
