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If you have a house cleaner, whatever day that they come is the best day. But if you’re under the weather, work from home or don’t work at all, it can also be a conundrum — should you leave when the house cleaner comes? Or is it OK to stay?
Work set-ups have drastically changed in the last five or so years, with many folks working remotely, but ideally, you should leave the house. Not only can it make cleaning professionals’ jobs harder (tbh, you’re kind of in the way), no one likes someone hovering over them while they do their job. “If you can leave, that’s a better set-up,” notes Ryan Knoll, owner of Tidy Casa in Phoenix. “It’s easier for cleaners to work in an empty home.”
Of course, there are exceptions when leaving the house really isn’t possible and that’s OK, too. Here, Knoll and other experts offer insight on leaving when the house cleaner comes, and give advice for folks who need to stay.
Key takeaways
- It’s generally best to leave the house when cleaners arrive, as they can work faster, more thoroughly and without feeling like they’re in the way. An empty home also prevents dirt from being tracked around and allows access to all areas more efficiently.
- If you need to stay, it’s totally acceptable — but you should minimize disruption by staying in one area and coordinating around noisier tasks like vacuuming. Using headphones and keeping to a single room can help both you and the cleaners work smoothly.
- Being considerate is key: don’t hover, create new messes or schedule other workers at the same time. Respecting their space and workflow helps maintain a positive relationship and ensures the best results.
Should you leave when the house cleaner comes?
Most house cleaners agree, it’s best if you’re not home while they’re there. “We recommend clients leave the job site since it will be more difficult to clean with more people around,” explains Stanley Chen, owner of Berry Clean in Napa County, California. “This is especially true when vacuuming and mopping, because the more people that are present, the more dirt and dust has the potential of being tracked around, increasing the likelihood that we will need to reclean certain spots.”
Additionally, being there can make the cleaners feel intrusive. “We love our clients, but it’s much faster and easier when no one is home,” says Knoll. “That way, we can clean every spot without worrying about being in the way.”
All that being said, while it’s the preference, it’s not generally a deal-breaker if you have to be home. “Most of our cleaners don’t mind clients being there,” says Forrest Webber, owner of Bear Brothers Cleaning in Huntsville, Alabama. “We’ve only had one cleaner ask to do houses without people being present.”
“We love our clients, but it’s much faster and easier when no one is home. That way, we can clean every spot without worrying about being in the way.”
— Ryan Knoll, professional cleaner
What should you do if you stay when the cleaner is there?
Sometimes leaving isn’t feasible and cleaners get that. “If you need to stay, or have work to do in your home or office, that is totally fine! We can definitely work around clients, and we do it often,” says Chen, noting that it’s important to remember, cleaning isn’t always conducive to work tasks.
“There are certain things that can cause some ruckus, such as vacuuming or washing the dishes,” he says. “So we may need to coordinate with you to figure out when we can do those tasks.”
Tips for staying when the cleaner is there
If you’re going to stay, here’s what both Knoll and Webber recommend in order to have things go smoothly for all:
- Stay in one room so cleaners can work around you.
- Wear headphones if you’re on calls or in meetings.
- Confine yourself to one room until it’s time for the cleaner to tackle that space.
- If possible, go to a coffee shop to work for the time being.
“Sometimes it’s not possible for me to leave when the house cleaners come to my house,” explains Nicole DiLauri of Patterson, New Jersey. “I’ll need to be on a meeting right when they’re pulling up. When that happens, I just hole up in our basement, which is a space they usually don’t spend much time in. It’s not ideal for either of us, but we make it work.”
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What not to do when you’re home while cleaners are there
Here’s what to avoid doing if you’re at home while the house cleaners are there, according to Webber and Knoll:
- Don’t follow the cleaners around.
- Don’t leave stuff everywhere. “Clutter slows us down,” says Knoll.
- Don’t have movers or plumbers there at the same time.
- Don’t make a mess!
“You have to be considerate of other people’s work,” says Webber. “If you’re making a mess of something that was just cleaned, that’s rude.”
In short, it’s best if you’re not around when cleaning professionals are working on your home, but if that’s unavoidable, try to make yourself scarce until they’re gone. Your home — and your relationship with your cleaner — will be better for it.
