A clean home - Housesitting

A clean home - what to expect when you return

Many hosts might agree that the safety and wellbeing of their pet(s) is their absolute priority in a housesit. But returning to a clean home matters too. And this is where it can get tricky. What looks clean to one person may be unacceptable for another. Because standards and expectations vary and definitions of cleanliness are subjective, here are a few elements of my own cleaning routine. When you return to your place you will find:

During a housesit I provide general maintenance which basically means cleaning up after myself. I don't spring clean for hosts, i.e. I don't move personal items, heavy objects or furniture to access difficult to clean areas. I don't clean windows, doors, book shelves or full vertical surfaces (fridge, closets). But you will come back to a home that looks neat and clean.

I am happy to use the cleaning products that you provide, whether conventional or more eco-friendly, like vinegar or bicarbonate for example. In pandemic times it has become a habit for me to disinfect surfaces, door knobs, light switches and other high-touch household areas, using a household disinfectant or 70% alcohol.     

Some hosts continue to have their regular cleaning person drop by during a sit. If this is the case I will make sure that my stuff won't be in the way, and I will happily arrange to be present (or leave) during the cleaning routine. Most of my hosts continue to pay their cleaning person during a sit, but on one occasion I have been asked if I would take over the costs. Kindly note that I would always prefer to clean up after myself than to pay for your cleaning person during a sit. Find the reasons for that on my FAQ page.

Feel free to have a look at my feedback page to read how my hosts, landlords and exchange partners assessed the state of their home after my stay.