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How to prepare for a house cleaner
Short answer: Before a cleaning visit, add access details (door code, lockbox or key) and pet info to your booking, put away valuables, cash, firearms and fragile items, pick up clutter from floors and counters, and make sure water and power are on. In winter, clear and salt the path to the door. You don't need to pre-clean, buy supplies or be home. A recurring visit for a 2-3 bedroom home takes about 2.5 to 4 cleaner-hours; a first deep clean about half again as long.
Updated 2026-10-22. Rows that cite our terms or FAQ are Wrenly Home policy; items marked Wrenly suggestion are our own advice; numbered sources were read on 2026-10-22. Prices come from our live price list. Disclosure: Wrenly Home sells house cleaning in the Peoria, IL area.
Checklist: getting ready for a house cleaner
Most of this takes 10 to 15 minutes the evening before. "Required" items are what our terms ask of every customer; the rest make the visit go further.
| What to do | When | Why | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enter the right number of bedrooms and bathrooms | When you book | The price is set by bedrooms and bathrooms. If the home is much bigger or in a very different condition than described, we contact you before the visit with a revised price, which you can accept or decline for a full refund (our terms, section 3). | Yes |
| Add access details: door code, lockbox, key, or say someone will be home | When you book, or reply to our confirmation email | You don't need to be home. our terms ask for safe access at the scheduled time; if the cleaner can't get in, it counts as a late cancellation (up to $40). | Yes |
| Tell us about pets; secure dogs during the visit | When you book; on the day | Dogs crated, in a closed room the cleaner doesn't need, or out of the home. Scoop the litter box first. More in house cleaning with pets. | Yes for dogs |
| Put away valuables, cash, firearms and fragile or irreplaceable items; tell us about delicate surfaces | The day before | Required by our terms (section 7). Damage claims don't cover items that weren't properly secured (section 8). | Yes |
| Make sure water and electricity are on | Before the visit | our terms, section 7. For an empty home (move-out), utilities must still be on. | Yes |
| Pick up clothes, toys, mail and clutter from floors, counters and beds | The evening before, 10-15 minutes | Cleaners clean surfaces they can reach; organizing isn't included, so anything left on a counter is cleaned around. Wrenly suggestion. | Recommended |
| Run the dishwasher or put away dishes | The evening before | Dishes beyond a sink load aren't part of a visit (see what's included). | Recommended |
| Leave fresh sheets on the bed if you want linens changed | Before the visit | Beds are made every visit; linens are changed if you leave fresh ones out. Laundry itself isn't included. | Optional |
| Leave out any product you want used (or note products to avoid) | Before the visit | Cleaners bring their own supplies. If you want fragrance-free products or a cleaner made for your stone or hardwood, leave it out in its original container with the label, and add a note. The Illinois Poison Center advises keeping cleaners in their original labeled containers and never mixing bleach with ammonia or acid products[3]. | Optional |
| Note parking and which door to use | When you book | Booking notes cover parking, door codes and rooms to focus on. Wrenly suggestion. | Recommended |
| In winter: shovel and salt the walk and steps to the door you'll have us use | The morning of the visit, after snow or ice | OSHA's guidance is to clear walking surfaces of snow and ice and spread deicer as soon as possible after a storm[2]. A boot tray or mat inside the door keeps salt off your floors. Wrenly suggestion. | Recommended Nov-Mar |
| Clear a path to things you want cleaned behind or under | Before a deep clean | Cleaners don't move furniture heavier than one person can safely lift, or use a ladder taller than a two-step stool. | Recommended |
What you don't need to do
| Do I need to... | Answer |
|---|---|
| Pre-clean | No. You're paying for the cleaning; pick up clutter so surfaces can be reached, but don't scrub first. The first visit is a deep clean precisely because homes need catching up. |
| Buy supplies or equipment | No. Cleaners bring their own supplies and equipment; prices include them. |
| Be home | No. Most customers leave a door code, lockbox or key. You're also welcome to be home; tell us in the notes. |
| Strip the beds | No. Beds are made every visit; leave fresh sheets out only if you want them changed. |
| Tip | No. Tipping is optional and never expected (see how much to tip a house cleaner). |
How long does a house cleaning take?
Most recurring visits for a 2-3 bedroom home take about 2.5 to 4 cleaner-hours, and a first deep clean takes roughly half again as long. Bigger homes, more bathrooms, heavy pet hair and a home that hasn't been cleaned in a while all add time; a team of two finishes sooner than one cleaner. Cleans happen Monday to Saturday between 8am and 5pm Central. After you book, we email you within one business day to confirm the visit date and arrival window (arrival windows are estimates). We don't offer same-day cleaning; if we can't schedule your first visit within 10 days, you get a full refund.
Your first visit is a deep clean
Every recurring plan starts with a deep clean: everything in a standard visit plus baseboards, door frames and doors, ceiling fans, vents and blinds, window sills and tracks, shower and tub detailing, and cabinet fronts. That first visit is where built-up dust and grime get caught up, so later visits are shorter and cost less. What a standard visit covers is on what's included; the full deep list is in our deep cleaning checklist.
| Home | First visit (deep clean) | Then every 2 weeks | Then weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bed (1 bath incl.) | $175 | $119 | $109 |
| 2 bed (2 baths incl.) | $209 | $139 | $125 |
| 3 bed (2 baths incl.) | $269 | $165 | $149 |
| 4 bed (3 baths incl.) | $339 | $215 | $195 |
| 5 bed (3 baths incl.) | $429 | $259 | $239 |
New customers can use code WELCOME40 for $40 off the first clean. For a deep clean, it helps to clear the tops of counters and dressers and the floor along baseboards, and to say in the notes which rooms matter most to you. If you want the oven interior cleaned in a deep clean, ask for it in the notes (it's on request); the inside of the fridge is part of a move-out clean.
Winter visits in Peoria
Peoria averages 26.2 inches of snow a year, most of it from December through February (7.7 inches in an average January), on about 22 days with measurable snow. The average first measurable snow is November 25 and the last is March 21[1]. That means about four months of salt, slush and mud at the door. Before a winter visit:
- Clear and salt the walk and steps to the door you want us to use. OSHA's winter guidance is to clear walking surfaces of snow and ice and spread deicer as quickly as possible after a storm[2].
- Put a mat or boot tray inside that door so salt doesn't get tracked onto hardwood and tile (Wrenly suggestion).
- Keep the heat on in an empty home before a move-out clean (Wrenly suggestion); water and power must be on.
- Need to move the visit for a storm? Changes are free with at least 48 hours' notice; under 24 hours may be charged $40, waived for genuine emergencies.
Winter also means more dust from forced-air heat on vents, baseboards and radiators, which is why many households book a deep clean in the fall. For a task-by-task schedule, see how often to clean your house.
If you want your own products used
Leave them out in their original containers with the labels on and add a note. The Illinois Poison Center advises keeping cleaning products in their original labeled containers and warns that bleach mixed with ammonia or ammonium-based products releases chloramine gas, and bleach mixed with an acid product such as a toilet-bowl cleaner or lime remover releases chlorine gas[3]. Poison Control's advice is the same: never mix household cleaning products, and ventilate small spaces like bathrooms[4]. If someone is exposed, the Illinois Poison Center is at 1-800-222-1222[3].
After the visit
- Walk through within 48 hours. If something on our checklist was missed, tell us within 48 hours of the visit (a photo helps) and we will come back and re-clean those areas free, usually within 3 business days. If a re-clean doesn't work for you, we credit the price of that visit instead (or refund it, up to the visit price, if you have no upcoming visit). Details: 48-hour re-clean guarantee.
- Damage or something missing? Tell us in writing within 48 hours with photos and we'll investigate.
- Want something different next time? Reply to your confirmation email or contact us; notes carry over to every visit.
Who will be cleaning
Your home is cleaned by established, well-reviewed local cleaning professionals and small cleaning companies we subcontract with. Before one takes a Wrenly job, they must show solid public reviews and a reference we contact, complete a paid trial clean we inspect against our checklist, carry their own liability insurance (we keep their certificate of insurance on file) and sign a subcontractor agreement.
Frequently asked questions
How do I prepare for a house cleaner?
Add access details (door code, lockbox or key) and pet information to your booking, put away valuables, cash, firearms and fragile items, pick up clutter so floors and counters can be cleaned, and make sure water and power are on. You don't need to pre-clean, buy supplies or be home: cleaners bring their own supplies.
Should I clean before the house cleaner comes?
No. Pick up clutter, toys and clothes and put dishes away, but don't scrub. Organizing, laundry and dishes beyond a sink load aren't part of a visit, so tidying lets the cleaner spend the time on cleaning. The first visit on every plan is a deep clean ($175-$429 by size) to catch up built-up dirt.
Do I need to be home during the cleaning?
No. Most customers give us a door code, lockbox or key in the booking notes, and you're also welcome to be home. If the cleaner can't get in at the scheduled time, it counts as a late cancellation, which may be charged $40.
Do house cleaners bring their own supplies?
Yes. Wrenly Home cleaners bring their own supplies and equipment, and prices include them. If you want specific products used (for example fragrance-free, or a cleaner made for stone or hardwood), leave them out with a note.
How long does a house cleaning take?
Most recurring visits for a 2-3 bedroom home take about 2.5 to 4 cleaner-hours, and a first deep clean takes roughly half again as long. Timing depends on home size, condition and how many cleaners are sent. Cleans happen Monday to Saturday between 8am and 5pm Central, and we confirm your visit date and arrival window by email.
What should I put away before a cleaning?
Valuables, cash, firearms and anything fragile or irreplaceable: our terms ask you to secure these, and damage claims don't cover items that weren't properly secured. We also suggest putting away medications and private papers.
How do Illinois winters change the cleaning?
Peoria averages 26.2 inches of snow a year, with the first measurable snow on average around November 25 and the last around March 21 (NWS 1991-2020 normals). Salt and slush get tracked in, so entry floors and mats need more attention. Before a winter visit, shovel and salt the path to the door we'll use, and leave a mat or boot tray inside.
Can I reschedule if something comes up?
Yes. Skips and schedule changes are free with at least 48 hours' notice. Cancelling or rescheduling with less than 24 hours' notice may be charged $40, which we waive for genuine emergencies. Full details are in our cancellation policy.
Sources
- National Weather Service, Central Illinois office: Peoria Climate, Normal Monthly Statistics (1991-2020 normals). https://www.weather.gov/ilx/pia-normal-monthly. Accessed 2026-10-22.
- U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA: Winter Weather, Hazards (Preventing Slips on Snow and Ice). https://www.osha.gov/winter-weather/hazards. Accessed 2026-10-22.
- Illinois Poison Center: Spring Safety (household cleaning products). https://www.illinoispoisoncenter.org/health-safety/seasonal-safety/spring-safety/. Accessed 2026-10-22.
- Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center): Top tips for a safe spring cleaning. https://www.poison.org/articles/spring-cleaning. Accessed 2026-10-22.
Policy rows come from our terms of service, cancellation policy and FAQ. If anything here is out of date, email hello@wrenlyhome.com and we'll correct it.