Booking a professional cleaner for the first time can feel uncertain. Who is coming? What exactly will they do? Do you need to be home? What should you have ready? What if you are not happy with the result? These are completely normal questions — and the fact that most cleaning companies do not answer them clearly is one of the main reasons people hesitate to book.
This guide walks through exactly what happens when you book a first clean with Maid in Fulham — from the booking process to the moment the cleaner leaves your property. No vagueness, no assumptions.
Before You Book: What We Need to Know
When you call or book online, we ask a few straightforward questions before confirming your clean. This is not a lengthy process — it takes 3–5 minutes and gives us everything we need to quote accurately and arrive prepared.
What we ask:
- Property type and size — number of bedrooms and bathrooms
- Current condition — have you had regular cleaning, or is this a first-time deep clean?
- Any specific areas or priorities — ‘the oven is the main thing’ or ‘particularly focus on the bathroom’
- Whether you want any add-ons — oven cleaning, inside fridge, laundry
- Access arrangements — will you be home, or do we need key safe access?
- Preferred date and time
- Postcode — to confirm we cover your area in SW6 and surrounding postcodes
| ✅ | No Surprises
We confirm the total price before the clean takes place. There are no hidden charges, no price changes on the day, and no add-ons without your agreement. |
The Day Before Your First Clean
You will receive a confirmation of the cleaner’s arrival time and name the day before. If anything changes on our side — which is rare — we contact you as soon as possible and offer a replacement cleaner or a rescheduled time.
What to do:
- Leave the property accessible. If you will not be home, leave a key with a neighbour, use a key safe, or let us know how to access the property.
- Clear personal clutter from surfaces you want cleaned. We clean surfaces — we do not organise belongings. The less we have to move, the more thoroughly we clean underneath.
- Let us know about any delicate or valuable items you want us to avoid or handle with extra care.
- No need to clean before we arrive. This might seem obvious but many first-time clients tidy up before a professional clean. You do not need to — that is what we are there for.
What Happens When the Cleaner Arrives
Arrival and introduction
The cleaner will arrive within the agreed window — typically a 30-minute arrival window. They will introduce themselves and do a quick walk-through of the property with you (or start directly if you are not home and have left access instructions).
The clean itself
Our cleaners work to a room-by-room checklist. They bring all products, cloths, a vacuum cleaner, and a mop — you do not need to provide anything unless you have preferences about specific products for delicate surfaces.
What the cleaner does in each room:
| Room | What the Cleaner Does |
| Kitchen | Worktops, hob, sink, cupboard fronts, appliance exteriors, floor. Plus oven and fridge interior if booked. |
| Bathrooms | Toilet, basin, taps, shower or bath, tiles, mirror, floor. Full descale of fixtures. |
| Bedrooms | Dusting, vacuuming, skirting boards, windows, light switches, mirrors. |
| Living areas | Dusting, vacuuming or mopping, skirting boards, surfaces, light fittings. |
| Hallway | Vacuuming or mopping, wiping surfaces, front door interior. |
Typical duration on a first clean:
| Property Size | Typical Duration for First Clean |
| Studio flat | 2.5–3.5 hours |
| 1 bedroom flat | 3.5–5 hours |
| 2 bedroom flat | 5–6.5 hours |
| 3 bedroom house | 6.5–8.5 hours |
| 💡 | Why First Cleans Take Longer
A first clean typically takes 20–30% longer than ongoing regular cleans. This is because a new cleaner is familiarising themselves with the property and addressing any accumulated build-up that regular cleaning has not been maintaining. Subsequent regular cleans are faster because the standard has been established. |
Do You Need to Be Home?
No — and most of our clients are not. Many clients leave a key or key safe code and return to a clean home. A significant number of our bookings in Fulham are for clients who are at work during the clean.
Options for access:
- You are home for all or part of the clean
- You leave a key with a neighbour and collect it after
- You have a key safe — provide the code at booking
- You are in a building with a concierge — let them know to expect our cleaner
| 🔒 | Security
All Maid in Fulham cleaners are vetted, background-checked, and fully insured. Keys are never labelled with your address. If you have any concerns about security, call us before booking — we are happy to discuss our vetting process in detail. |
After the Clean: What You Will Notice
When you return to a professionally cleaned home for the first time, the difference is usually noticeable immediately. The most common things clients comment on after their first clean with us:
- The smell — a clean home has a distinct freshness that is different from air freshener or scented candles
- The bathroom — taps and shower glass descaled properly reflect light differently
- The kitchen — hob and worktops cleaned with professional products have a different finish
- The floors — vacuumed and mopped properly, including edges and corners
- The surfaces — dust removed from places that are easy to miss in a routine wipe-down
What If You Are Not Completely Satisfied?
Tell us. Within 24 hours of your clean, if you notice anything that has been missed or does not meet your expectations, contact us and we will return to address it at no charge. We do not consider the job finished until you are satisfied with the result.
On a first clean, it is also useful to give us feedback on priorities for future visits. Every home is different — telling us what matters most to you (e.g. ‘the bathroom is always the priority’ or ‘please always make the beds if linen is out’) means subsequent cleans are better calibrated to what you care about.
Converting Your First Clean to a Regular Service
Many clients book a one-off or first clean to try us before committing to a regular schedule. There is no obligation to continue, no contract, and no pressure. If you want to set up a weekly or fortnightly regular clean after your first visit, just let us know and we will arrange it with the same cleaner.
| Service | Frequency | Approx. Monthly Cost (2-bed flat) |
| Regular clean | Weekly | £300–£420 |
| Regular clean | Fortnightly | £150–£210 |
| One-off deep clean | When needed | £175–£293 per visit |
Book Your First Clean in Fulham
Maid in Fulham provides professional cleaning services across all SW6 postcodes and surrounding areas. Whether you want a one-off clean to try us out or are ready to set up a regular service, we make the process straightforward.
