Well yeah… as I said, I wasn’t sure whether to do it. The HO thanked me but it’s definitely a play it by ear thing.
I would maybe have asked the owners beforehand, like I ask the owners if they’d like me to buy anything (milk, bread - essentials really) before they return
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Thank you, Angela, for having the “spring cleaning” term removed. Before the HOs return on our sits, we clean the areas that we used.
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Would someone be able to share the link you all are referencing that had “spring cleaning” in the content? I am on my first sit and want to know what I should be doing. Although I’ve read through this thread and many others so thankfully have a good idea. Thanks in advance!
Hi @Susan … “Spring Cleaning” is gone … just tips on end of sit cleanliness best practices which I’m sure you don’t necessarily need guidance on but this is a good reference point, just incase we forget something.
I’m sure you’ve done amazingly well.
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Apart from a blog on the topic that probably most houseowners haven’t seen, are they sent an email 2 days before sitters arrive, reminding them to clean their house? I think they should, since sitters receive one. @Angela_L
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Thank you @Angela_L. This is a helpful guideline!
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I limit myself to one bathroom, because I only want to clean one bathroom, however I do make sure I go around and flush every toilet in the house, and run some cold water down every sink at least once a week, to make sure that stagnant water doesn’t sit too long, and drains don’t get icky…
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I usually stick to one bathroom so I will only have one to clean. However, I check all the other bathrooms too, and if they need cleaning I usually clean them too. I also go around the whole house, do a light dusting and vacuum the whole house too. I say, give ‘em more than they asked for.
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You’re amazing. Flat out. I’m considering whether to temporarily adopt a dog so that you’ll petsit for me!
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Hi everyone @Smiley wow how two little words can start a long conversation … the two words in question “Spring Clean”
Advice, always check the question before posting the answer … I should have checked my own blog post … yes The sitter/owner Cleanliness Check List is from Auntie Angela’s “pen”
Our wonderful Content Manager Danielle & I have been through both articles, all through the blog, yes each “Cleaning” piece and we cannot find a reference to “Spring Clean” anywhere … I did think it strange at the time and was rather surprised however our team, including myself do write and publish a lot of content.
So @Smiley can you help us “CLEAN” up the mystery please? Where did you see the reference to “Spring Cleaning” so that we can have it removed.
Thank you everyone and …
Happy St Patrick’s Day From San Diego, California 
It was in the email sent before I left my sit and the list was written by you. Please look back here as 2 days ago you mention ‘spring cleaning’ has gone so it’s been removed by TH. it was definitely there. If I get that email at the end of my current sit I’ll take a screen shot.
Hi @Smiley and @Angela_L This is the email I was referring to in an earlier post. Not a blog but an email sent to a few of my fellow sitters I personally know two days before the sit was to finish and it definitely said Spring Cleaning in the heading.
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I would love to be a HO and a sitter on this website to know what exactly the HO’s are requested/asked… would be lovely if they were asked to clean the home for our arrival!!
I swear some HO’s see my reviews that state I left the house cleaner than they left it for me and just hire me over someone else applying just to get a “spring clean” on their return!
Well I’m honestly NOT standing for untidy / unclean houses anymore - I’ve done these gigs for too long to put up with it. I wouldn’t even put up with the last house I rocked up to if I was getting PAID to be there!
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Hi @Smiley I looked at the blog post and and there was no reference to Spring Cleaning and thought Danielle had already edited it out (I sent a request after reading your post) however it wasn’t there in the first place, it seems it is referenced in an email which we will take a look at.
Mystery solved, we do take action when members ask … perhaps we can now go back to “Sheets & Towels” 
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Spring Cleaning is a wrong and unhelpful term, lets just move on. Sitters should leave the house as clean as they found it. Stripping the beds is nice, but even that is not expected. (Though every sitter I’ve had has done that and more.)
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Thanks, I knew I wasn’t going mad!
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So I’m on a sit now and just received the “spring clean” email so it seems it hasn’t been deleted or changed at all.
In addition to finding this phrasing problematic, it’s also a bit frustrating since the place I’m currently in was left filthy for our arrival. So asking the sitter to do things that weren’t even done for us feels unfair. I would prefer “leave the house in the condition you found it in or better” or something like that.
Additionally, this email also has the phrase “ensure your owner arrives home to happy pets and a clean, fresh house.” Two problems. One, this should say “ensure the homeowners” NOT “ensure your owner.” Feels obvious why this is wrong. Secondly, for the homeowner to return to a clean, fresh house in this particular instance I’d have to spend my entire time here cleaning. So yeah, this whole email really needs rewording to state that the home should be in the condition it was left or better.
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Sorry to hear you’re in a filthy place, CoolCatAunt (great handle btw).
I agree with you on the wording.
I don’t have a problem with this as I see it as referring to the owner of the pet(s), not the property. Besides, I have done many sits for those who rent, in which case technically they are not the homeowners. 