Last week, I cleaned out the oven and wiped down baseboards downstairs (where the sitter will spend most of their time) and the kitchen cabinets. Also dusted off the ceiling fans and drapes. This week I am working on cleaning out the fridge (toss old stuff, pull out shelves and drawers and wash/sanitize in the dishwasher) and clearing out a shelf in our pantry. Lastly steam cleaning our sofa and area rugs. The sofa is a 3 day project because we need to sit somewhere while the cleaned cushions dry!!
The week before the sitter arrives is the easiest, just clean/ vacuum floors/bathrooms and wipe/dust surfaces and appliances/ fridge shelves. Put out fresh towels and linens. Wash and brush the dog.
Our house is never as clean as when a Sitter arrives 
. It is our forcing function to deep clean otherwise we are Olympic-level procrastinators 
Our Sitter seems great with excellent reviews. We hope she enjoys her time here!
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@Felinelover, what a wonderful welcoming attitude. Kudos.
The best pet parents we have encountered have welcomed us in a similar way to visiting family or friends, and make proactive efforts that we enjoy housesit duration. Common courtesy goes a long way - whether cleanliness, provisions, travel or otherwise. Irrespective of pet responsibilities, faced with courteous pet parents then good housesitters may well return the gesture and are probably included to potentially return at a later date. Shows a respectful, relationship mindset 
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Thank you!
It is much easier to clean a home that is clean on arrival!
You are going above and beyond, and you will also enjoy the results from your efforts.
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I actually don’t ask Sitters to clean unless the sit is longer than 2 weeks (this one is a week). Other than clean up after themselves of course (eg wipe up spills, take out trash, etc.). Just ask they strip the bed before leaving and leave the spikes linens/towels on the floor. I can clean them later after returning home.
They can just relax and enjoy the place and the pets!
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Felinelover:
Our house is never as clean as when a Sitter arrives
It is our forcing function to deep clean otherwise we are Olympic-level procrastinators 
Too funny @Felinelover! We’ve been doing this a while now, 160+ sits 13+ years; our attitude - we always clean on our way out, sometimes we have to clean on our way in.
It’s certainly easier to just clean up after ourselves 
Safe, happy, memory filled travels 
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@Felinelover you rock! I’m on my 3rd sit, the cleanest and well organized sit so far.
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Greetings, @Felinelover ! I am the flip side of your coin! As a sitter, I always dedicate the penultimate day of a sit to cleaning-and-tidying.. Even if this means leaving the home cleaner than it was when I arrived. (And even if it means breaking the oven in my completely unnecessary attempt to clean it……. When I hadn’t even opened, never mind used, it….. sigh!)
I bet friends have told you not to bother.. I bet they’ve said “Hey, don’t pretend to be The Ritz.. Just wipe down and hoover and leave the place OK..” Yup: As a sitter I’ve been told the same sort of thing, many, mennnny times: Just run a vacuum round and straighten the cushions. WHATT……..?? No, no, NO!
(OK. I do have a problem. )
But my sane side relates totally to the way you use the impending arrival of a sitter as an impetus to clean. That’s one lucky sitter you have there! ….. As long as s/he isn’t someone like me, who will work themselves to a frazzle for 36 hours when you’re due home, trying madly to make your place equally clean…………….. And then some.
LOL!
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