You always sound so rational and calm. I sure wish I were able to sit for you! (Too far.) I have all 5-star reviews across the board, including for cleanliness, but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before some persnickety HO docks me a star for forgetting a mug in the sink or some other horror LOL!
Aw maybe someday 
Our sitters that just left sheepishly came up to me confessing they broke a mug (the handle specifically) but glued it back in place. I told them no worries, accidents happen and thanks for letting us know. I don’t get how people get so uptight over little stuff. Must be rough going through life like that.
I’m a very responsible and caring sitter and my reviews confirm this. I have made it a priority to make sure I leave the home I am sitting as clean or cleaner than when I arrived. In almost very case, I am leaving it cleaner. I don’t have a problem with this, however there have been a few occasions where the home has not been clean when I arrived, particularly the bathroom and kitchen. I’m fairly forgiving towards this however, it does really bother me that there was not a consideration that I would be specifically using those rooms the most. A dirty shower, a messy stove, dirty floors, full trash cans, etc. Those things are not nice to see when you arrive. After over a year of non stop sitting on numerous sits, my opinion towards this is changing. I really think that the owners are getting such a great deal, saving a lot of money, with a strong responsible sitter taking care of their treasured pet and their home, that they should take time to clean their home or have it cleaned right before they leave, for the sitter they are paying nothing for. They should also, change the requirements of leaving the home as found, to similar to an AirBnB. Linens in the laundry, dishes in the dishwasher, clean up your own mess and remove any signs of material you brought in. The owners should tell the sitter they will be having a cleaning service when they return. This would show a better appreciation for the great savings they are getting and show more respect for the sitter and focus the sitters priorities on the pets. This has become something I feel would improve the whole site and inspire better service from the sitters. Most of the time I am doing a lot of chores for the owners, mail, trash, picking up yard poop, watering their plants, and even the occasional yard and garden watering as well as unique requests. That is usually ok, however an owner leaving a messy home adds a feeling of unnecessary disrespect that can be easily solved just by thinking about the sitter prior to leaving on your trip.
After 3 out of 10 sits rating from dirty to downright filthy I’m done
This including angry response and/or denial from HO after I docked stars and wrote an honest (non emotional) review
I’ve started to realise some people have lived in their filth for so long they’ve developed a blind spot for it
So any review docking stars for cleanliness means that sit is not for me
It’s not like I’m an ocd cleaner in my own house but that’s my own mess. To me it’s incredibly disrespectful to invite people into your home and not make sure it’s clean
That said ‘leave it as you find it’ is open for interpretation 
We’ve never had problems with sitters when it comes to leaving our place clean. In fact, they tend to do too much. My preference is to leave all the bedding on the bed, no need to strip the bed. Our washer/dryer combo isn’t the most efficient anyway. We’ve never had rules or instructions on cleaning and never had a problem. Although I do think it’s a good idea to leave cleaning supplies and vacuum cleaner in a handy spot and clear out one cupboard for their own groceries. I personally don’t care if they eat our food and don’t replace it. So everyone’s comfort level is different in this regard.
What if the homeowner doesn’t leave the house clean (or is just not a good housekeeper or doesn’t care) and the sitter needs to clean just to feel comfortable? A clean vacuum is an efficient vacuum!
Dyson’s are the best. A clean vacuum is an efficient vacuum. Some folks just don’t do it!
What if the home has not been cleaned by the HO prior to (most likely not at all) sitters arrival?
In the thread you started @Denephew, you have been given suggestions on what to do re the lack of cleaning issue by your current HOs.
You’re exactly the kind of sitter we always hope to find for our sits. Especially since we leave our home in immaculate condition.
We have our cleaning crew come Every week and leave envelopes on the kitchen counter with their money.