Start with the right cleaning brief in Kew

Name the material if known and share any installer or conservation guidance. Point out unsealed wood, natural stone, brass, decorative tiles and restored paint. Ask what product is proposed and whether a discreet test is sensible. Record existing wear because cleaning cannot repair etching, fading, failed sealant or damage from earlier treatments.

Accessible floors and low internal surfaces might be included when listed, but roof glass and exterior faces usually need separate assessment. Explain height, opening panels, furniture and garden access. Damaged seals or leaks are repairs, not cleaning. Nobody should climb on improvised furniture or fragile roof sections to meet an unplanned request.

Only when the route is authorised, safe and clearly explained. Check locks, steps, lighting and whether equipment fits without damaging planting or property. Agree how the gate will be secured afterwards. Do not leave hidden keys or expect a cleaner to cross a neighbour’s land, communal garden or restricted passage without permission.

Extraction requires fibre-appropriate products, machinery, power, water and drying time. Provide the material, room sizes, stains and access route, and ask whether furniture movement is included. Existing bleaching, wear or unstable backing may remain or make wet treatment unsuitable. Valuable rugs should be assessed independently rather than treated like fitted carpet.

Give every provider the same room list, condition notes and material information. Compare methods, inclusions, exclusions, time, equipment and terms rather than price alone. Check whether glazing, ovens or carpets are separate. A cautious limitation around an uncertain finish may be more responsible than a promise to remove every mark.

Routine maintenance may include suitable dusting or mopping, but polishing, sealing, sanding and restoration are distinct treatments. Identify the finish and provide care instructions before products are chosen. Avoid asking for shine as a result without knowing the material: a glossy appearance can indicate residue or an unsuitable coating rather than proper care.

Wait until dust-producing work ends, trades leave and rubble, tools and coverings are removed. Fresh coatings should cure according to the installer’s guidance. Describe sanding dust, paint specks or adhesive separately. Hardened residue may require the responsible trade, particularly where scraping could scratch glass, stone, timber or new sanitaryware.

Set clear no-touch areas and move portable valuables yourself. A domestic cleaner should not lift artwork, rearrange collections or choose a treatment for an unknown antique. Keep documents and small valuables secured. If an object itself needs cleaning, seek appropriate conservation advice rather than adding it casually to the household checklist.

Agree a secure key or managed-entry process, alarm instructions, locking routine and completion message. Provide one reachable contact if access fails or damage is found. Put away valuables and private papers. Never hide a key outdoors or send permanent codes in an open channel merely to make the visit easier.

Possibly, after the provider assesses each elevation, height and lawful working position. Upper panes, rear gardens and conservatory roofs may require different equipment. Describe obstacles and supply careful photographs without security information. Interior window cleaning does not imply exterior access, and unsafe faces should be excluded rather than reached by improvisation.

Stop before repeated treatment damages the finish. The mark may be permanent, within the material or caused by wear rather than removable soil. Record what products were previously used and ask whether specialist testing is appropriate. A cleaner should explain limitations, not keep applying stronger chemicals to satisfy an unrealistic guarantee.

Refer to the written checklist, identify the exact room and contact the provider within its stated reporting period. Take clear photographs before changing the area. Keep quotation and access messages. A prompt, specific account allows proper review; a general complaint made later is harder to distinguish from an exclusion or subsequent use.