This is the issue that creates more silent resentment in housesitting than almost any other. Sitters leave thinking they've done a good job. Hosts return to what they consider a mess. Neither side says anything. Both leave frustrated.
The forums are full of it. And it goes both ways.
What sitters say
“Leave it as I found it, or a bit better — that's my motto. I strip the bed and wash sheets and towels as standard.”
— Sitter, THS Forum
“Some hosts are just getting us in to do the cleaning. I like to leave a place as I would expect to find it, which means spending a huge amount of time doing a deep clean.”
— Sitter expressing frustration, THS Forum
“I arrived at a home that was dusty with trash in all trash cans and unmade beds. I left it better than I found it, but still received a low score on cleaning.”
— Sitter, THS Forum
This last one is the pattern that creates the most resentment: arriving to a dirty home, spending hours cleaning it up, and still being criticised for the cleaning. It feels deeply unfair.
What hosts say
“I don't expect sheet washing. I treat it as though I'm providing an AirBnB, just happening to leave my stuff and cat in place.”
— Host, THS Forum
“A sitter ignored my explicit instructions not to wash the linens. I had important reasons for that request.”
— Host, THS Forum
Hosts have their own frustrations. Some feel like they're running a hotel without the cleaning service. Others have very specific preferences that sitters don't know about because nobody asked.
The real problem
There's no shared standard
“Normal clean” means different things to different people. Some consider a quick vacuum and wiped surfaces sufficient. Others expect deep cleaning of appliances, inside windows, and grout scrubbing.
Neither is wrong. But when expectations don't match, both sides feel let down.
What sitters often assume
- •Leave it as clean as it was when they arrived
- •Wash sheets and towels they used
- •Take out rubbish
- •Vacuum/mop main areas
- •Clean kitchen surfaces
What some hosts expect
- •Everything above, plus...
- •Deep clean kitchen including oven and fridge
- •Bathroom grout and shower doors
- •All windows wiped
- •Pet hair from every surface
The sheet controversy
This comes up constantly. Should sitters wash the sheets and towels, or leave them for the host to wash? There's no consensus.
Arguments for washing
- Polite to return things clean
- Hosts shouldn't have to deal with used sheets
- Standard practice in guest situations
Arguments against washing
- Some linens have special washing requirements
- Hosts may prefer their own detergent/settings
- Some hosts have explicitly said not to
The real solution: Ask before the sit starts. It takes 10 seconds and prevents silent resentment.
“Quick question — would you like me to wash the sheets and towels before you get back, or leave them for you?”
The bigger problem: arriving to a mess
The scenario that creates the most frustration: you arrive to a home that's genuinely dirty, spend hours cleaning it to a liveable standard, and then get criticised for the cleaning at the end.
What this looks like
- •Dusty surfaces, overflowing bins, unmade beds
- •Kitchen with dishes, crumbs, and sticky surfaces
- •Bathrooms that haven't been cleaned recently
- •Pet hair everywhere from long-term accumulation
Some sitters respond by doing a full deep clean — which may take a full day of their “free” sit. Others clean just enough to be comfortable. Neither approach is wrong.
But here's the hard truth: you are not obligated to deep clean someone else's home. Leave it as clean as you found it — but protect yourself.
The Photography Protection
Take photos when you arrive. Walk through the house with your phone and photograph every room — the state of the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, any areas that concern you. Date-stamped evidence.
If you arrive to dusty surfaces, full bins, or pet hair everywhere — document it. If you leave the home in the same (or better) condition and receive an unfair review, you have evidence.
This isn't paranoia. It's the single best protection against cleaning disputes. Takes five minutes. Could save your reputation.
How to prevent this
For hosts
- Leave your home as you'd want to find it
- Be explicit about sheet/towel preferences
- Include cleaning expectations in your welcome guide
- Don't expect more than you provided
For sitters
- Take photos when you arrive (protection)
- Ask about cleaning expectations before confirming
- Aim for “as found or better” not “perfect”
- You're a guest, not a cleaner
The uncomfortable truth
Some hosts do use housesitting platforms to get free cleaning. They leave their home dirty and expect sitters to return it spotless. This is a misuse of the exchange model.
And some sitters do leave homes messier than they found them. Whether from carelessness, different standards, or rushing to leave, it happens.
Both behaviours damage trust in the system. If you're experiencing either repeatedly, it may be time to be more selective about who you work with — or to move to paid arrangements where expectations are clearer.
Questions to ask before the sit
Add these to your pre-sit conversation:
- “Would you like me to wash sheets and towels before you return?”
- “Any cleaning preferences I should know about?”
- “Where do you keep cleaning supplies?”
- “Anything I should avoid cleaning or using particular products on?”
The bottom line
Cleaning expectations are rarely discussed and frequently cause problems. The solution isn't deep cleaning or lower standards — it's communication.
A 30-second conversation before the sit prevents weeks of silent resentment afterward. Ask the questions. Set the expectations. And if someone consistently doesn't meet them, find better matches.