Your First Olive Clean – What to Expect (and How to Get the Most Out of It)

light, airy coastal kitchen with olive branches on bar

If you’re thinking about bringing in a professional cleaning service for your home in Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Topsail, or the surrounding coastal communities, first of all—welcome. 🌿

At Olive Housekeeping Co., our heart is that you don’t just walk into a “cleaned” house… you come home to Olive clean. There’s a difference. This post will walk you through our process step-by-step so you know exactly what to expect before your first visit, how to prepare, and how to get the most value from your Olive Clean.

Who We Serve (and What Makes Olive Different)

Olive Housekeeping Co. is a mother–daughter, women-led, eco-friendly housekeeping company serving:

Surf City • Topsail Beach • Hampstead • Scotts Hill • Porters Neck • Figure Eight • Wilmington • Wrightsville Beach • Airlie Road • Landfall

We specialize in high-end residential cleaning and light commercial spaces that value:

  • A consistent, white-glove clean

  • Non-toxic, plant-based products that are safe for family, pets, and our coastline

  • Professional, vetted teams you feel comfortable handing your keys to

If you’re searching for “eco-friendly house cleaning in Wilmington, NC” or “high-end housekeeping near Wrightsville Beach”—you’re in the right place.

Step 1: Booking Your First Olive Clean

You can get started in two easy ways:

We’ll ask a few simple questions:

  • Square footage and layout (beds, baths, levels)

  • Your location and parking situation

  • Whether you’re looking for a one-time, deep, move-in/move-out, post-construction, or recurring clean

  • Pets, special surfaces (marble, natural stone, etc.), and any “pain points” in your home

From there, we’ll send you a clear estimate and recommend the right service:

  • A Standard Olive Clean for upkeep-ready homes

  • A Deep Olive Clean for first-time or long-overdue spaces

  • A Move-In / Move-Out or Post-Construction clean for empty or newly renovated homes

You’ll receive a confirmation with your arrival window, service summary, and point of contact.

Step 2: How to Prepare for Your First Visit

You do not need to “pre-clean” for us—that’s our job.
But there are a few small things you can do to help our team give you the very best Olive experience:

1. Tidy, don’t scrub
Pick up toys, clothes, and personal items from floors and surfaces where you can. This lets us spend more time doing the real work—scrubbing, dusting, shining, and detailing—rather than sorting piles.

2. Decide your top priorities
Is it your kitchen? Your bathrooms? Floors? Master suite?
Tell us your “Top 3” priorities so we can make absolutely sure those areas feel amazing after the first visit.

3. Share access instructions
Please make sure we know:

  • Gate codes

  • Alarm codes and how to set/unset

  • Preferred entry door

  • Parking instructions (driveway, street, garage, etc.)

This helps prevent any lockout issues and keeps your appointment on time.

4. Make a plan for pets
We love your pets. 🐾
We simply ask that anxious or protective animals be crated or in a separate room while we’re there. Let us know if a pet is likely to dart out the door so our team can be extra mindful.

5. Note any “special care” items
If you have:

  • Delicate antiques

  • Custom finishes or specialty stone

  • Surfaces that require specific products

…please tell us before your visit so we can clean them safely and correctly.

Step 3: What We Clean During a Standard Olive Clean

Every home is a little different, but a typical first Olive Clean for a standard (non-deep) visit includes:

Kitchens

  • Wipe and sanitize countertops & backsplash

  • Clean sink and faucet

  • Exterior of appliances (fridge, oven, dishwasher, microwave)

  • Cabinet fronts spot-cleaned as needed

  • Floors swept and mopped

Bathrooms

  • Scrub and sanitize toilets, tubs/showers, sinks & faucets

  • Wipe counters, fixtures, and hardware

  • Clean mirrors and glass

  • Empty small trash bins (if requested)

  • Floors swept and mopped

Bedrooms & Living Areas

  • Dust accessible surfaces, furniture, and décor

  • Make or tidy beds (if linens are left out)

  • Clean mirrors and glass surfaces

  • Empty visible trash (if requested)

  • Vacuum rugs and carpets; mop hard floors

Entries, Halls & Stairs

  • Dust surfaces and baseboards (reachable by hand/step stool)

  • Wipe light switches and high-touch points as needed

  • Vacuum or mop floors and stairs

If you’ve booked a Deep Clean, Move-In/Move-Out, or Post-Construction clean, we’ll go further with baseboards, interior cabinets, inside fridge/oven (if included), and heavier detail work. We’ll outline that scope clearly beforehand so you know exactly what’s covered.

How Long Will My First Olive Clean Take?

First cleans almost always take longer than ongoing maintenance visits—especially if it’s been a while or you’re starting fresh after a renovation or move.

As a general guide for homes in Wilmington and our coastal areas:

We’d rather take the time to do it right the first time than rush and miss details. Once we see your home in person, we can recommend a recurring schedule (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly) that makes sense for your lifestyle.

The Olive Client Guarantee

Our heart is that you can walk in, exhale, and feel the difference.

If, for any reason, something within your agreed-upon scope feels clearly missed, just reach out within 24 hours with a quick note (and a photo if possible). We’ll:

  • Come back to address it, or

  • Offer a reasonable adjustment

That’s part of The Olive Way and our Olive Client Guarantee.

How to Get the Most Value from Your Olive Clean

A few little habits will make your investment go even further:

  • Keep a simple nightly 10-minute reset (clear counters, run the dishwasher, quick pick-up).

  • Use rugs, mats, and trays in high-traffic entry points to protect your floors.

  • Let us know when life changes—new baby, renovation, guests, or a big season shift—so we can adjust your service accordingly.

  • Consider moving from one-time to bi-weekly or monthly maintenance, especially if you have a busy household, pets, or work long hours. (Your future self will be so grateful.)

Ready to Come Home to Olive Clean?

If you’re in the Wilmington, NC coastal corridor and have been googling things like “professional house cleaning near Landfall” or “eco-friendly housekeeping Topsail Beach”—we’d love to serve you.

You can request your first Olive Clean here: olivehousekeeping.co

We’ll take it from there. 🌿

Rachel Rowell

A digital design co. elevating small business reach & revenue by helping entrepreneurs align their online presence with their business goals and tell their story through timeless & gorgeous aesthetic, strategic design, and thoughtful strategy.

https://www.rachelrowelldesignco.com