I am a cleaner and some of my clients just chuck any kids or husbands mess etc up onto beds so the floors are clear. A couple have a basket/washing basket that they put any mail, notes, paper work, you know general stuff like that that can living on bench tops. That's if they haven't had time to sort it and put it away properly. Another thing I find handy is when people have heaps of toiletries on the vanity, if they have a box or plastic tub to put it all in so you can get in and clean with out having to move it all, find somewhere to put it, then move it back and all that, it's great. Even if you leave the tub there it's easier to have one place to put stuff, then clean the vanity and put it all back.
HTH