What does a "real exception is wage earners" of #1 of this artical mean? I am not a contractor and did various work for the owner of the property(i.e. painting, built shelving, did yard work, cleaning, etc.) just about anything that did not require a license. Did I need to file a 20 day preliminary lien?
I believe you're referring to this article: Arizona Mechanics Liens | 5 Things You Need to Know.
In Arizona, nearly everyone involved in the construction or repair of real property need to send a 20-Day Preliminary Notice under Arizona's lien laws. However, one of the few exceptions is a "person performing actual labor for wages." This means an individual who only provides labor, at an hourly rate, that isn't purchasing or providing any materials to the improvement. These parties are not required to provide a preliminary notice to secure their lien rights in Arizona .
One last thing to note, the general rule for mechanics liens is that the work must be some sort of "permanent improvement." Given the description of work you provided, painting and building shelves may be considered lienable work. However cleaning services and general yard work/maintenance will likely not be covered.
For more information, see: How to File an Arizona Mechanics Lien | A Step-by-Step Guide