For some, cleaning the house is something therapeutic that they enjoy. For others, it’s one more thing to worry about. If you are finding yourself skipping important cleaning tasks like laundry or the pile of dirty dishes are starting to attract critters, you’re losing sleep to get all the cleaning done, you have a newborn baby taking up all your time, you’re healing from an injury or recovering from an illness, or you just want some me-time, there’s one thing you can do that works wonders: hire a professional cleaner.
Though there’s a negative stigma around hiring help around the house, you shouldn’t feel bad or defeated for asking for help. Life can be busy and sometimes it feels good to come home after a long day of work to a clean living room, or maybe seeing a sparkling-clean kitchen once you just put the baby to sleep will put your mind at ease and you can take a nap yourself. Either way, there’s no shame in hiring help. If you want to hire a professional cleaner but don’t know where to start or what to look for, here are 10 things to consider when hiring a professional cleaning service.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Before choosing the right cleaning service, make sure you first evaluate what you would like done, what your specific needs are, and what your budget is. Doing this beforehand can help narrow down your search. Maybe you’re allergic to dust and it covers all the vents. You could only need help to get the bathrooms spick and span. Maybe your place is just a cluttered mess, in which case you may need a personal organizer who can sort out your space and suggest storage solutions instead of a professional cleaner.
DO RESEARCH
Now that you know what you need, you can search for it. What your house cleaning wants and needs are, the size of your place and its location can help you figure out what house cleaning services you can’t live without.
According to Home Advisor, Most large companies offer a standard package that’s either weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. It provides things like a full kitchen and bathroom cleaning, vacuuming, dusting, changing linens, and dishes. Things like laundry, moving furniture, polishing tables and chairs, getting those often missed places like ceilings and light fixtures, windows, floor waxing, and carpet cleaning are typically provided as optional services you can add on to the standard package. If you’re moving out and want to make sure you get that security deposit back, you can opt for a one-time cleaning service that usually includes everything from both the standard package and the optional services.
Prices on these services vary. Some cleaning services charge per hour while others charge per area at a flat rate. It would also be good to find out if you’re location is in the service area to avoid being charged extra travel fees. Make sure you know if they charge specific to your type of residence.
Are you more comfortable with personalized service that may cost less but take longer, or do you prefer large crews to get the job done quicker? These are some of the compared pros and cons of hiring a local maid or a large professional company.
INTERVIEW, INTERVIEW, INTERVIEW
Be mindful that you may be letting a stranger into your home. When you need help, sometimes it could be tempting to hire the first cleaning service that sounds good and matches all your needs. Slow your roll. According to the Daily Advertiser, you should interview multiple candidates, collect references, and actually call them. Ask about your future cleaning service provider about availability, cleaning skills, what kind of equipment they or their team feel most comfortable using, and if the company has workers compensation insurance just in case a cleaner is injured while working in your home. Ask their references about punctuality, attitude, work ethic, professionalism, and trustworthiness. If possible, do a background check. It will give you peace of mind to know that you can trust this person do clean your home whether you’re there or not.
WORK OUT THE KINKS AHEAD OF TIME
Now that you’ve picked the right company or individual, make sure to set clear boundaries and expectations. Discuss the extent of services you need. Certain areas of a room may need more attention than others. If you need the kitchen to be cleaned a certain way, now would be the time to lay that out. Find out who will supply the cleaning materials. Depending on the type of service or company, you may need to provide the supplies. Typically the cleaning team comes with all the supplies needed like brushes, vacuums, brooms, and cleaning solutions, but it’s best to ask. If you or anyone else in the household has allergies to certain cleaning products, this should be talked about as well to figure out the best alternatives for the same results you’re looking for. If it’s the same crew every time, work out who needs access to your home and how they will get in if you’re not there.
Discussing payment arrangements can be awkward, but must be done. Talk about this before booking your first appointment. Home Advisor says some cleaning services may have an established payment system where you’re invoiced after each visit or monthly.
Get all these things discussed down in a written agreement that clearly states what the cleaners will be doing, where they will clean, how often they will clean, for how long, and how much you will be charged. Make sure you fully understand what is included in the cleaning service prices.
If the company is insured or bonded, get the name of their insurance agent, and call to verify. This ensures that if anything is damaged or stolen, you are protected.
Life can get very busy. Now that you have help, you can turn your attention to your other priorities.
