Brush up on these house cleaner etiquette tips
If you’ve decided to get your home professionally cleaned for the first time, you may not know what to expect. However, learning how to prepare for a house cleaner just takes a few quick steps. We’ll go over everything you need to know about how to prepare for a house cleaner visit to set you both up for success.
You don’t want to task your house cleaner with figuring out how to organize your cluttered surfaces. Pick up toys, junk mail, loose change, and whatever else found its way to your countertops. The less clutter you have around, the easier it’ll be for your house cleaner to focus on more important tasks, such as wiping down your baseboards and dusting your vintage figurines.
Unless otherwise specified, most house cleaners don’t wash dishes or deal with food messes. Washing and putting away your dirty dishes will make it much easier for your pro to clean your sink and the surrounding areas. Plus, once everything’s all sparkling clean, you won’t have any additional chores to worry about.
Once you’re meeting with cleaning pros, communicate your needs clearly. For example, if your dusty Venetian blinds are driving you crazy, bring this up so your house cleaner knows not to miss them. If you’d like your house cleaner to do a quick walk-through with you, prepare all of your talking points beforehand so no time gets wasted.
It’s always wise to secure anything that could easily get broken. Accidents happen, and you don’t want your grandma’s favorite vase to come crashing down. If anything is especially valuable to you or needs to be cleaned in a specific way, let your pro know ahead of time.
Reputable home cleaners are honest professionals. However, if you're wondering what to do before cleaners come to reduce the risk of opportunistic thefts or just accidental damage, it’s sensible to take precautions. Don’t leave valuables, cash, credit cards, or confidential paperwork lying around on cleaning day. Store your top-notch tech, heirloom jewelry, and other important assets in a secure, out-of-sight location.
Good house cleaner etiquette means crating your pup and keeping your kitties behind closed doors. Your animals might get in the way during a house cleaning, especially if they follow your cleaner around looking for scratches. Your house cleaner may also have allergies or phobias, so it’s best to be considerate and tuck away the fur babies until they’re finished.
Researching house cleaning etiquette beforehand will prevent any awkwardness or miscommunications between you and your house cleaner. If you have any specific concerns or questions beforehand, make them known. You can also ask any pressing questions during the hiring process, as pros will be happy to set your mind at ease. As far as tipping house cleaners goes, it’s never a bad idea to give a little extra (around 20%) for a job well done.
When you’re hiring a cleaning service, you’ll usually have to choose between a general house cleaning versus a deep clean. Each has a set of basic tasks the house cleaner will cover. If you have anything extra in mind, be sure to communicate that—and prepare for any fees that might follow. Going in with clear expectations is the key to happiness and a spotless clean.
If you have a home security system with motion sensors or a PIN for a front door smart lock, you might need to turn off these features or provide a temporary code. Otherwise, the cleaner might be unable to enter the property without triggering an alarm. And, at least with smart home automation systems, you can remotely reset any security settings via an app after your cleaner leaves.
When searching for a house cleaner near you that best fits the bill, research and review your requirements. Do you want to hire an individual cleaner or a company? Independent cleaners often offer more flexibility, lower rates, and the opportunity to build personal relationships. However, hiring a company means you will have consistent coverage, and insurance and background checks are taken care of.
Some other considerations and questions to ask a house cleaning service to help you make a decision include:
Are quality references and reviews available?
How much does the house cleaning cost, and how do the rates compare to other cleaners?
What services are included in the rates? Surcharges for things like window washing, oven cleaning, or changing bed sheets are standard (and some companies won’t cover these services).
Do they use their own cleaning supplies? What sort of products do they use?
Does the company perform background checks?
Is the company insured and bonded?
How frequent is the service? Are seasonal deep cleans as well as regularly scheduled visits on offer?
Is there a contract to outline the terms of services?
Humble Housekeeper did an absolutely fantastic job with my house cleaning services. The ladies were thorough, and I appreciate how they used green friendly products, especially with a house full of children and animals. They polished the fixtures in the bathrooms and kitchen and left our home...
Humble HousekeeperAlways on time, very knowledgeable about his craft,cleans up after themselves, reasonable pricing. Would highly recommend them to paint my house again.
LONE STAR PAINTING PLUSMelinda and Marlene did a terrific job cleaning our house. These ladies are always pleasant and eager to know if we have anything specific that might need their extra attention. It's always such a nice day when they come!
It's Maid DayA very good company to work with: professional, reasonably priced, and willing to go above and beyond to satisfy the customer. We had rotted wood and new aluminum roof trim installed, and the result is perfect and done on time. I definitely recommend them and will certainly use them for...
Star Windows Doors and Siding, LLCThe service was excellent! Norwin's trap caught the dangerous bob cat in short order. I am very thankful!
Nuisance Wild Life SpecialistBrandon Burnette did such a great job. I'm so happy I had him as my worker today. Very nice and friendly young man. 10 star in my book.
West Shore Home GreenvilleWe had Brandon from DeMarks come out and power wash our siding. The house is 26 years old and had never been washed before. I can not say enough about how hard he worked to get every inch of the house sparkling clean. Not only did he wash the siding, but the soffit, fascia, and gutters as...
DeMark's, LLCWe had LHR install a new roof and gutter system. While they were not the cheapest, they were considered the most reliable and fetish for using only high-value products that would last for many years. Additionally, they were highly professional and never tried to push their services or any...
Liberty Home RemodelingRon and Chris did a wonderful job cleaning our deck. They were very personable and the job they did was fantastic. I would definitely use Window Genie again., for house cleaning and windows.
Window Genie of Cleveland WestThe crew showed up on time and finished the home theater installation as promised. The guy in charge of the team made sure it was done correctly, right down to the smallest detail. Highly recommended!
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