Green MaidWorks Inc

We worked with Green Maidworks over a year, with service about once a month. Overall, the cleaners did a good job and if we had concerns, they would address them. The main issue was the management situation outlined by a reviewer below. Shawn, the owner, started yelling. He didn't like the tone of my voice, even though, he was yelling (and when I pointed that out, he kept yelling and telling me it was because of my voice). Based on reviews elsewhere, it is clear this is a common issues with customers - he is short-tempered and moves quickly from friendly to threatening. From reading other reviews online, it is clear that there is a pattern this, with some reviewers even concerned for their well being in the face of such hostility. We have found several other cleaning services where the management has been significantly more helpful (and less angry). He also mentioned the scheduling issues were due to school starting and half of the staff being consumed with school starts. He also said they are working with thousands of homes and it sounded like they were trying to keep up but not able to - we can find a cleaning service that is able to manage its demand. We generally have a lot of leeway and empathy towards small businesses but not in the face of intimidation and yelling.

Three people came and worked for an hour. They cleaned the whole house and did a good job.

Their service is great. They are on time, let us know the schedule in advance, and they use environmentally friendly products.  They are very reliable and always do good work.

The cleaning crew was wonderful.  I liked the service so I called to make another appointment. Spoke with the owner, Shawn Kaplan who scheduled a cleaning on February 6, 2012.  An email was sent to me verifying my cleaning date and the date for the following month.  

On February 6, 2012 the crew never arrived. I waited at the house all day then called the office and spoke with Kim who told me to call Mr. Kaplan on his cell phone. I called, stated I never got a cleaning window time for that day. He assured me he called all the people who were getting cleanings that Monday on the previous Friday.   I never recieved a call.   Mr. Kaplan then informed me that my cleaning was on February 26, 2012....  He offered re-routing a cleaning crew to my home that day, however, it was late afternoon and I had to leave.  This is a VA based company and I live in MD so my cleanings are at the end of the day, near the time when my kids come home.  I did not like the time window provided - it is inconvenient to have a cleaning when it is done in the late afternoon when my kids are at home but I loved the crew.  So, based on that fact and the fact that I had waited all day for a cleaning that never happened I cancelled the March cleaning.

Mr. Kaplan called me on Tuesday to offer a free refrigerator cleaning and asked to reschedule the appointment.  I declined and informed him I would be finding another cleaning crew. When I told him this he was defensive and said "is that how you do business?"  I asked him to explain because as far as I know, I have the right to choose a different cleaning company when the one I was paying doesn't show up.   He got angry and I hung up the phone.  Mr. Kaplan and I spoke again and told him that our business was over and he was yelling.   I sent him an email and said that I thought his actions were unprofessional.  He gave me a diatribe on compassion and told me I had not been "nice" or accommodating when he offered me a cleaning at a time I could not be present for.  He also told me that I was not actually scheduled because I did not confirm the email sent to me with my cleaning dates...even though I scheduled the dates with Mr. Kaplan, the owner of the company. Why would I need to confirm an appointment that we made on the phone and he told me he would honor? 

I have never had a more unprofessional conversation.  Scheduling the first cleaning required several phone calls because Green Maid Works on line scheduler said they didn't service my area, then they were booked up...and at that time Mr. Kaplan provided a diatribe on what a clean home is and the process for keeping it clean....condescending and clueless as to professional interactions.  Every time I have tried to contact this company it has be cumbersome.  Dealing with Mr. Kaplan was the last straw.  I don't need to be told how to keep my home clean, or how to be kind and compassionate by a person I am buying a service from.  

It is unfortunate because as a former housekeeper I value exceptional cleaning and that was provided...the breakdown is with their scheduling department and Mr. Kaplan.  They just seem like a hot mess. I will never use them again.

I have used GMW for almost 8 months now. They always come on time, do what they say they will, and are very polite and courteous. We live in NOVA, and it is great how clean they get they house using green products.

We had actually used Green Maid Works about 1 year prior. During that time we had requested a routine cleaning and were satisfied with the result. Unfortunately, we did not have a positive experience during our second time using this cleaning company. We were motivated to use this company because they had offered a discounted rate through Living Social. For $100 of cleaning service at an empty condo, Green Maidworks told us that this normally just covers a routine cleaning. So our Living Social certificate would not cover the additional expense they charge for move-out cleanings. They originally told us we had to wait 1.5 months to schedule a cleaning since so many customers had bought their Living Social promotional offer. I called and spoke with one of the managers and convinced him to find us a date closer to our move-out. He did respond by finding us a more convenient date. My wife and I were at work the day that Green Maid Works arrived at our house. When we inspected the house later that night, we could hard discern that a cleaning crew had even visited! Still dust bunnies in the home (due to moving furniture) and my wife had trouble discerning what they had actually "cleaned". We had to go to the store the night of our move and then proceeded to clean our condo ourselves. We subsequently called Green MaidWorks and spoke with the manager to complain about the unsatisfactory level of service. The manager told us that they had actually given us "more hours" than we paid for and the result reflects what we paid for. Needless to say, we would definitely choose a competitor next time we required a professional cleaning.

Manager never could give us a solid monthly schedule which ultimately forced us to use someone else. We used this company for a year and they would give us little notice as to when they would show up. It is difficult to adjust your schedule around their schedule which is not what you would expect from a business. They did not pay too much attention to detail. One day the manager was on the job at our home and some strange guy just walked in the house to talk to him, without knocking or anything. The manager did not think my wife was home. The last thing anyone wants from a maid service is inviting strangers into their home. This company needs to work on their scheduling and offer solid monthly service and pay attention to detail. They advertise as a green service but ultimately just use whatever cleaning product you have laying around your home. They will also use your vacuum cleaners as well.

i used their service on several occassions. the only time my house was truly clean was when the owner came with the crew during a training session. there was a high turn over in staff too. I realize every company has challenges to overcome. New staff cause a decrease in quality, but i was the one paying for it.

I AM GIVING THIS COMPANY A SECOND CHANCE. The first cleaning-my only cleaning- I wanted the floors focused on. Dusted, mopped. Furniture was not moved to dust and mop under. I had to dustmop after the crew had left. Bathroom floor not mopped or cleaned. IN ALL FAIRNESS- Shawn Kaplan- owner/mgr told me this week that he had since fired the crew that was at my home. He agreed to send another crew to me. I am looking to have bi-monthly cleanings in order to get my house ready for sale. There was no charge amount discussed for this next cleaning. He told me that his son would call me about that. I do not NOT feel that I should pay the next cleaning -since the company had not met my expectations and their claims. The 9/1/09 clean was not acceptable and the crew seemed to work very fast in order to be done. They were here and left under 2 hours. I hope to have a good report from this company that they will pay attention to all that they claim.