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I’ve decided the time has come to hire someone to clean my house. I’ve done it myself for long enough, and it’s tiring and time-consuming. Now the issue I’m facing is trying to find someone I can trust.
I’ve realised that when you hire a house cleaner, you aren’t simply going to pay someone to sweep, vacuum, and scrub the inside of your home. You’re inviting a stranger into your personal space, giving them access to your belongings and your home when you might not be there. They’ll get to know your routines and probably your approach to security. So how do you know who you can trust?
It’s important to ask the right questions and take a few simple steps before allowing a stranger into your home. A cleaner can have good reviews and competitive prices, but you still want to be sure that they are reliable, properly screened, and going to treat your home with care.
First, know your options, and decide what sort of house cleaning services you need and where you can source them.
Sourcing House Cleaning Services
Before you can even worry about vetting a house cleaner, you have to find one. There are various sources you can turn to, including friends, websites, and platforms.
Word of mouth is a good option to start with. Talk to friends and neighbors and ask if they can recommend a service or individual.
Another option is to place an ad in your local or community newspaper, or on a social media platform like Facebook. If you go this route, ask applicants to provide information including ID, proof of residence, references, and so on. That said, I’d be wary of social media unless you know the person (or at very least the friends of the person) who is posting advice. Also check out the type of business structure they operate from and whether they have a licence or local business permit to trade legally. Requirements do vary, so check what’s required in your state or city.
You can also find cleaners on company websites or cleaning platforms. Keep in mind that housekeepers and cleaners on service platforms are independent operators.
Once you have names of house cleaners in your area, make sure to do your homework and find out all you can about their services and reputation.
Business Models
Service models for house cleaning services range from independent, single operators to registered companies that employ cleaners full-time.
Cleaning Companies
Companies that specialize in house cleaning are registered businesses that operate via corporate-owned hubs, often with branches in other cities and states. They employ full-time cleaners and train them to do the work. The company finds customers and oversees the process. Customers pay the company, and the company pays the cleaners.
House Cleaning Franchises
Franchises are brand-name companies that sell licenses to independent operators or small businesses, adding a name that provides credibility and trust to their operations.
Independent Operators
Self-employed cleaners work directly with customers, not for companies or franchises.
They find their own clients and are responsible for everything, including cleaning equipment. Some require homeowners to provide their own cleaning supplies.
Credentials
Companies, franchises, and house cleaning service platforms often include verified reviews on their websites. Some provide cleaner profiles as well.
Additionally, references are invaluable, especially when you are considering cleaners who operate independently outside of a platform. They are unlikely to have been vetted or undergone any sort of official background check if they work for themselves and don’t have the screening processes of a larger company or platform behind them.
If you’re assessing an independent operator, ask if they can provide written references. If they can’t, that doesn’t automatically mean you should rule them out. But it does mean you have one less piece of information to work with and should probably start with a one-time cleaning hire instead of committing to any sort of regular arrangement.
Ask Questions that Matter
You will often find answers to questions you might have about booking cleaners on business websites, often in the FAQs. But it doesn’t hurt to ask your potential house cleaner directly before you commit. Also, pay attention to how they answer. You want to deal with someone who is clear about what they do, what they don’t do, and what you can expect.
Pricing
I wouldn’t hire on price alone. Nevertheless, you need to know what you’ll be charged and what the fee covers. Check whether there are any hidden fees. Some service providers offer membership that comes with benefits, like discounts. If so, find out how their membership program works.
It’s important to know cleaning rates before you book a service. It stands to reason that basic cleaning services are going to cost less than deep cleaning. However, even if you opt for basic cleaning, find out what the time and cost implications are if you need more intensive cleaning. Don’t simply rely on an internet page that lists prices, even if they offer an hourly rate.
Find out whether the price advertised is hourly, per visit, or based on the size or condition of the home. Some businesses provide guidelines based on how many hours of cleaning you need to estimate the cost. For instance, it might take two hours to clean the average kitchen and bathroom, but four hours if there are two bathrooms plus two bedrooms.
It’s also worth asking whether the quoted price could change after the cleaner sees your home. You don’t want to agree to one figure only to discover that your idea of a standard clean and theirs are very different. An on-site estimate can solve this potential problem. You’ll need to take all this into account when it comes to comparing quotes, but be sure you are comparing like with like.
Policies
Don’t assume that all house cleaners, whether they work independently or via a company, franchise, or platform, have the same policies.
The best platforms have screening and safety measures in place that will make homeowners feel more confident about inviting a stranger into their homes. Dependable service providers vet the house cleaners they provide or recommend, and some undertake criminal background checks. Just be aware that screening policies can change, so it’s always worth checking current requirements before deciding who to book.
Nevertheless, you’ll probably want to know who will be sent to your home and whether you have some sort of choice. If you prefer the idea of using the same cleaner regularly, this is a good question to ask.
Accidents do happen, so it’s sensible to ask what will happen if your cleaner damages something in your home. Find out if they are insured and what their cancellation policy entails. Also ask how they handle complaints or missed tasks, and what policy they have if a cleaner cancels or fails to show up.
Supplies
For many people, the fact that a house cleaner has all their own equipment and cleaning products is a benefit. But for others, it’s important to know what cleaning products they use. This is especially important for those who have allergies or who favor eco-friendly products.
And there could be a price advantage if a cleaner allows you to provide your own cleaning products.
Services
When you identify possible cleaners in your area, see what their websites list as standard cleaning. Just make sure they are specific. Ideally, they will list what they clean in different areas of houses, for example, floors, furniture, lamps, picture frames, and mirrors.
Find out whether they offer deep cleaning (most do) or other additional services, like cleaning windows from the outside. Are there any tasks that they don’t undertake? Some list what extras are included in a deeper clean or additional service, like cleaning fridges and ovens and doing laundry.
Try Before You Commit
You shouldn’t be obliged to hire a house cleaner long-term, at least until you have assessed them. So, my advice is to make your first clean a trial run rather than immediately committing to a recurring service.
Before the cleaner arrives, make sure you have agreed on what will be cleaned, the price, and anything you need to provide. If you aren’t at home during the cleaning, make sure your pets are secured, either in a room that isn’t going to be cleaned or in your backyard. Or you might consider a pet sitter for the hours that the cleaner is there.
Tidy up by picking clutter like toys and shoes from the floor. Clear bathroom and kitchen surfaces and empty sinks and basins so that they are accessible. To avoid accidents, put breakable items in a safe place. Also be sure to lock anything valuable away.
Afterward, assess more than just whether the house looks clean. Did your cleaner or cleaners arrive when expected? Did they complete the agreed tasks? Did they tackle the areas you were particularly concerned about? Were they careful with your belongings? And, just as importantly, did you feel comfortable having them in your home?
If anything was overlooked, give clear feedback and see how the cleaner responds. One imperfect cleaning does not necessarily mean you have chosen badly. But repeated problems, poor communication, or anything that makes you feel uncomfortable are good reasons to keep looking.
If everything went well, you might want to look at setting up a recurring service.
Compare and Evaluate Your Options
Once you have decided what your preferred options are, it makes sense to do some more in-depth digging to find out exactly what each of them offers. These are the companies I short-listed and what stood out when I compared them.
Homeaglow
Homeaglow is an online home-cleaning marketplace that enables customers to compare ratings and book trusted home cleaners for everyday upkeep. They operate in more than 50 cities in the US and offer a fast, flexible method of booking cleaners online. The business is ideal for budget-conscious people who want convenient, routine household cleaning.
They offer an enticing membership option, but it is essential to understand how their monthly fees and cancellation terms work before you book cleaning services.
Merry Maids
Merry Maids is a residential cleaning franchise network that provides cleaning services through locally operated franchises across the US. Franchises hire and manage their own cleaning staff and offer recurring and one-time cleaning services. Their cleaning teams handle routine household cleaning as well as more specialized services.
Services and pricing can vary by location, and they don’t publish rates online. So, you’ll need to check exactly what is included and what factors will affect their prices. These are likely to include the size of your house, level of dirt and clutter, and special requests.
Molly Maid
Molly Maid is a cleaning and maid franchise with more than 450 individually operated businesses across the US. Its services include regular housekeeping, one-time cleaning, and more detailed cleaning options, depending on the local franchise.
As with other franchise-based services, homeowners must check the specific services, pricing, and policies offered by their local Molly Maid franchise.
The Cleaning Authority
The Cleaning Authority is a residential cleaning company with franchises across the US and Canada. It focuses primarily on recurring household cleaning, with services covering routine cleaning as well as rotating deep-cleaning tasks.
You’ll need to check what the local franchise includes in terms of its standard service and how it handles pricing, scheduling, and cleaner assignments.
Handy
Handy is an online platform that connects customers looking for household services with pre-screened independent service professionals. They operate in the US, Canada, and the UK, but it isn’t clear which cities they service. And they boast a super-quick order process.
There’s a set hourly rate or fixed fee for cleaning that is based on task scope or home size. They also offer a membership option. But confirm your commitments before you sign up or order a cleaner.
Bottom Line
At the end of the day, hiring a house cleaner comes down to finding someone who offers the right combination of reliability, quality, transparency, and trust. Of course, they also need to do the job you are looking for. So, do your homework before booking, start with a trial cleaning, and you’ll be in a much better position to decide whether you’ve found the right fit.
