Keeping up with the cleaning needs of a household can be hard, especially when everyone has been home more than usual. Yet in a world rocked by a pandemic, cleaning is more important than ever to keep your family safe.
If you're overwhelmed, it might be time to look for some backup. Hiring home cleaning services can help with the load of housekeeping, but it can be a chore just to find the right company.
With this list of 7 ultimate questions you should ask before you hire a cleaner, you'll find the right one for your home in no time.
1. Do You Have Insurance?
Your house cleaning service should be bonded and insured to make sure that any accidents or problems are covered. They need to provide insurance for their employees and the work they do, separate from any insurance you carry on your home.
Having someone enter your home, especially if you're not home, is a liability. Make sure that the cleaning service you hire is covered in case of any emergencies.
If possible, get the details in writing as part of the contract, or ask to see their certificate of insurance. The liability should not fall on you.
2. How Will You Get In?
A residential cleaning service has to get into your house somehow. Will you provide a key for them outside, like in a hide-a-key fake rock or under the mat? If so, ask them to leave it inside when they leave so no one else can gain unauthorized access.
Consider replacing one of your locks. You could even choose a keypad for entry. This way you can program a new code each time the cleaner comes, or you can program one specific code for the cleaner that no one else uses.
If you're worried about the cleaner arriving when you're not home, you can always adjust your schedule so you're home when they're working. This will give you the peace of mind you deserve, and the cleaning service will understand.
3. Do Your Cleaning Services Include a Walkthrough?
One of the best ways for a seasonal cleaning service or any other cleaning service to assess your home is through a physical walkthrough. There are many observations a staff member can make with their eyes and sense of smell that can't be assessed with questions over the phone.
While initial questions can help the service understand the work that needs to be done, a full walkthough is important to get the whole picture. Ask if they'll be doing a walkthough before you hire a cleaning company for your home to help you avoid surprises and potential extra fees.
4. What Background Checks Do You Conduct?
If you're allowing someone into your home, you want to make sure that person is trustworthy. Your house keeping service should want the same thing to protect you and to protect their business.
Ask about the background screening process for their employees. While they can't share a lot of details, don't be afraid to ask pointed questions about who they hire and what kind of other screenings they conduct.
5. How Do You Clean Electronics?
Windex syndrome is a huge problem with TVs and other screens. The liquid gets down in the bezel and creates a panel bonding issue, one that means an entire screen replacement. This repair is more expensive than buying a new TV.
Check to make sure the cleaning company you're hiring is aware of the hazards of combining liquids with electronics. Ask if they use safe products and microfiber cloths and what their procedures are if someone messes up while cleaning your electronics.
You can expand this question to include what services do they perform in general. They'll probably have a long list, although it won't always come with the initial cleaning fee. Ask what's included and what costs extra.
You can also ask what they don't clean. This will help you get an idea if your home is a good fit for their company and what kind of costs you're looking at. It's possible some services are only provided for commercial cleaning services, rather than residential.
6. What Cleaning Products Do You Use?
Check with the cleaning team to find out what cleaning products they recommend and bring with them. Make sure that those choices fit with your household's needs.
If you have someone with allergies, or a special situation like hard water with iron, you may need to ask them to use a different product. Often they'll have the other options available upon request, you just need to ask.
Small children and babies can be particularly sensitive to toxins, and many parents like to use alternative cleaning supplies. If this is the case for your family, let the cleaning team know ahead of time so that they can use gentle cleaners in your home.
7. What Should I Do With My Pet?
As a pet owner, you may need extra cleaning help, but it can also make the logistics a little more difficult. Fido and Rover are essential parts of your family. You love them, but they don't always understand why a stranger might be in your home.
Talk to your cleaning company about how they prefer to deal with your pets. If you have a crate, you can put your pets away before you leave the house so that the cleaning lady won't have to worry about it.
If you don't use a crate, sometimes they can let your dog out into the fenced-in yard while they clean. Then they'll let the dog back in when they leave.
Other pets may have other requirements. Talk to the company about their experience with pets and suggestions for how to handle them.
Sparkling Clean
If you're looking for cleaning services, it's important to ask the right questions. You need a company that values your privacy and your preferences, as well as the different members of your home (including pets).
Ask about insurance, cleaning products, and other vital details so you have the peace of mind you deserve. Once you find the best company, your home will be sparkling clean again!
Get a free home assessment from Moma's Care Cleaning today.
