Who do you turn to when it’s time to bring in some help cleaning your house? Maybe your cousin’s friend cleans houses on the side, or your neighbor down the street has a helper who’s offered to mop and vacuum for a small fee, but is that the best person to bring into your home? Whether you need help with a deep clean, are moving in or out of a home, or want regular help to keep your house in the best shape possible, hiring the right cleaning service makes all the difference.
Before hiring a house cleaner, it is crucial to do your research and ensure you are getting what you need. Anyone can advertise as a cleaner and show up with a few materials for a surface-level job, but it is essential to know who is coming into your home, their level of professionalism, and if the supplies they are bringing meet your standards.
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Should You Hire a Cleaning Service or an Individual?
A quality house cleaner is a worthwhile investment. Last year, nearly 10% of all US households hired a professional service to clean their home. When personal time is valuable but cleanliness is still a priority, it’s easy to see why many people pay for a clean home. It is a known fact that a clean home can improve your mental health in several ways:
- Gives you a sense of control
- Releases endorphins
- Improves focus
One of the first factors you should decide is if you want a company or an individual coming into your home to clean. The benefits of an individual house cleaner (like the guy your neighbor uses) include specified care and schedule flexibility, but individuals often do not have backup cleaners and sometimes are not insured. Meanwhile, a professional cleaning service may have better communication and training, but you are not necessarily guaranteed the same house cleaner every time.
Important Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Cleaning Service
Inviting someone into your home deserves care and consideration. A house cleaner will have access to most, if not all, of your house, and it is important to do your due diligence when choosing someone to clean, whether it is a one-time job or a regular occurrence.
Here are some questions you should ask when looking into a cleaning service:
- What kinds of chemicals do you use?
- Are you insured?
- Is there a refund or cancellation policy?
- What training do your employees go through?
- Are you comfortable with pets in the home?
Ask these questions before scheduling your first cleaning with a house cleaner to make sure you know what to expect, and they know how you would like to do business. Be sure to express any specific areas of concern or methods you prefer so that all the necessary information is on the table.
Why You Should Use a Green Cleaning Company
A house cleaner should be concerned with how clean your house is, but it’s worth asking if they are also concerned with how clean their products are regarding chemicals and potentially harmful substances. Eco-cleaning, also known as green cleaning, is prioritizing sustainable cleaning products that do not use toxic chemicals and do not deplete natural resources.
A cleaning service focused on green cleaning will avoid using products that release a lot of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Many VOCs irritate existing conditions, like asthma, and some are known to cause cancer. The American Lung Association recommends using products low in VOCs to avoid the potentially damaging gases.
Not only is eco-cleaning good for your health, but it is also good for the environment. An environmentally-conscious house cleaner will use products made with quality ingredients that will not harm the planet and are packaged in sustainable materials, making their cleaning service an ethical choice for your family and the environment.
What About Deep Cleaning Your Home?
Do you have a special event coming up or need a solid refresh of your home? A deep clean can help you get back on top of your cleaning process, and hiring the right house cleaner to do the job will eliminate headaches and give you peace of mind. You may need a deep clean if you are moving into or out of a house, have a big event coming up, or need a fresh start to get on top of the mess.
Don’t settle for the first cleaning service you find for your deep clean. Make sure you know what to expect from a deep clean, and ask questions to ensure you and your house cleaner are on the same page.
Prepare your house by picking up clutter and putting everything in its proper place. This way, your cleaner can focus on the grime, dust, and hidden spaces without worrying about odds and ends. You’ll be thankful for a home that is both tidy and thoroughly clean.
Scheduling One-Time Cleaning Services
You may only need a cleaning service for a one-time job, so make your money count and research to find the best cleaning service. A one-time cleaning service will help knock the cobwebs out of the corners and the crumbs off the floor. Additional services may also be available, such as cleaning the oven or wiping down the baseboards.
Spring cleaning is a perfect example of when a one-time clean could benefit your home. After a long winter when your family has been nesting in the house, it can be good to get a complete refresh in anticipation for the year ahead.
Once you have found an individual or company you trust, you will give them details about your home, choose any extras you want with your one-time clean, and get a quote when you book.
Scheduled Cleaning for a Consistently Clean Home
Your time is valuable, and finding a cleaning service you have confidence in will give you the ability to give yourself a gift of more time by scheduling regular house cleaning. A scheduled cleaning can be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly to keep your house spick and span.
For example, a weekly cleaning service will give you the peace of mind to have company whenever you want without spending hours vacuuming and dusting. A regular cleaning schedule can also help your indoor air quality if your house cleaner follows green cleaning practices.
Your family, home, and planet will appreciate the research and hard work you put into choosing the best cleaning service. Don’t settle for Joe Schmoe with a mop and bleach down the street. Find a cleaner you can trust, and you’ll enjoy a clean home with no concerns.