Author: Boston Maids

Thank you for choosing The Maids

Dear Customer

To whom it may concern.

First of all, thank you for choosing The Maids to clean your home. We know you have many choices.

We’d like to take this opportunity to remind you the benefits of choosing and staying with The Maids.

I am the owner and operator of The Maids Boston located in Jamaica Plain. We are locally owned and operated and we have been in business since 2005. Our almost 30 full time employees come from our Boston neighborhood, From South End, Roxbury, Dorchester, Hyde Park and Jamaica Plain.

• We hire, screen, train, provide uniforms, provide vehicles and certify our employees to become professionals in their job.
• The Maids Boston runs background checks and social security verification.
• The Maids Boston controls the quality, process, cleaning supplies and customer service of our employees
• The Maids Boston pays all insurance, fees and taxes and all our legal responsibilities.
• The Maids Boston provides our employees with uniforms, vehicles and great benefits.
• For the health of our customer and employees we only use biodegradable, environmentally friendly cleaning supplies, we leave no fumes or strong chemical odors in your home.
• We are a certified woman owned enterprise by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts since 2009.
• We offer Peace of Mind.

You have chosen The Maids, you have done your due diligence, you have done your research you know your home is taken care of by having a crew fully insured, certified, that’s backed up by a well-established Company.

We are just a phone call away. You can count on great customer service

Let me know if you have any additional questions.

The Maids Boston Snow Policy

Snow Storm Policy:  In preparation of our beautiful and unpredictable New England Weather,  The Maids Boston  would like to share with you some basic guidelines.

1. The Maids will follow the guidance from the Boston Public Schools (BPS) closings; If the schools are closed it’s likely that our office will be closed and the cleaning crews won’t be available to clean your home. We review it on a case to case basis, depending on the time of the day the snow is forecasted to fall, road conditions, distance from office, number of customers in the same area, etc.  If we must cancel your cleaning, we will communicate with you and reschedule your service as soon as possible. Even if the cleaning crews are not working, our office staff will be available via email, phone or text.

3. Please make sure to have a clear pathway to enter your home. Our employees carry equipment and buckets we want everyone to be safe. Also, if you have parking available, let us know. In previous years, the driver (who is also part of your cleaning team) would drop off the team at your door and wait in the car until the cleaning is done. This may delay the time we spend in your home to make sure your we leave it sparkling, it may just take us a bit longer.
   

   The Maids Boston Winter Policy

4. Although we have the keys to most of our customers, some of you, prefer to be present while the crew cleans your home; we usually give a 2hr arrival window; please expect a 3hr arrival window, we thank you for your patience and cooperation.
5. Please give us as much notice as possible if you need to reschedule your service. We are just a text away 617-524-0300.

Enjoy this season !

Meet the voice behind the phone at The Maids Boston

The Maids blog on a snowy day

Hi!

Well if you live in Boston today, you are in the middle of several inches of snow storm considered historical.

First news of the day “BOSTON — A major storm is expected to dump up at least 20 inches of snow across eastern Massachusetts, and it could end up making history for snowfall measured at Logan Airport.”

Now, what do do on a snowy day inside? Well, I hope you started your day sleeping in, then maybe took your cup of coffee and made breakfast. We made french toast with sausage patties, but we were seriously thinking about making carrots and walnuts pancakes, the ultimate decision was the french toast.

Anyways, what you do today, we hope you enjoy it. Now since this is a house cleaning article, today would be an awesome day to get your apartment cleaned up and organized.  The stack of papers that you have been neglecting or cleaning up the closet to take them to the donation center, today would be the day to do it. Then maybe watch a good movie with a hot cocoa sounds good. Tomorrow, the best Boston cleaning service will be open to come in and scrub all the dirt accumulated from all the cooking you have done lately. Just leave it all to The Maids.

What to do on a snowy day outside? Well, if you didn’t arrange shoveling, I guess the first thing you will do today outside is make your way out to the driveway, get warm and take it as the exercise of the day. If you are adventurous or get cabin fever, its still ok to gear up and get outside and play in the snow, go sledding or make “tide-dye” snow balls!

My 5 year old and I put food coloring in spray bottles and sprayed it all over the back yard from the porch, it looks beautiful and kept him busy for like 10 minutes. Again unless you are type A, you can spend all day cleaning your home, scrubbing toilets and mopping floors, but I think you don’t want to become the housekeeper of your home, maybe you may consider this time to call the house cleaning professionals.

What to do on a snowy day with kids?This is a different story, is hard not to spend the day with your kids at home. You gotta get creative to keep them busy, of course there’s always our unconditional screen time. How about baking a cupcakes or learning how to prepare a new dish with them. Of course today may be a great day to get all those toys which they no loger play with, out of that room. After all the presents they received from grandma, its important to make space for the new toys and get the old ones out for donation. Another activity to do, not as fun but necessary and since its hard to get out today (and cold) why not start the clean up today.

What to do with pet? You don’t want to be the maid cleaning all day instead of having some play time, you have a reliable, trustworthy maids Boston service just a phone call away. I bet pets love to play out in the snow, or play period. Play indoor, outdoor, they love attention. Leave the hairy friend for you and the vacuuming to us! I hope you enjoy this article and have a wonderful day.

New Year’s resolutions with The Maids

Where to start? We all hope you had a wonderful and very Merry Christmas! But now that the gift wrapping has finished and (hopefully) things have slowed down a little bit its time to pick up and work on your plant of action for next year! Let’s make the  this New Year  the best year ever!

2014 was an amazing year for The Maids in number of house cleanings and new customer acquisition. It is unbelieable that this cleanig compnay is about to turn 10 years old! We have even bigger plans for this coming year.

Since we want to clean every house in Boston and continue being the Best House Cleaners, we would like to offer a special present for you!

Who says you can’t do it all this year? We are not talking about diets, or excercise or suscribe to a gym, no more boring commitments! We can’t help you with that but we can definitively help you in a much better different way This time….Help comes in the form of a little yellow car—and the four-person cleaning powerhouse inside it, and you could win it this year for free!

Have a happy, sparkling, spotless 2015 with The Maids “Happy You Year” Sweepstakes! Enter for a chance to win the Grand Prize, up to a year of free cleaning service for your home (valued at $3,500)…or one of our 20 First Prizes- a free one-time $350 home cleaning!

And you know, with The Maids 22-Step Healthy Touch® Deep Cleaning System and satisfaction guarantee, your home will look something like our reputation…spotless. Enter Now!

Cleaning Habits To Set Your Clock for Daylight savings in Boston

Let daylight saving time be a reminder to tackle these important biannual chores.

Massachusetts’s Day light savings, November 2, 2014

In a new national survey, 70 percent of Americans polled are avoiding cleaning tasks that are beneficial to the health of their homes. The three chores that are most likely to fall to the bottom of the biannual to-do list are rotating and cleaning ceiling fans, cleaning vents and registers, and vacuuming and flipping mattresses.

“Air quality is a hugely important part of maintaining a clean home,” says Mariana Page, owner of the Maids of Boston. “When there’s dust built up on your register covers, in your mattress, on your blinds and your ceiling fans, your family is breathing in potentially harmful airborne particles.”

In addition to eradicating dust, other important biannual tasks include cleaning your pantry, fridge and freezer and purging them of expired food, washing or replacing your shower curtain or liner, and wiping down baseboards and molding throughout your home. Of course, swapping out seasonal clothing items and cleaning closets is also key.

Page says that Daylight Saving Time is a good reminder to tackle these forgotten tasks because it comes around twice a year and is impossible to ignore. “You know, you’re gaining that extra hour, at least in the fall,” says Page, “Why not spend it wisely?”

While time plays a role in why homeowners overlook these tasks, competence is also a factor. Nearly a quarter of survey respondents (23 percent) said they feel least competent cleaning vents and registers. It is for this reason that The Maids have put together free resources, including a biannual cleaning checklist with instructions on how to properly complete these tasks, that are available by visiting www.maids.com/cleaningtips.

The Maids employs professionally uniformed and trained four-member cleaning teams who arrive at customers’ homes in signature yellow cars emblazoned with The Maids logo. The Maids’ exclusive team approach provides the most efficient, comprehensive housecleaning in the industry. Each team has a supervisor who ensures that each team meets The Maids’ high standards of quality and excellence.  As added peace of mind, each team member goes through an extensive background check and social security verification. The Maids team is bonded and insured and all services are backed by a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. To learn more about The Maids, call 617-524-0300.

WASH LIGHT FIXTURES AND DUST OR VACUUM LAMPSHADES
Turn off lights and soak any removable hardware, such as the casing, harp, etc. in warm, soapy water. Vacuum or dust the shade with a damp microfiber cloth, using a toothbrush or compressed air to get in between pleating.

WIPE DOWN BASEBOARDS AND MOLDINGS
A damp microfiber cloth (with an extendable wand for hard-to-reach places) should do the trick.

VACUUM VENTS AND REGISTERS
For regular cleaning, vacuum with the brush attachment. For a thorough clean, remove metal vents from wall and wash in warm soapy water with a small sponge paintbrush to get into the slats. Before putting the vents back in place, clean as far into the duct as you can reach with a cobweb duster

If there are any tough spots, rub them gently with a soft-bristled brush before wiping down.

DUST CEILING FANS, CLEAN WITH DAMP CLOTH AND ROTATE AIRFLOW
For the blades, use a vacuum attachment or an old pillowcase to collect dust. Then, mist a cloth with all-purpose cleaner or wood polish and wipe the tops, side and bottom of each blade from base to fan tip. There is a switch on the side of the fan to change the rotation direction: clockwise for winter months, counter-clockwise for summer.

DUST CEILING FANS, CLEAN WITH DAMP CLOTH AND ROTATE AIRFLOW
For the blades, use a vacuum attachment or an old pillowcase to collect dust. Then, mist a cloth with all-purpose cleaner or wood polish and wipe the tops, side and bottom of each blade from base to fan tip. There is a switch on the side of the fan to change the rotation direction: clockwise for winter months, counter-clockwise for summer.

5 things to watch for this back to school in Boston

Shhhh… did you hear that? That was the collective sigh of relief from parents all over the country. School is back in session. Thank goodness.

As life settles into the new normal, it’s important to get a grip on as much as you can as the school year picks up speed. Here are few common mistakes you can prevent right off the bat.

1. Forgetting to get the bus driver’s name. This person is the first face your child sees on the way to school and the first face she sees on the way home. Making a personal connection with your child’s bus driver not only shows your child that you care about the people in her life, it also shows her the importance of remembering faces and respecting the jobs people do.
2. Making the same lunch every day. I know–when it works, it works. But it doesn’t work nutrition-wise, and it doesn’t teach you or your child the art of being flexible and the fun of trying new things. In the coming weeks, keep a few things the same, but introduce a new fruit or vegetable or dip into the mix. If your child is hungry enough, he just might try it. And love it.
3. Making time tomorrow. Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today when you are thinking about it. Tomorrow is promised to no one, especially if the alarm clock doesn’t go off, the bus comes early, her favorite shirt is still in the washer, and his only pair of shoes is the dog’s new chew toy.
4. Plugging in. Whether you are keeping the house or holding a job, when the kids come home from school, do them and yourself a favor and enforce a portion of the evening where technology takes a back seat. Dinnertime is the perfect time for this. Or anytime, really, when it’s time to come together and talk. To each other’s faces.
5. Waiting for routine to set in. Routines aren’t born; they are made. Once the dust of the first week settles, re-evaluate how things stand. Is everyone waking up early enough? Have you gotten places on time? Has anything gotten lost in the shuffle? This will be a constant process throughout the year as schedules, sports, and seasons change, so it’s a good idea to check in every couple of weeks to make sure your home is running as efficiently as it can.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on things you wish you had done during the first month of school. Share in the comments and you could be mentioned in next month’s blog!

– See more at: https://www.boston-maids.com

Move in/ Move Out Boston Maids

Hello All,

Today I want to talk about our experience in the past 10 years of turn over cleaning services during labor day weekend.

Labor Day Weekend in Boston means….chaos. Thousands of students in the city of Boston from Allston, Brighton, Fenway all the way to downtown Boston area are moving in and moving out of apartments and condos. We receive hundreds of phone calls requesting one time cleaning services and quick move out cleaning services. One time cleanings and weekend cleaning services will be available from Boston Maids over Labor Day Weekend 2014.

The streets are blocked with moving trucks, furniture on the sidewalks and dumpsters filled with garbage, hallways full of student belongings, don’t wait until the last minute to hire a cleaning service for your move in project.

The Maids is putting this article together in an attempt to help students plan ahead for the move in/out day:

We send a 4-person uniformed team, fully equipped, certified and insured to perform the cleaning. In preparation of getting your home cleaned.

Our cleaning professionals will bring our own cleaning products. We will clean the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms and common areas, as well as the floors. By having 4 person team the cleaning will take much shorter and you’ll be able to move into a clen apartment.

The Maids will not clean any blood, feces or vomit and we will not be able to carry any gargabe with us.

Here is your moving to do list:

• Purge before you pack
• Enlist friends and family to help
• Get some boxes and label specifics
• Call the Movers
• Call the Maids
• Back up your laptop files
• Consider breaking the lease early or ask your Landlord or Property Manager if you can move in early morning.
• Arrange with the city parking availabily
• Dont wait til the last minute, if you can act now, start now.

Move out cleaning in Boston

Real estate is once again moving, although not quite as quickly as we’ve seen in years past.  With property being bought and sold, there are many people preparing to relocate either to smaller homes, new areas, or even just down the street,

Having made several moves in the past, there is just so much to think about, arrange, and do.  The whole process of moving is an immense undertaking.  You need to, of course, find and decide on a property, sort your belongings to either lighten your load, or to simply prepare for packing.

Once you start packing your things into boxes and organizing them for the movers, you may find yourself pretty well overwhelmed with all this chaos.  Cleaning your house before you leave may be one item that is just more than you can manage to accomplish in the period of time you have left.

Moving Out House Cleaning Service

Here’s where the procurement of a house cleaning service in Boston can make your life so much simpler and the whole moving event less stressful on you and your family.  Your time and your energy levels are of prime importance when you begin the actual moving to your new home.  Don’t let the final clean up cost you your sanity and your happiness.

Check with friends and neighbors for referrals of the maid service that they use.  You could also check with local realtors, even the realtor that has worked with you on the sale/purchase of your home, to find out who they recommend for a house cleaning service.  Some real estate agencies actually have a firm on-call to handle cleaning of their rental properties.

By making a few phone calls around town, you will find a house cleaning service that will fit your budget, do the job correctly, and that will be able to complete the cleaning of your home in a very timely fashion.

Remember, an actual maid service will have a fair number of employees who enjoy the work that they do.  The firm will send out a team of professional house cleaners to your home and they will go through the property from top to bottom, following their usual routine of cleaning.  Everything will be done, shining and sparkling for the new owners.

What will you gain from this moving out house cleaning service?  It’s like having your very own “easy button.”  You push the button (call the maid service), and out they come to clean your home and make it neat as a pin.  You have not had to worry about any of the work that has to be done.  Your family can get on with the rest of the moving process and get settled into your new house without worrying about getting back to the old house to clean it up.  Enjoy your new home.

Hire a Maid for May!

This is the time a year where us Bostonians can do all source of outdoor activities and make use of our backyards. Who likes family reunions, outdoor birthday parties, barbecues and pool parties with the friends!

Of course this is also the time a year to celebrate mother’s day,  we can also continue our celebration to all our Boston Marathon runners and last but not least, graduation and weddings! It’s the perfect time a year to be outside; the weather is just beautiful, not too hot, not too cold. It’s a happy time a year.

What a better way to enjoy without worry, no hassle, no pressure. Outsource and postpone as much as you can why not!  Yes hosting a party at your home requires work, but you can outsource just about everything, from arrangements, catering and home cleaning before and after.

Not long ago we received a phone call from one of a Boston Marathon runner asking to clean his home before the marathon, he didn’t want to worry about it, he wanted it out of his mind, he didn’t want to think about house cleaning or a dirty home, I’ve never in my life thought that part of the preparation for a marathon runner would include give the maids a phone call on his checklist! He specifically called our cleaning service because he knew we use environmentally preferable green cleaning products and he wanted to have a healthy home cleaning before the big event he has been preparing for the past year. I share this because we all have big events in our lives that we prepare for and one little thing such as “home cleaning” could be disturbing and pulling energy out of our body without recognizing it.

photo courtesy of: runnersworld

So going back to outsourcing for your event could be the next marathon or just a barbecue with your friends you don’t have to break a sweat! Nor break your piggy bank to hire a housekeeper. Prioritize, get organized and then hire a reliable maid service that understands your goal, your need, we can together set up the expectations and work out a plan for you, could be a one-time cleaning, or we can start a longer relationship where you can focus on your goals and outsource your house cleaning shores.

The Maids FAQ’s

Questions you need to ask whenever you are hiring a maid service in Boston.This is not an easy task and shouldn’t be taken lightly. We are talking about letting people into your home. We know the importance and we are truly respectful and appreciative that you are  inviting us into your home. We’ll protect it and respect the trust you put in our team. We hope this article helps you as a guide when shopping for house cleaners in the Boston area.

1. We talked about the importance and the difference between being insured, licensed and bonded. So the first question you should request is for the certificate of insurance. A trustworthy maids company should provide this at once with no questions, no hesitations, and no delay. Many occasions when we do our own marketing research, many competitors avoid the question and dont provide this crucial document. Such document should contain Workers Compensation Insurance details and contact information. A good contractor/service provider that steps into your home should be covered by Workers Compensation Insurance. Would you live in a house that is not insured, is your car insured? Same reason why you must request this certificate of insurance.
2. Who’s coming to my home?What is the hiring process or employment requirements and screen check? Does the company perform background checks? Here at The Maids, all our employees must be authorized to work in the US, they must provide social security cards, photo ID so we can run a background check and social security verification prior to becoming part of our team. Once these two requirements are met, the training process starts. We assign the same team to your home, so they get to know your preferences and get familiar with it.
3. Who will be cleaning my house? One person? A team? Is there a trained crew leader or crew manager on-site at all times? At the maids we invest in training, so you don’t have to manage your housekeeper.  We usually send a four-person team to perform the service, this allows us to be more efficient and also be able to focus in one single task so no area gets missed. Depending on your needs and the scope of the project we may adjust to your requirements if necessary.
4. How are employees trained, do you have a formal training program? The employees go to an extensive online, workbooks and field training in order to become a certified maid.   Our field manager Patricia and our experienced team leaders are part of the training team that help new employees during the training process. Once our new employee has completed the certification, she’s given a uniform and is assigned to a team.
5. Clarify what’s expected upfront. Ask about any service or task that you expect to be performed that is not mentioned or listed by the owner/ manager, ask what’s included in the cleaning service and have the proposal be sent you in writing if possible.There are some standards such as cleaning most surfaces in the kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, living space and floors. Ask for the list of task you will be receiving when providing you a quote and if possible have it send you the quote.
6. What about my pets? We are happy to work aorund all members of the family, including the furry ones, however we ask that you take proper cautions to allow the team to perform the cleaning in a safe and comfortable environment, we can arrange a time to clean where you can take your dog for a walk. Any other home cleaning arrangements will be written in the work order.
7. Keys are kept in a lockbox in our office  that only the owner and the field manager have access at all times.  On the day that your service is scheduled, we hand the keys to the team leader along with the work order and route, at the end of the day, the team leader returns route, keys and checks to field manager and the key is returned to the lock box until next service day.
8. Does the prospective contractor provide a satisfaction guarantee with their services? At the maids we strive for excellence, we welcome all comments good and bad, it is the only way we can measure our success. We know this is a very manual process and although we supervise our own work, we are human. We appreciate you take the time to give us your feedback.