How To Get The Most Out Of Your Cleaning Service
When I coordinate cleaning services with my customers, I often ask very specific questions to be sure we are all on the same page when it comes to the scope of work and so the notes I take and communicate to the cleaning crew are as clear as possible. Some of the items covered are as follows: Depth of clean, areas to focus on and areas to avoid.
Scope of clean: There are different reasons why customers hire a Boston cleaning service. Some customers may call because they need to get rid of their pet’s hair, others may not have pets but may not have time to maintain their homes cleaned. Some customers call because they are moving in/out and need the place professionally cleaned. A lot of our customers have asthma or allergies or respiratory problems, some more are physically impaired to take on the tasks of cleaning their home by themselves. Cleaning is not an easy task and often not as rewarding or exciting, leave it to the professionals.
In order to have a successful job, we would need to identify what your needs are and the reasons why you are hiring a Boston Maid Service. Quality is always a priority for The Maids, so we need to make sure we show up prepared to accomplish the cleaning that you expect. For example, we would ask for the type of flooring to make sure we bring the proper cleaning products and equipment. If you call us to make sure we remove mold from your bathroom shower, we’ll pay specific attention to your concern. Your dog likes to play in that corner of the living room and needs extra attention to remove build up and pet hair, we need to bring the proper cleaning agent to remove pet odors and pet hair.
Each house is different and you know your home better than anyone else. That is the reason why the initial call may take several minutes, we are trying to connect and identify what you need and make sure we deliver the service that you want.
The depth of clean also refers to the inside of the appliances. Usually vacant units require the inside of the appliances to be cleaned, sometimes the inside of the cabinets, drawers, closets are also included in this type of cleaning, windows are also added in this service. In order for us to provide you with an accurate estimate of the time we’ll need to clean your home and cover the areas you are requesting, we need to be very well informed and make sure it gets communicated to the team and added to the work order.
Areas to focus on: This refers to specific requests my customers may have. Sometimes we have some customers that appreciate art and antiques. These items require special care and attention. For example; antique rugs cannot be vacuumed with the same tools we vacuum a high traffic office space carpeted area, antique or delicate rugs will need to be lightly vacuumed with a specific attachment. Antique vases and frames as well as electronics will need to be dusted with a dry microfiber cloth. Delicate paintings and picture frames would also require dry dusting. Focusing on the details is what sets the quality of your Boston cleaning service. A lot of my customers also ask me to be mindful of the areas they know to be of high traffic and use. This means build up in the kitchen sink and stove as well as the counters and tables. Areas such as restrooms also require a detail cleaning process, build up like soap scum, hard water marks and even mold and mildew need to be property treated and contained. A cleaning tip to avoid mold is to make sure the bathroom is well ventilated. Another focus point is of course the mirrors and windows. Getting details on the mirror sizes will prepare the team to bring what’s needed to avoid streaks.
Areas to avoid: I’m not suggesting that the maid service should leave areas untouched, but coordinate with the customer what is not allowed to touch or what rooms will be out of the scope of cleaning in order to achieve the desired clean without disrupting. A lot of our customers have home offices and a lot of times they do not want their desks to be touched or cleaned, this is what I like to call an “organized chaos”, are you familiar with this term?
Picture Credit: Geiluminacion.com
Specific instructions should be followed for these areas. One of my customers mentioned that if the desk in the home office is cleared, then it’s ok to clean the surface. If there is paperwork, then cleaning don’t, just to go ahead and clean around the desk, so we add these comments to our work order and make sure the team leader reminds the rest of the crew of the instructions. One thing that should never be cleaned by the maid service is the back of the computer because of the cabling. Another area that may need “avoiding” is some art pieces. Make sure to have a “do not touch” list when calling Boston Maids.
Getting on the same page with your cleaning service will help the clean go smoothly and will prevent any damage. By being specific about your needs, a quality maid service will be able to meet them. Do you have a story to share with us when you hired a maid service and they were not able to deliver the requirements you requested and whether this caused more than just a poor cleaning. You wouldn’t want this happening again, would you?
Different Types of Services Offered by Maids
When asking my customers what they are looking for in a cleaning service, I often get this response: Home cleaning is all the same isn’t it? And the answer is yes and no. The end result may be very similar but depending on your needs, that will determine the approach a cleaning professional will take. I have identified 4 types of services that most cleans fall into:
1. Move-out/Move-in clean. These are very similar because in both cases, the home is being brought up to a healthy standard for the new owner or tenant. This is accomplished by disinfecting and removing any buildup in all the surfaces in kitchen and restrooms as well as cleaning light switches and doorknobs, the mayority of the time we suggest the customer to include the cleaning of the inside of closets, cabinets, drawers, fridge and oven and windows.
Picture credit: MoveInCleaning
2. Spring clean/Deep clean. Besides the basics we all know like vacuuming and dusting, there is the build up to consider. By this I mean the dust on door frames, window sills, ceiling fans and baseboards. Soap scum and in some cases mold needs to be removed.
3. Recurring clean/Maintenance clean. Once you’ve had your deep home cleaning done by a reliable Boston cleaning service, it is time to keep it clean! This means setting up a schedule that is convenient for you and will allow you to enjoy your summer.
4. After construction/Remodel clean. This type of clean also requires a detailed approach due to all the dust and debris generated by the construction. This dust can get into some places that are not in the scope of work for your cleaning service. Be sure to specify and be on the same page with the contractor and the company in charge of the clean so there will be no misunderstandings later.
Picture Credit: fixthehome
Knowing the different types of services and whether a company can accommodate your needs will save you a headache and help you plan better. Tell us about a time when a cleaning service might not have gone as planned.
House Cleaning Services Offer a Helping Hand During Flu Season
Have you ever felt like the flu season takes you out of your game? Getting back in the groove after having the flu takes a couple of days. A lot of times this recovery can be delayed due to improper disinfecting after catching the flu. This means disinfecting your home and not just your clothing.
flickr credit: mcfarlandmo
When disinfecting your home, whether you prefer green cleaning services or not, it is recommended that you disinfect your home thoroughly after having the flu. The major areas that need to be disinfected are the common areas that include the living room, restrooms, kitchen and all other surfaces that are constantly handled such as light switches and bedroom dressers. Even if you’re not considering regular house cleaning services, allowing the cleaning professionals to help with a thorough one time clean is a great idea.
flickr credit: ncmaids
Whether you’re planning to take the cleaning off your hands because you rather get back to your life after the flu, or because you know your home needs a thorough cleaning and disinfecting, make sure that the materials you or your service uses are up to the job.
3 Points in Choosing a Boston Maid Service
While speaking with some of my customers I have come across some of the concerns people have while choosing a Boston maid service. The answer lies in finding professionals who are trustworthy, reliable and likeable. Asking the right questions gives you insight into the companies you contact and help you in making the right decision.
1.-Is your Boston maid service trustworthy? Letting someone into your home can come with some doubts. Asking about the hiring process, how long their employees have worked with a company lets you know whether they really know who they are sending to your home. Do the employees know what they are expected to do and are they trained for it.
2.-Another very important requirement for a recommendable maid service in Boston is carrying insurance, ask for proof on insurance. Any cleaning company should carry liability insurance and workers compensation insurance. Why? Because if an employee has an accident or injury in your premises you are responsible and liable unless the employee has the back up from his/her company. Also, do you have valuables at home? what if something gets lost, how do you claim if you dont know who you hired? This is a one page document that any company should be able to provide when requested. Its for the employees, company’s and your own protection. Do you have a car? is it insured?same rules apply with hiring a contractor into your home.
3.-Is the cleaning service reliable? What was your first impression? Was it easy to get a hold of them? Have they returned your calls emails? Find out whether you will be getting service by a team or one person. Does the team have the necessary equipment and products to thoroughly clean and disinfect your home? There is nothing worse than having an unprepared service show up at your home. Is their schedule organized and can they be reached by telephone, text or email when needed? We all know the unexpected happens, having a maid service that understands this will update you if anything changes and follow up to ensure everything went according to plan. The answers to these questions paint a clear picture of the Boston maid service that is right for you.
And finally, do you like them? Did you like talking to the owner, the quality assurance manager? Does the person on the phone ease your mind? Everyone that represents your Boston cleaning service should make you feel comfortable by being personable, understanding and knowledgeable about getting the best possible clean for you.
Are there other things you look for or have any other questions when you choose a Boston cleaning service?
Boston House Cleaning Rates Worthy of Professional Maid Service
Have you thought that having a Boston maids service was a luxury afforded only by people living in huge houses or estates? Our attitudes are changing about hiring maids or a maid service as our lives become more and more hectic through the varied demands placed upon our time. Once you begin to investigate house cleaning rates, you will see that the cost is one which is reasonably priced and can easily be afforded on most budgets.
House Cleaning Rates
House cleaning rates from maids or a maid service are generally based on the size of the house either by the number of bedrooms or the square footage, or the rate can be solely figured by the hour. The base house cleaning rate can vary according to the condition of the home, how often the maids will be cleaning the home, and the level of services you require.
We’ve managed to uncover some nationally average house cleaning rates that will surely put this all in a much better perspective for you. There are many options available as far as frequency, services provided, materials used, and the type of maid service that you choose.
Typical house cleaning rates for the first cleaning which usually takes a little longer and is very thorough:
- 900 square foot apartment with 2 bedrooms and about 5 rooms total runs between $74-$200.
- 1300 square foot single story home with 7 rooms runs between $95 and $300.
- 2200 square foot two-story, 3-bedroom house with up to 9 rooms would run $149 to $400.
Once you’ve had the initial, first-time house cleaning, a professional Boston maids service would then generally clean your home on a bi-weekly basis. Let’s look at the house cleaning rates for bi-weekly cleaning of the same size homes as above:
- 900 square foot apartment or condo would be $59 – $124.
- 1300 square foot single-story home would be around $79 – $150.
- 2200 square foot two-story home would run $104 – $180.
House cleaning rates like these are truly worthy of a professional maid service in your home. A typical house cleaning done on a regular basis should include vacuuming, dusting, scrubbing sinks, floors, countertops and range hoods. Some services include loading the dishwasher and changing bed linen if you leave the linen out for the maids.
Boston Maids Service
Remember these house cleaning rates are based on the national average. Your area or locale may be within the range or higher or lower depending on the demand and the area the maid service covers.
You can obtain a more specific house cleaning rate from your local Boston maids service by requesting an estimate. The maids will come out to your home, review their services with you, walk through your home and determine the actual cost as it pertains to your unique home and requirements.
Maids in Boston Help Elderly Parents Keep Their House Clean
Hiring a house cleaning service in Boston for your elderly parents may just be a better way to save your time, and give you more quality hours to spend with them. Our parents are getting on in their years now. They’ve worked their entire lives and find themselves in retirement or perhaps in the later years of their lives.
flickr credit: leehaywood
We, their children, are still working at our careers, raising our families, and have a myriad of activities and commitments marked in pen on our calendars. When it comes to helping elderly parents keep their house clean, there are only a few options.
Most of us will try to care for our parents, raise our families, work our jobs, and still have time left over to do things we want and need to do. Are you one of us? Are you running your parent or parents to doctors’ appointments, grocery shopping, hairdressers, dentists, or to visit with their friends or families in other towns? Are you helping with meal preparation, laundry, or general house cleaning?
Housekeeping in Boston
A lot of us are trying to do all those things, plus care for our own homes and families. It’s a pretty steep hill we’re climbing and there are options. If you’re helping elderly parents keep their house clean, then you are probably doing the weekly house cleaning chores such as vacuuming, washing the floors, cleaning countertops, cleaning the stove, the bathroom, the windows.
The to do list is endless. And even though they may have a smaller home or apartment now, it still takes a good chunk of your time. That’s time that you would much rather be spending with your parents as quality time.
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First to consider is that we want to do this for our parents. They’ve spent their lives raising us, caring for us, helping us. And with that, we feel responsible for caring for them in return when they need it.
It’s important to remember, though, that our parents really want our undivided attention and conversation when we come to visit. They really do not want us to be puttering about cleaning the house while they sit back and look on, feeling helpless that they are unable to do these things themselves.
Maids in Boston
Besides doing all this house cleaning yourself, the most helpful idea that’s been a great timesaver and is well worth every penny, is to hire a maid service or house cleaning service in the Boston area to attend to your parent’s housekeeping needs.
You will find that the cost of hiring maids in Boston to start helping elderly parents keep their house clean will be much less expensive than you might have imagined. The staff of a cleaning service is well trained in how to clean a house or apartment as efficiently as possible, and are very proud of the work that they do. You can arrange for the maid service to clean your parents’ home weekly, bi-weekly, or whatever schedule suits you.
Boston Cleaners
Having this house cleaning chores under control and in someone else’s hands will give you that much more time to be with your parents and enjoy your time with them, instead of worrying about all the chores you need to get done.
House Cleaning Service in Boston As A Necessity
Whether you live in a large, expansive home, a practical abode designed for a small family, or a loft condo, hiring a house cleaning service can be a necessity rather than a luxury.
flickr credit: joanna8555
Years ago, having a house cleaning service was considered a luxury for only the wealthy who lived in mansions or large properties where the lady of the house was not expected to perform such menial chores as house cleaning. The times have changed and many people find that hiring a house cleaning service in Bostonmeets their needs on many levels.
Professional House Cleaning Benefits
House cleaning is a necessary part of owning or renting a home. No matter who you are, you have numerous other responsibilities and commitments that require your time. Coming home from work can present a daunting experience when confronted with all the house work that needs to be done on a regular basis. If you’re commuting a fair distance to work and home again, have children to get to various activities, and other commitments of your own – cleaning the house does not take priority.
flickr credit: rubenerd
Other instances where hiring a professional house cleaning service is necessary could include families with expectant moms who find the physical task of house cleaning to be extremely difficult as their pregnancy advances. Consider offering the services of a house cleaning service to your favorite expectant mother, and watch her face light up in relief.
As we all know, house cleaning can be a strenuous activity and there are many people with physical limitations that prohibit their ability to clean their homes on a regular basis, or sometimes to even be able to use the vacuum cleaner is compromised by their disability. This is another perfect example of when a house cleaning service is a necessity rather than a luxury.
House Cleaning Help
Cleaning your home requires a fair amount of organization, time, and scheduling. You want your home to be clean and sparkling for yourself, your family, and your guests. The option of hiring a house cleaning service in Boston becomes a necessity when it is difficult or impossible for you, the homeowner, to manage to keep up with the household chores on a regular basis.
3 Questions You Should Ask A House Cleaning Service in Boston
Choosing a House Cleaning Service
There’s no question about it, hiring anyone to do work for you – either home cleaning services – or on other personal items such as finances, you have to be sure who you are dealing with. There are some straight forward questions you should be asking potential companies, no matter what service they can offer you, that will make your life far easier and with less worry. A little extra footwork in the beginning of a business relationship will save you a lot of worry and disappointment in the end.
flickr credit: storebukkebruse
If you’re considering hiring a house cleaning service to take advantage of their cleaning expertise in your home, here are three questions you should be asking. We’ll list the questions and then discuss why they are important and what exactly you are trying to find out.
Questions To Ask A House Cleaning Service
- Is the house cleaning company you are interviewing insured?
- Who provides the products/appliances to clean with?
- What type of products do they use and why?
A professional house cleaning service should be insured for both liability (which covers damage to your home, personal belongings, or bodily injury to you and family members through negligence attributed to the company) and for workers’ compensation, which covers the employees of the service.
It is important that you see the actual insurance certificate, either from the company representative or by making a direct call to the insurance agency who insures the home cleaning service. Make sure that the policy is in force and that there are no cancellations in effect. You want to be sure that any employees of the maid service are covered under worker’s compensation should they be injured in your home. This insurance will protect you, the homeowner, should an accident occur on your premises that would involve liability on your part.
House Cleaning Products
Although it is customary when dealing with a professional service, you do want to be sure that the company is providing their own cleaning products and appliances such as vacuums and steam cleaners. The company generally has commercial grade vacuums that clean deeper and more efficiently than typical household ones. Most house cleaning services also have a particular line of cleaning products that they feel make their work most efficient and clean the best. Sometimes you, the homeowner, can use your own product if there is a specific reason to do so. Check with your cleaning company to determine the best methods.
flickr credit: go_greener_oz
In this day and age, many of us are concerned about using products that are gentle on the environment and do not cause undo stress on our already overloaded immune systems. Ask your intended Boston home cleaning service what type of products or brand they use and why they use them. Many services are now going green with their products as they’ve found this greatly reduces allergic reactions in their clients and their employees. Green products are also much better for the environment, our homes, pets, and children.
Take the time to ask questions of any house cleaning service or company with whom you are interested in establishing a relationship. Don’t leave it to chance. Know what to expect and how the work will be done.
Summer House Cleaning Tips
It seems we’re constantly changing seasons and within days, the summer season will be well upon us. Summer means more company, visitors, cookouts, parties, friends and family, and most importantly, time to freshen up our homes. We all want our homes clean, bright, and comfortable for this wonderful season.
flickr credit: sermoa
Hopefully, you’ve been keeping up with your house cleaning over the past months. If you’ve been negligent and failed to keep up, you will find the project to be quite overwhelming. This might be the time to consider getting a little bit of help from a house cleaning service before you undertake the majority of the summer cleaning chores on your own.
Today, we’re going to talk about which projects need tackling within your home. You can decide if you wish to work at them yourself, or seek some help. Let’s get started!
Summer House Cleaning
After the long winter and the house being closed up tight, you’ll want to dust off the radiators, shelves, books, all the baseboards, and where ever else you have dust accumulating.
Windows and screens will need dusting (or vacuuming works just as well), and washing both inside and out. Some people find that they can attach a window cleaning mixture that they get from a hardware store to their outdoor hose. This makes it so much easier to clean the exterior windows (and shutters) if you have a lot of windows or a two-story house.
This is a great time to wash all machine washable window treatments and bedding. In addition, this is also when you should change out your heavier, winter-weight drapes, area rugs, throws, bedding and such for the warmer weather types.
flickr credit: david23
If you have area rugs that do not have proper backings on them, send those out to professional cleaners. In the meantime, all your wall-to-wall carpets and area rugs with backings can be shampooed or steam cleaned with a rug/carpet cleaner. Wood floors are best cleaned with a warm bucket of water and a clean mop. No chemical cleaners are necessary.
Cleaning Floors
Floors seem to be the biggest stressor for many people, but nonetheless, they need to be cared for regularly. As we’ve said, wood floors need only a warm, clean water wash. You can strip and re-wax your vinyl or linoleum floors, which will bring back their shine. You may also want to wax some wood floors, stone, brick, and unglazed tiles.
Want a little shine in your home? Don’t forget to polish the metal door and window hardware (the pretty, shiny brass pieces will thank you). Oil your door and window hinges to eliminate those annoying squeaks.
flickr credit: thebusybrain
Cleaning your home for summer or for any season is always an easier job if you’ve been diligent in keeping up with the cleaning needs. As we mentioned before, should you find yourself either short of time or energy, engaging the assistance of a house cleaning service in Boston can save you a lot of time. You’ll have a cleaner house in far less time, and still get to enjoy that backyard barbeque with your friends.
Five Reasons To Hire A House Cleaning Service in Boston
It’s been a while since any of us have had a mother following us around and cleaning up after us. And I’m sure, you are happy about that on one hand, but the other? It’s a huge part of our household responsibilities that threatens to take over every minute of free time we can find.
Well, being adults does have its perks, and one of them is the ability and desire to hire a house cleaning service to take care of this major project that does, indeed, return to us each week (or sooner) with more floors to wash, vacuum, and things to dust. You can take the stress off by having a professional maid service come in and do the cleaning for you.
Here are five reasons to hire a house cleaning service that may help you decide whether you are ready to get started.
1) Regular cleaning keeps your house looking positively shining, smelling sweet and fresh, and ready for visitors at all times. Most of us were raised with moms who did the housework on a set day, every single week. These cleaning days were often exactly that, full days of cleaning; certainly enough to drive the kids out the door for the day.
The fact is that most of us want a clean house, but we find the extent of house cleaning to be such a chore, we fail to actually clean regularly or thoroughly. When you hire a maid service to clean your home, believe me, it’s clean, clean, clean. Not only is it the most thorough cleaning you’ve ever experienced, but it’s done regularly. Amazing.
flickr credit: Big C Harvey
2) A fantastic side effect of having a professional maid service clean your home is that you have free time to explore your creative side. The cleanliness and fresh smell of your home can easily put you into a creative frame of mind. Perhaps you would like to try a new hobby, or even resurrect a pastime that’s long been forgotten due to your many commitments.
3) A clean home lends to a much more enjoyed home that gives you the sense of peace and tranquility. When your home is being cleaned on a regular basis you can sit back, relax and enjoy your home for the peaceful retreat you have always hoped it to be. You will find that no longer do you stress and fret about yet one more “chore” that has to be done. You don’t have to be a slave to your house any longer.
4) More time. This is such a major need for so many of us. Our lives are so incredibly busy, the commitments overwhelming, yet we still want to be able to do more things that we enjoy. House cleaning is not one of those enjoyable jobs for many. With the extra time that you will have once you hire a maid service, you can spend more time with your family and friends, invest time in your community and in other worthy causes.
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5) And the number one reason to hire a maid service? It’s all about the cleaning — they clean far better than you could ever think. A professional service is well trained in the best and most effective cleaning procedures. They generally work in teams of two to four cleaners that work together to clean your house thoroughly and quickly. They even enjoy cleaning, so are very “into” this project, leaving you with free time and a clean house.
