Regular cleaning promotes wellness by helping remove allergens and germs that cause cold, flu, asthma, and other allergies. Yearly, Americans lose 50 million days of work and spend $5billion treating colds alone. Today, the world is busier than ever and an average American spends 18-20 hours of their day sleeping, working, shopping, and in some leisure activities, with less time to attend to household cleaning. The time for housekeeping is even more difficult for persons with big families, a new baby, a lot of pets, regular guests, and needy elderly people.
As such employing a maid or apartment cleaning service nearby is not only a question of improving your personal and family hygiene but also saving yourself from joining the over 44 percent of Americans suffering from high stress. Note, you cannot just hire anyone near you that claims to be a housekeeper because maids and cleaners generally have access to your home and private space. Therefore, it is very important that you always hire a professional and properly vetted maid/apartment cleaning service with an understanding of the relevant OSHA standards. You can do this by asking the following questions:
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Are You a Licensed Maid/Apartment Cleaning Service?
Maid/apartment cleaning services are not typically required to obtain a state-level license. Nevertheless, many of these services perform background checks on their employees before hiring them. Before you employ the services of a maid/apartment cleaning service near you, always make sure that their employees have been properly vetted and have no criminal misdemeanors or felonies to their name.
Note that even though many states do not issue state-level maid/apartment cleaning service licenses, counties, cities, and municipalities may require local-level licensing for this service. Therefore, it is always a good idea to contact your local consumer protection office to find out whether there are any maid/apartment cleaning services licensing requirements for your area of residence.
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Are You a Bonded and Insured Maid/Apartment Cleaning Service?
A total of 10 fatal occupational injuries and 15,200 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses were recorded amongst maids and housekeeping cleaners in 2019 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employing the services of a maid/apartment cleaning service that is insured and bonded insulates you financially if a fatality or injury occurs as a result of your home cleaning, and also if the job is not properly completed for any reason.
Businesses and contracting companies are generally required to have general liability and workers' compensation insurance plans at the very least. However, it is also a good idea for your maid/apartment cleaning service to have an employee dishonesty insurance plan too. Always ask for proof of insurance and bonding, and make sure that they are valid and up to date. You can do this by requesting copies of the cleaning service's insurance and bonding certificates, and contacting the organization that issued these certificates to verify their authenticity.
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What Kind of Work Are You Specialized In?
Apartment cleaning services can be divided into two main groups, one-time cleaning services, and recurring cleaning services. One-time cleaning services generally include one-off regular house cleanings, spring/deep house cleanings, and moving in/moving out cleanings. Recurring cleaning services are regular house cleanings and spring/deep house cleanings that are carried out weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. However, some maid/apartment cleaning services also offer live-in and full-time options.
Apartment cleaning typically involves a wide range of services like bathroom cleaning, window cleaning, kitchen cleaning, and room cleaning, and many maid/apartment cleaning services do not limit themselves to a particular type of cleaning job. Nevertheless, it is always a good idea to find out whether the maid/apartment cleaning service that you intend to hire is properly equipped to handle the type of cleaning project you want to undertake. It is also advisable to find out the type of house cleaning products that will be used, and how the cleaning will be done.
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Who Will Do the Work?
When you employ the services of a maid/apartment cleaning service near you, the firm usually assigns an employee or two to carry out the actual cleaning job. It is important that you are duly informed of the actual number of employees that will be sent to your home. You should also be provided with their names, and make sure that these employees are insured, bonded, and have been properly vetted by the maid/apartment cleaning service.
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Do You Offer a Warranty?
You should always ask any maid/apartment cleaning service that you intend to hire whether you will be offered a warranty. A warranty is an assurance that the provider of a product or service makes to convince you of the product or service's quality. A good professional maid/apartment cleaning services near you would typically offer a type of warranty that is known as a redo warranty or a satisfaction/money-back guarantee. This guarantee assures you that the maid/apartment cleaning service will redo the cleaning job if you are unsatisfied with their services.
In many cases, you are required to inform the cleaning service of your dissatisfaction no later than 24 hours after the job has been concluded. However, the specific terms of this guarantee differ by maid/apartment cleaning service. As such, it is always a good idea to get any guarantees or warranties in writing.
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Will This Job Require a Permit?
Permits are usually required for projects that will result in a significant change to your home's structure or footprint. Apartment cleaning services do not significantly alter your home, and therefore they do not typically require permits.
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Will You Provide References?
You should never hire a maid/apartment cleaning service near you that cannot provide you with the contact details of at least three of their satisfied clients. Always ask for references, contact these individuals, and get their opinions on the maid/apartment cleaning service. It is also a good idea to independently source for reviews and references. One way you can do this is by utilizing the services of third-party websites like Google Review, Yelp, and Better Business Bureau.
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Do You Have a Business License?
Although maid/apartment cleaning services do not typically need a professional license, these services are required to obtain a business license before operating. A business license is a government-issued document that authorizes a company to conduct business in an area. Maid/apartment cleaning services belong to a class of businesses known as small businesses, and these types of businesses constitute nearly 100% of all businesses in the United States.
Always make sure that the maid/apartment cleaning service you intend to hire has a valid business license. You can do this by requesting proof of licensing and authenticating it by contacting your state of residence's Office of the Secretary of State.
What Are Common Apartment Cleaning Problems?
Some problems associated with improper apartment cleaning are:
- Dust buildup
- Clutter
- Poor air quality
- Mold growth around a bath
- Stains on bathroom fixtures
- Dirty floors and countertops
- Smudges and streaks on window glasses
- Rampant bacterial growth
- Exposure to harsh/harmful cleaning products
- Spills and leaks
- Full and overflowing bins
How Much Does a Maid/Apartment Cleaning Service Cost?
The average cost of hiring a maid/apartment cleaning service is $150 - $250. This amount usually depends on the size of the house that has to be cleaned and the level of cleaning required, and it can go as low as $100 or as high as $400.
Some common maid/apartment cleaning service costs are:
Cost estimates by type of cleaning:
Cost estimates by type of apartment:
Cost estimate by type of room:
Cost estimates by number of cleaners:
What Are the Factors That Affect the Cost of Hiring a Maid/Apartment Cleaning Service?
The cost of hiring a maid/apartment cleaning service is primarily affected by the size of your home and the type of cleaning required. Regular cleanings cost less than spring/deep cleanings because they generally require less labor. Likewise, cleaning a single room will cost you less than cleaning two or more rooms. The state of your home and the type of room that is to be cleaned also affect the cost of hiring a maid/apartment cleaning service. Properly cleaning a bathroom or a kitchen typically requires more work and uses more cleaning materials than cleaning a bedroom, and so it costs more. Note, maids and cleaners hired near you will cost less than those who have to come from afar due to travel expenses.
What Qualifications Should Maids/Apartment Cleaners Have?
Formal education is not typically required for maid/apartment cleaning, and many workers in this industry learn on the job. It is estimated that there are currently about 926,960 employed maids and housekeeping cleaners in the United States. Some maid/apartment cleaning services also offer their employees training programs and certification opportunities through trade associations like the International Executive Housekeepers Association and the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification.
What Are Common Post Maid/Apartment Cleaning Service Expenses?
Professional maid/apartment cleaning by itself does not typically incur additional expenses. This is because the cost of materials needed for the job and the cost of disposing of any generated debris are usually calculated into the bill. However, in some cases, an unusually large amount of junk and debris like old furniture, toys, and appliances, might be generated. This usually occurs during moving in/moving out cleanings and spring/deep cleanings. If this happens, you may be required to pay an additional fee of $50 - $200 for removing and disposing of this excess junk.
Another post maid/apartment cleaning expense that is common amongst pet owners is the cost of pet odor removal. Pet odors can linger in your home even after a professional deep cleaning, and they are usually caused by several factors. These include your pet's natural scent camouflage and natural oils, bacterial buildup, and urine. If this happens, you will have to hire a pet odor removal specialist near you to professionally remove these odors. Doing this will cost you an average of $200 - $400.
Can I Use Digital Payment to Pay My Maid/Apartment Cleaning Service?
More and more small businesses, including professional maid/apartment cleaning services near you, are willing to accept digital payments these days. These types of transactions are easier to conduct, faster, and more secure than cash transactions. They are also more convenient and offer instantaneous record-keeping options. However, you should never assume that your maid/apartment cleaning service accepts digital payments. Always confirm with them before initiating any payments, and make sure that you collect and document a receipt for any cash transactions.