Getting Organized: Choosing a Cleaning Service

By Michele Blandino

With families becoming increasingly busy with jobs, children’s activities and other pursuits, many are finding it difficult to make the time to take care of household tasks such as the weekly cleaning. And, rather than taking what little free time they do have available to complete these tasks, many people are turning to cleaning services to give them a helping hand.

National or Local?

Cleaning services range from national chains to locally run enterprises. As would be expected, there are advantages and disadvantages to each. When you contract with a national or regional chain that has a full roster of employees, you can be virtually assured that your regular appointment will be kept. Smaller enterprises may not be able to make this guarantee.

There is, however, an important advantage to doing business with a smaller company; the personnel tend to be long-term employees meaning you will know who is going to be in your house. Employee turnover in the larger companies, on the other hand, tends to be fairly high making it difficult to schedule the same person consistently.

Obviously, whether you chose a large chain or a local business, you should ensure that they are adequately insured and that the employees are bonded. You should also check with your own insurance carrier to see if your homeowner’s policy covers domestic employees.

Sizing up the Task

The first thing you need to decide on is how often you want your house cleaned. If you need to watch your budget and don’t think you can afford weekly cleaning, consider opting for a bi-weekly visit. While a bi-weekly visit may not be enough to enable you to scratch cleaning from your weekly to-do list, it should significantly reduce the amount of time you need to devote to this chore.

As you interview prospective service providers, be sure to do a thorough walk through of your home. As you go through each room, the service provider should tell you what you can expect will be done. If there is something you would like in addition to their standard service, let them know. Likewise, if there is something you don’t want touched – perhaps a precious family heirloom – tell them. Be sure all of this is in the contract.

You will also want to know if you will be expected to furnish the cleaning supplies and equipment.

What You can Expect to Pay

Cleaning service rates vary from region to region, but you can expect to pay $20 - $35 per hour. Other larger tasks such as cleaning your basement or shampooing your carpets may cost slightly more than that.

A Final Thought

Most people find it helpful to interview several services before making their final decision. Remember, this person will be spending time in your home and you will want to be comfortable having them there. Don’t be afraid to ask for references. As with any service provider, taking the time to make a well-informed decision will help reduce the likelihood of problems later.