People from all walks of life are turning towards outside help when it comes to cleaning their home: A young family actively involved with their children's activities; both partners working long hours; frequent travel or perhaps there is a preference simply to enjoy life rather than cleaning up after it.

Whatever the reason, the decision has been made to have your home professionally cleaned and the search begins to find the right company. The approach is much like looking for a new car. You begin reading consumer reports; you talk with friends; then determine what you can afford and a model to suit your lifestyle. By the time you reach the car lot you have a good idea of the color, style and model that is right for you.

Choose a company wisely: Selecting a company to clean and care for your home involves much the same process. Grab a clipboard, paper and pen and start taking notes. This initial exercise will guide you in your selection of a company as well as the kind of service that best suits your home and life style.

First the decisions:

• What will your budget allow? Cleaning fees can run $40 and up depending on your location, size of home and your family situation. If your budget is a tight, plan on an every other week cleaning.

• Walk through your home jotting down notes of any problem areas. If the dog or cat is prone to accidents or toilet leaks cause water stains the company must know. Water that is either hard or contains iron can be problematic. The type of cleaners used as well as the ability to thoroughly clean your home depends on a company being informed of these details.

• Other than the general cleaning like dusting, mopping, vacuuming, kitchen, and bathrooms, what other areas do you want cleaned. Do you have a laundry room or miniblinds? What about cobwebs and ceiling fans? Do you want the sheets on your bed changed? List everything that you do want cleaned with every visit then prioritize the list.

Begin Your Search:

A personal reference from a friend is the best way to find a company. Friends have generally hired and possibly fired a few companies and can help with your selection. Janitorial supply companies are another avenue. Call several until you hear the same name repeated a couple of times.

When you search the newspaper or yellow pages, look for ads that reflect the type of service that suits both you and your home. Are you looking for a company that follows a set schedule or one that gives a more personal touch? The ideal company combines both to offer you're a set schedule and the flexibility to adapt that schedule when needed.

The Initial Call:

Revert back to the days of your childhood when your inquisitive mind asked all kinds of questions. Those questions and subsequent answers or lack of them, will direct you to the right company.

*Note: A company will not be able to give you a firm bid over the phone. The final cost for the cleaning depends on the size of your home, pets, children and amount of furnishings among other things.

Here are a few sample questions to ask. Base your questions on the information you gathered in the above exercise.

1. Do they clean once a week or will they come every other week? Do they clean for special occasions like a wedding? Special occasions will come up and you may need them to clean.

2. Are they bonded and insured? Insured means they are covered in case of damage to your property. Bonded protects you should anything in your home turn up missing.

3. Do they charge by the job or by the hour? If they charge by the job ask how long they typically spend in a home your size. One person cannot thoroughly clean a 2400 square foot home in two hours.

4. What do they cover during each visit? Do they include "extras" like dusting cobwebs and cleaning smudged windows?

5. Do they bring their own equipment? This is preferable but let them know you want to approve the cleaners they use and to bring a list with them to the initial meeting. Make certain they use products with the green seal approval or do not contain harmful chemicals. Toxic chemical buildup in a home or office building is now being credited as a cause for some types of cancer, adult onset asthma and many other ailments. Be prepared to supply your own cleaners if necessary.

6. Does the owner do the cleaning or do they hire employees?

7. If they hire employees, does the owner or a trainer come with the employee for the first two or three cleanings? A full day is usually necessary the first cleaning. It is important to have a fully trained person assisting the employee to clean difficult areas such as hard water rings in toilets and soap residue buildup in showers.

8. If they send employees to clean your home will you be assigned a permanent cleaning person? It takes several cleanings to become familiar with the layout of a home. Once a cleaning professional becomes familiar with the home, cleaning speed increases making it possible to schedule in extra jobs like ceiling fan blades. You do not want a new person cleaning your home every visit.

Tune In: Listen closely to their answers. Did they take time to fully answer your questions or pressure you for a home visit? If you felt like the person was pressuring you into a home visit, call another company.

Salespeople know that possession means ownership. Professional pitch people at home shows and fairs are infamous for this maneuver. At the end of their pitch, they hand you the object giving you "ownership." Your wallet comes out and you end up with another garage sale item. Once a service person enters your home they are counting on you feeling that same "ownership." You are not obligated to hire them and should have a minimum of two preferably three interviews arranged. The exception would be if the company comes highly recommended from a friend or family member.

The appointment: It is important to inform the company about any problems you have in your home. They may be able to offer a solution. Keeping problems from them could result in further damage. Further, it prevents them from thoroughly cleaning your home, which results in disappointment with their service.

Here are a few topics to review with a potential cleaning firm during the walk through:

• Clarify the specific areas they regularly clean. You should receive a written paper listing these details. Jot down other chores like miniblinds that they clean on a rotating basis without an additional charge. Refer back to your notes from the first exercise to make sure you cover your priorities.

• If they have employees who do the actual cleaning, does the owner or trainer check their work on a regular basis? Request that the same individual be sent each time.

• Are they willing to exchange dusting/vacuuming infrequently used rooms like unused bedrooms and formal rooms or skip changing bed sheets to cover other small chores like windows and baseboards? Infrequently used rooms like formal dining/living rooms or guest bedrooms generally can be cleaned once a month. Should you opt to change your own bed sheets this frees a bit of their time to tend to your priorities.

• Do they clean more tedious areas like a chandelier or strip and wax a floor? Do they apply wood conditioner to cabinets and furniture? How do they clean and condition leather or vinyl furniture? What do they do about pet hair on furniture?

• Review what furniture they will pull out for vacuuming. Do not expect anyone to move heavy furniture.

• As you walk through your home point out items they are not to clean like oil paintings or valued antiques. These items are best cleaned by you to prevent any possible damage. Also review any furniture or decorative items requiring specific cleaning instructions like glass table tops or figurines. Hand them specific care instructions and leave those out each time they come.
  ADVERTISEMENT
  The little things do count: Watch to see if the person checks the little things like closing a bedroom door in search of dust bunnies. They should raise the toilet seat making note of water ring marks then run a fingernail along shower walls to determine the extent of soap buildup.

• Do they check walls for fingerprints and the ceiling for cobwebs? Have you discussed the kids and pets? In the kitchen a top rate professional opens the microwave, refrigerator and dishwasher then pulls out small appliances like coffee pots and toasters. Attention to detail on the walk through, means that same attention to detail will be paid during the cleaning.

• Discuss in depth the care of your hard floor surfaces. These surfaces are often ruined by well intentioned cleaning personnel because they lack product knowledge. Review the floor guide at http://goclean.com/floorcareguide.htm for proper floor care. Do not assume the cleaning company knows how to properly care for a floor. Insist your floors be cleaned according to your specifications. Once damage is done, the only remedy is usually an expensive one.

  The same holds true for the dusting and care of furniture. Make certain they use only 100% cotton products to dust. If you have leather or vinyl furniture supply your own cleaner to prevent the leather cracking. Wood furniture needs conditioning at least once a year. Most importantly make sure they do not clean any part of your home with microfiber except windows or mirrors.

Now enjoy a cleaning free day!

Mary Findley is a veteran cleaning expert and President of Mary Moppins. Over the past several years, Mary has given multiple seminars and speeches to help people become more productive and proficient in their cleaning tasks. Her website - www.goclean.com - offers a wealth of cleaning tips and advice to help consumers make the most of their cleaning time.

Exploring Womanhood > Heart of the Home > Homemaking