In this article, you'll learn about the different services offered by today's best housecleaning companies. We'll also review some simple ways to cut down your housecleaning costs, as well as a few tips on finding the best housecleaning services in your local area.
While we all love our homes, most of us dread the chore of keeping them clean. This is why, for many years in the past, it was very common for even middle-class households to employ a full-time maid. Those days are long gone, and today only the ultra-wealthy can afford such luxury. However, housecleaning services are still alive and well. They've simply adapted and changed with the times.
Why Hire Outside Help?
There are many different reasons for employing a company or individual to come in and clean your home. For couples who work full-time, often the last thing they want to deal with is household chores. Having a regular cleaning service come in weekly or monthly; can make life easier for these busy professionals. A cleaning service becomes even more convenient if the couple is juggling demanding full-time work with the raising of children.
In other cases, a house full of children is the main reason for hiring a housecleaning service! Many stay-at-home mothers have begun employing a cleaning service, on a regular or as-needed basis, to keep up with the whirlwinds of messy destruction that children...especially young children...can be.
Holidays are a very popular time to hire the services of a professional housecleaner. With many more people entertaining at home these days, it's only natural to want your house to look its absolute best. However, during hectic, busy pre-holiday preparation, cleaning is often the last item on the “to-do†list. If you're hosting a large family gathering at your home this year, it's wise to hire a professional housecleaner. Not only will your home be sparkling clean and inviting for your guests, but the money you spend will seem like nothing compared to the relief of having such a large job completed.
Yet another situation which often calls for professional housecleaning services is a household where one or more members are older adults with mobility issues. The rigorous reaching, stooping and bending required to deep-clean a home is simply not possible for some with limited mobility. In these cases, a housecleaning service simply makes good sense. After all, there's little point in injuring yourself simply to clean a rug.
Regardless of your reasons for desiring the services of a housecleaning professional, rest assured that there is a company or individual out there perfectly suited to your needs and your budget.
What Services are Offered??
The range of services offered by today's housecleaning services very broad. You can hire an
individual to come in once a week and do a light once-over of your home or you can hire a team of professional house cleaners to give your home a deep, thorough cleaning on a monthly basis. The possibilities really are limitless, since most housecleaning professionals are extremely flexible and willing to work within and around time constraints and individual specifications.
It's also possible to hire a cleaning service for job that's done annually or even less frequently. Perhaps you've been neglecting your garage since you first moved into your home, using the space as a giant “junk drawer†for a variety of odds and ends. A professional housecleaning agency may be just the answer you've been searching for. In a few days (at the most), an individual or a small team can transform that jungle of boxes into a neat, organized and (most importantly) clean and usable space. Another popular job for professional cleaners is exterior windows, since these are difficult to clean without the proper equipment, and are generally washed only once or twice per year.
As you can see, housecleaning services are available to meet nearly any needs or desires you may have. If you don't' see the service you require listed, don't be afraid to ask. Today's best housecleaning services are extremely accommodating.
It's important to remember that while most services are very accommodating, there are also many which make it a policy to avoid certain jobs. These are usually jobs which have the potential to be hazardous.
The most common level of housecleaning today is a weekly or monthly deep-clean. This usually involves a thorough scrubbing of bathrooms, kitchens and other areas which quickly attract grime, as well as vacuuming, mopping, polishing or waxing floors if needed. This list can also include any other assorted tasks which are unappealing or time-consuming. With a regularly scheduled deep-clean and everyday light cleaning by household members, you can easily maintain a spotless home with minimal effort!
I Want Professional Cleaning Services, but I'm Worried About Cost?
A common misconception today is that only the very wealthy can afford any type of professional cleaning service. This is simply untrue. While a full-time maid is certainly out of the question for most of us, a periodic cleaning is within most household budgets.
If you would like to cut your professional cleaning costs as low as they can possibly go, you'll need to practice regular light household cleaning. If you keep your home relatively neat and tidy, a housecleaning professional will, obviously, have less to do when they arrive and will finish sooner. This leaves you with a professionally cleaned home, without a sky-high bill.
The following are some simple habits well worth cultivating if you're considering professional housecleaning services. They may take a bit of getting used to, but once you see the reduced cleaning costs, you'll be happy you made the effort.
- Clean As You Go. You may have already read or heard this recommendation used in reference to cooking. If you clean up after every step, you won't be left with a kitchen covered in flour and a sink full of dirty mixing bowls. The same principle can apply to your entire home! Get in the practice of leaving a room just a bit neater than it was when you walked in. If there are items lying around which don't' belong, pick them up and bring them back to where they're supposed to be. This sounds simplistic, but it's the little things that really add up when it comes to keeping a home neat and tidy. One child's toy left in the middle of the living room floor can “multiply†quickly!
- Determine Which Chores You Really Hate. There are those who can't stand washing dishes, while others find it relaxing. Some actually enjoy vacuuming, while others can't' stand the noise and dragging cords. Determine which household chores are merely annoying to you, and which you absolutely hate. This will give you a good basis when choosing which housecleaning services you want to pay for.
- Assemble the Troops. If they don't already, now is the time to enlist your children in household chores. In addition to building responsibility and character, this can cut down dramatically on your professional housecleaning costs. Make sure that the chores are age-appropriate, and consider offering a small reward, such as an allowance or a small treat at the end of each week or month during which all chores were completed. Younger children can be taught very early to put their toys away after playtime, and older kids can take full responsibility for their own rooms, and common areas like the living room as well.
- Create a Budget. If you haven't already, sit down and create a household budget. There are some great online tools for this. Determine exactly how much money you can spare for extras, such as professional housecleaning services.
I Don't Want to Hire the Wrong Person?
Unfortunately, some people today are very wary of allowing a stranger into their home, especially if they're not going to be home at the same time. This is easily solved by scheduling your housecleaning for a day and time when you can be in the house. If this is impossible due to work or other schedules, you'll want to be even more selective in your search for a reliable professional.
This is one of the reasons why websites which connect professionals and consumers have become so popular. By utilizing these websites, you can find a housecleaning professional, or a company, with a record of happy and satisfied customers.
Check the client reviews before making a hiring decision. Many websites will refuse to list a company if they have a negative record, but it never hurts to double-check. In addition, these reviews can give you valuable insight into the company itself. Subtle things can become big issues if you disagree on how your home should be cleaned.
Once you've narrowed down your choices, contact each one and see how you get along. After all, this person or team may be in your home on a fairly regular basis, so it's only fair to choose somebody you get along well with.
By following some common-sense guidelines and making an effort to keep your home clean on a regular basis, you can enjoy the luxury of professional housecleaning services on virtually any budget.
Posted by: Diane