A professional house cleaner helps maintain a home’s cleanliness and hygiene. Hiring one can save time for busy individuals and families by handling routine chores, freeing up homeowners to focus on other priorities. Their work ensures that surfaces are not just visibly clean but also sanitized, contributing to a healthier environment.
Standard Cleaning Tasks
A standard cleaning service is designed to maintain a home’s current level of cleanliness on a recurring basis. These appointments cover the tasks needed to keep a living space tidy and hygienic. The goal is to address the most frequently used areas of a home, preventing the buildup of everyday dust and grime. This type of service is what most people schedule on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis.
In all areas of the house, cleaners will dust surfaces like furniture, shelves, and window sills. They vacuum carpets and rugs, sweep and mop hard floors, and empty trash cans, replacing the liners.
The kitchen receives specific attention, with cleaners wiping down countertops and the exterior of appliances such as the refrigerator and dishwasher. They will clean the stovetop, the front of cabinets, and the sink. This helps to remove daily cooking splatters and fingerprints.
Bathrooms are another focus area for standard cleaning. Cleaners will clean and disinfect toilets, sinks, and countertops. They wipe down mirrors, clean the exterior of the shower and tub, and mop the floor. These tasks are aimed at sanitizing high-touch surfaces.
What is Included in a Deep Clean
A deep clean goes much further than a standard service by targeting accumulated dirt and grime in less-accessible areas. It is an intensive process designed to restore a home to a like-new condition. This service is common for first-time customers, spring cleaning, moving in or out of a home, or preparing for a special event.
During a deep clean, cleaners perform all the standard tasks with additional, more thorough work. In the kitchen, this includes cleaning the inside of the oven and refrigerator, removing built-up grease from extractor hoods, and washing the inside of cabinets.
In the bathroom, deep cleaning involves scrubbing tile grout to remove mildew and soap scum, descaling fixtures and showerheads, and cleaning inside medicine cabinets. Cleaners will also wash baseboards, window sills, and door frames throughout the home, paying attention to details like light fixtures and ceiling fans.
Tasks Not Usually Included
To manage expectations, it is helpful to understand which tasks fall outside the scope of a house cleaning service. Cleaners are generally not responsible for organizing significant clutter. Their job is to clean surfaces, and if those surfaces are covered, they cannot do their work effectively.
Cleaners also do not typically wash dishes, do laundry, or change bed linens unless specifically arranged as an add-on service. These tasks are time-intensive and fall into housekeeping rather than surface cleaning. Cleaning the interior of windows is often excluded from standard packages.
For safety and liability reasons, cleaners will not lift heavy furniture or handle biohazardous materials, such as pet waste or mold. Exterior cleaning, like washing outside windows or power washing a deck, is also not included as these jobs require specialized equipment.
How to Prepare for a House Cleaner
To ensure a house cleaner can work efficiently, a little preparation is beneficial. The primary step a homeowner can take is to declutter. This involves picking up items like toys, clothes, and paperwork from floors and surfaces. When a cleaner has clear access to the areas they need to clean, they can dedicate their time to cleaning.
It’s also a good idea to secure pets in a safe and comfortable location. While many cleaners are comfortable with animals, keeping them contained prevents them from getting in the way and ensures the safety of both the pet and the cleaner.
Communicating specific priorities to the cleaner can also be helpful. If there are particular areas that need extra attention, letting the cleaner know in advance allows them to allocate their time accordingly. This ensures that the homeowner’s main concerns are addressed.
Finally, putting away any fragile or valuable items can prevent accidental damage.