5 Tips for Selecting Your Next Cleaner

As the summer ends, many will start considering a new house or office cleaning company. Use this checklist as a tried & true way to interview potential candidates! I've been in this industry for 15 years and have served as an industry consultant for the last 4 years. This will help you!​

1. Select a Legit Company! Choose a cleaning service that is tax-compliant, carries $2M of general liability insurance, and is legal to operate in PA. There are many people cleaning" part-time for side-income that are not insured. Their prices are very low (under $100 per visit) and you take on all the risk if something happens (injury, liability, theft, etc). Do not take that risk! Make sure they are legit and ask for proof! Legit companies are more expensive, but your peace of mind is worth the investment.
2. COVID Educated & Prepared! Make sure they have a safe COVID disinfecting protocol. There is no governing body in our state to ensure cleaning companies comply to CDC standards. Ask them how they are following CDC guidelines and how they limit cross-contamination? DO NOT hire the company if they DO NOT have a COVID protocol. You can reference my "COVID-19 Disinfection Protocol" as an example. Also, make sure they have a strong working knowledge of how to properly disinfect. If they have a COVID protocol, it is likely they have at least done the basics and read the latest CDC recommendations. In general, the more knowledgable they are, the more you can trust them to protect your family as they clean. The companies that excel in this area offer more peace of mind and are therefore more expensive. Feel free to use my "9 Mistakes in Disinfecting" podcast episode as a reference to check their basic knowledge.
3. Are they Great Cleaners? Check out their website and social media for before and after pictures. Do they have a basic working knowledge of the science of cleaning? This protects your home from damaging chemicals. What type of cleaning products do they use? Are they eco-friendly? What type of vacuum system do they use? Are they thorough? Ask if they move items or clean around them?
4. Limit Your Exposure!  As I shared in my last newsletter, the cleaning industry is realizing that solo teams have HUGE client-value. Why? Would you rather have 4 people in your home or office that rotate from visit-to-visit OR 1 person that is the same every time? I do private consulting for cleaning companies to help them switch to the solo model in my Solo Cleaning School.
5. Check references! Some people and companies are NOT what they appear online. Therefore, check multiple sources. Look at the company website, Google, FB, and other social media reviews. Ask for letters of recommendation or references of past and/or current clients. Gather 3-5 qualified companies and interview them over the phone. Select the top 3 and do in-person estimates for your home and/or office. Did they return your phone call promptly? Did they show up on time, act professional and businesslike? Do you trust them? Choose the company you TRUST the most and you're likely to find a service that you will keep for a while. ​