- We asked professional cleaners about red flags they’d look for when hiring someone to clean a home.
- Suspiciously low cleaning prices might draw you in, but you could get hit with surprise fees later.
- If cleaners don’t offer walkthroughs after a service, they may not stand behind their work.
Many people hire professional house cleaners to help keep their homes looking good on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis.
When trying to decide who to bring into your home, reading online reviews is a good place to start. Still, there are a few other things you may want to look for when hiring a cleaning service.
So, Business Insider asked professional cleaners about the red flags they would look for when hiring someone. Here’s what they said.
There’s no satisfaction guarantee
Always look for cleaners or cleaning companies that stand behind their work by offering some kind of satisfaction guarantee, said Robin Murphy, founder of ChirpChirp House Cleaning.
It’s a good sign when cleaning companies offer to come back or redo a service if customers are not satisfied.
However, Murphy said she’d look for stronger guarantees, such as refunds or no-charge reworks, as these claims can demonstrate a company’s confidence and commitment to its cleaning standards.
Prices feel suspiciously low
When looking for a cleaning service, it’s wise to research average prices in your local area to learn what to expect. If you find a company offering a low price that seems too good to be true, it probably is, Murphy said.
She told BI that some companies price their services low on purpose to lure in customers only to later hit them with hidden fees and “impose additional charges.”
When in doubt, ask what is included in the price of a clean and what costs extra — and always read the fine print of a contract.
Tools — especially the cleaning rags — appear unclean
Rhonda Wilson, lead cleaner at FreshSpace Cleaning, told BI that people should pay attention to cleaners’ rags and tools.
“If your cleaner brings in old, worn-out rags and dirty equipment, that is a big red flag,” Wilson said. “In our profession, we’re expected to have batches of clean, absorbent microfiber cloths and clean our tools every after a cleaning appointment.”
Wilson added that dirty supplies can spread grime around surfaces rather than cleaning them or even cause cross-contamination.
The cleaner doesn’t ask for or ignores instructions
When people hire cleaners, it’s not uncommon to provide them with instructions about what they’re looking for or which items in the home to be careful with or avoid.
So, Wilson said, it’s a huge red flag if a cleaner doesn’t ask for preferences or ignores your instructions.
“A good cleaner should be a good listener and follower. If they’re willing to tweak their methods and products based on your feedback, then you found a great one,” she told BI.
They don’t offer to do a walkthrough after a service
It’s a sign of good service when cleaners offer to conduct walkthroughs, and may even be a bit of a red flag if they refuse to do so.
Wilson said these final walkthroughs can show professionalism and help ensure clients are satisfied with their service.
“During a final walkthrough, the homeowner has a chance to provide immediate feedback, which helps us address any issues immediately and improve our service for the future,” she said.
The company has a high turnover rate
Murphy said booking a professional cleaning company with a high turnover rate could lead to inconsistent services. Plus, the rate may signify bigger internal issues with the business.
“A high turnover rate can indicate poor management, lack of training, or job satisfaction among employees, leading to poor quality and inconsistent cleaning services,” Murphy said.
“When housecleaners don’t feel valued or well-equipped to do their jobs, it can reflect in the quality of service performed,” she added.
