If you are hiring a cleaning service for the first time, read the tips below on how to properly prepare for the cleaner who will come to clean your apartment or house. The whole process is simple, and after a few visits from the cleaner, you will be completely used to it.
1. Define expectations and needs in the cooperation agreement
In the cooperation agreement between you and the cleaning service, you can define the following items:
- Obligations and responsibilities of the cleaning service (use of cleaning agents, cleaning prices and what is included in the price, schedule, number of hours on a weekly or monthly basis, complaints, payment deadline and method, etc.)
- Your expectations and requirements regarding cleaning (frequency of cleaning, subject and scope of cleaning, weekly/monthly/deep cleaning, additional services, etc.)
Why does it make sense to sign a cooperation agreement?
- You will avoid all potential ambiguities and disagreements, as everything will be defined in the contract.
- You will avoid problems that can arise from ordering services from individuals who are not legally registered to perform cleaning services. Cleaning services have liability insurance. This protects your belongings and property in case the provider unintentionally damages furniture, breaks a light, etc., during cleaning.
Procompare only works with cleaning services that have a registered business.
2. Agree on whether you will be home during the cleaning
Agree with the cleaning service whether you will be present in the apartment or house during the cleaning. Some cleaning services actually prefer you to be present during cleaning to protect themselves from liability if something goes missing in your home, while others have no preference and can do the work even when you are not at home. In any case, it is useful to be present during the cleaner's first visit to show them the premises.
3. Ensure the safety of your pets
Some cleaning services require that your pet is not in the apartment during cleaning. They make this request because they cannot ensure the safety of pets, which can get injured if they come into contact with cleaning equipment, such as a vacuum cleaner or a steam cleaner.
Apartment cleaning can be difficult if pets are running around, obstructing the cleaner's work. In these cases, take your pet with you or confine it to a specific area, for example, outside on the terrace or in a room.
If the cleaning service does not have such a requirement, it is wise to get your pet used to a stranger in the apartment by having them meet the cleaner first and gradually develop a relationship, so that both will feel comfortable when they are alone in the apartment.
4. Allow the cleaner access to your home
If you want the cleaner to do their work when you are not at home, you will need to give them access to your home. To allow them to enter your home, you must provide a copy of the key or entrust them with the door entry code. If you have an alarm system, also tell them the code to disarm the alarm.
It is important to establish trust, as you will be letting someone new into your home.
You can ask the cleaning service to always send the same person to your home, so that you can get to know them better and develop a personal relationship.
You can also include an additional clause in the cooperation agreement about the handover of keys, where you state to whom you have given the keys and set a requirement that the keys cannot be copied without your permission, or that they cannot be used by other cleaners in the cleaning service.
5. Inform the cleaner about your expectations and requirements
Although you have specified the scope of cleaning and listed the key tasks for the cleaner to perform on a weekly or monthly basis in the cooperation agreement, it is very important that the cleaner is fully aware of your expectations and requirements. This will ensure that all surfaces are cleaned.
- Before their arrival, let the cleaner know which areas need extra attention for cleaning. For example, when you want them to do extra work, such as cleaning blinds, removing limescale from the toilet bowl, etc., or if a certain area is particularly dirty, such as the kitchen where you prepared dinner for a group of people the previous evening.
- Walk through the rooms with the cleaner. Point out details, such as the need for extra care for a carpet made of delicate fabrics, the need to watch out for mold developing on the shower cabin, or that the vacuum cleaner cannot be plugged in in the hallway because there is no electrical outlet.
- Agree on which cleaning products they should use. You can request the use of ecological cleaners, or offer cleaning products that you have at home and want them to use to clean certain surfaces.
6. Tidy up the main mess in the rooms before the cleaner arrives
Before the cleaner arrives, tidy up the mess in your apartment. Put away everything that accumulates on the floor and on the shelves. Pick up clothes and toys from the floor, put the dishes in the sink or dishwasher, put away cosmetic items from the sink into the bathroom cabinets, and so on.
If they don't have to tidy up after you, the cleaner can spend more time on thorough cleaning.
If surfaces are cluttered with various items, the cleaner will not be able to clean them as quickly. It is better for them to spend the time they would spend tidying up clutter and arranging items on a more thorough cleaning of the surfaces. This will also save you money, especially if you have agreed on an hourly rate.
The cleaner also won't know the best place to put certain items, so things can get misplaced, and you might get annoyed because you can't find them in their usual spot.
7. Provide feedback on the work done
During the first few visits from the cleaner to your home, it is useful to give them feedback on the work done and provide your suggestions. This way, the cleaner will know what they can improve and change in their work next time.
Clear communication is necessary for a quality service.
It definitely takes some time to reach an understanding with the cleaner regarding all your expectations and wishes. The cleaner cannot know your specific needs right away. Clear communication from your side is also necessary for a quality service.
If you are still dissatisfied with the cleaning despite providing feedback, you can call the cleaning service and tell them what specifically is bothering you. The cleaning service will offer the most suitable solution for you, and you can also claim the warranty on the services performed.
