Window Cleaning Supply: If You're Thinking About Hiring A Maid, Here Is Some Sound Advice
There may not be a more satisfying feeling than arriving home to a house which has been cleaned from top to bottom, even more so when some else has done all of the work while you were gone; nothing left to do but relax in your favorite chair by the fire! With the frantic lifestyle most people seem to have and the usual situation of needing two income families, the majority of people find they just don't have enough time left for regularly doing domestic chores. However, before you log onto the Internet or phone to employ a maid strait away, there are several crucial questions that you should remember to ask, and there is also some pertinent information which should be considered in advance.
You may find a maid from a company, and in this instance the maid will actually be an employee of the company which provides the service. The advantages are that the maid service will be responsible for any employment taxes, carrying worker's compensation, and should have bonded and insured the maid. (Make sure the maid is bonded against your losses and not just the maid company's losses.) The company should also have insurance in case the maid is injured while at your home. You should ask for copies of all current polices. When you hire an individual, on the other hand, federal law requires you pay social security and other taxes.
Inquire about what screening and background checks the maid company performs on employees. Ask if the maids are employees or subcontractors of the maid service. A maid service using subcontractors can be more risky. These individuals are usually not required to clock into work at any specific time, they may not have anywhere near the training actual employees possess, and insurance liability can be questionable.
Get references from the maid service. Call each reference and ask if they have had any complaints and if they recommend the service. Inquire as to whether or not they are still using the service. If not, ask why.
Look into whether the company has any sort of guarantee with respect to quality. Do the maids have supervisors and if so what are they responsible for? Request information from the company on whether they provide any assurances, and what their current complaint process is.
Will the company be using their equipment or yours? This includes vacuums, mops, buckets, sponges, squeegees and so on.
Get a complete description of what services are included such as:
*emptying trash
*window cleaning
*dishes
*bathroom
*wood floors
*wood polishing
*furniture dusting
*blind cleaning
*light fixture dusting
You also need to consider who will be supplying the cleaning products. If you are providing the cleaning products, make a detailed list and then always ensure that you have them available for when your maid shows up. If the service will be using their own cleaning products, ask them what they will use and whether the products are toxic to people and pets. Find out if the products disinfect pathogens.
There are green cleaning products available. Check the ingredients and effectiveness of each one. Some are only diluted versions of the originals while others are bio based. These are made up of natural bacteria and enzymes and considered non-pathogenetic natural substances that can clean safely.
If you have specifically agreed to allow the cleaning company to supply the cleaning products, ask for samples and apply very small volumes of each one. People have different tastes and smells and you do not want to come home to a house with a smell that drives you out.
It's a good idea to be home the first time your maid cleans if possible. There may be some questions you'll need to answer, and at the same time you can watch them go through their tasks.
With a little planning and these tips you should be able to come home to a clean house and relax. If you have not had a maid service before, you will probably find you never want to live without it again.
By: Greg Dennely
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