Maid Service Etiquette: 6 Dos and Don’ts of Hiring Help

Posted on December 5, 2018 by team@seosherpa.com

When the cleaning tasks begin to seem too daunting, you can rely on a professional maid service to do the work for you. However, if you’ve never tried enlisting the services of a cleaning company before, the process can trouble you with various ‘etiquette’ issues.

To ensure that both you and your service provider can benefit, the goal should be to create a happy and repeatable experience. Follow these dos and don’ts from a reliable cleaning service in Dubai to make certain that the entire process goes smoothly and well for everyone involved.

1. Do prepare for house cleaning

Although it may seem counterintuitive to clean up before your house cleaners arrive, it’s the best way to ensure that the maid or cleaning team can focus on what matters most. The easier access your house cleaners have to tables, floors, countertops, and the like, the more time they have to get them clean.

To prepare for house cleaning:

Gather up mail, toys, clothing, shoes, and any other clutter lying around, especially on tables and countertops.
Remove cash, jewellery, and other valuables for safekeeping.

2. Don’t hesitate to communicate openly

In any relationship, open communication is key. Don’t dilly-dally and openly discuss your expectations with your cleaning service to avoid any issues. Do a walk-through of your entire house and provide a list of priority items to be cleaned.

Don’t forget to ask the cleaning company what services are included and not included in their fee. Also, let the company know of any particular information, such as:

Particular cleaning products or supplies you want
Concerns about the quality of work
Anything specific to your family or home like pets or allergies
Cleaning schedule and whether you would be present during the process

By being honest about your home condition and which areas are high priority to you, you can be certain to get the level of cleanliness that you want. Keep in mind that poor communication often results in unsatisfactory experiences.

3. Do respect your house cleaners’ schedule

You have to be aware that house cleaners usually have a limited time to finish the work required. This is why it’s important to prepare your home for house cleaning especially if you’ve only booked the cleaners for a few hours.

If you will be present during the cleaning process, don’t disturb the cleaners and let them focus on their tasks. Just be available for when they happen to have questions about anything cleaning-related.

4. Don’t feel compelled to give tips

First and foremost, tipping is highly discretionary. When you choose to hire a cleaning service, the company will tell you that giving tips is entirely up to you. However, if you choose to hire people who work for themselves, it’s often customary to give a 10 to 20 percent tip on top of the cleaning fee.

Regardless of who cleans your home, tipping should be based on how satisfied you are with the work. Consider giving tips as a thank you gift to the person or crew for a job well done.

5. Do act like a professional when dealing with a cleaning service

Treat your house cleaner the same way you treat any professional. Instead of being rude, try to be polite in giving instructions. If you have issues with the cleaning methods, inform the cleaner without being abusive in any way. This means hitting, throwing things or shouting are big no-nos.

If your house cleaner still can’t seem to understand and follow your specific instructions, contact the company directly. The company will be the one to impose penalties if need be. Don’t exert any effort in scolding or shouting at the house cleaner.

6. Don’t be impractical with your expectations

Just because you’re the customer, doesn’t mean you can be unrealistic with your expectations. Be clear about how big and dirty your house is so that you can book the right cleaning service and amount of time. Don’t expect your house of six rooms to get cleaned in an hour especially if you only booked a few people to do the job.

Be reasonable and manage your expectations well so that you won’t get frustrated and end up blaming the cleaning service who may not be at fault. Double check your service agreement with the company for all the details to understand exactly what’s involved in your flat rate.

What should you look for in a house cleaner?

Now that you know the proper etiquette when hiring a cleaning service, you should also be meticulous about hiring one.

It’s important that you do your research first to make certain you get the right house cleaners for the job. After all, you’ll be granting a stranger (or strangers) access to your home so it pays to always be prudent.

Find out whether the cleaning company has a license and insurance.
Ask if the employees undergo background checks.
Check the company reputation and read customer reviews.
Evaluate if the cost or cleaning fee is reasonable enough.
Probe if tools and equipment are part of the service.

By following the six dos and don’ts above, you will get a clearer picture of what to expect and how to get the most of your cleaning service.

Having respectful discourse over a service you will pay for will help build harmonious relationships with cleaning personnel, thereby ensuring good results. This way, you will always have professional, reliable service any time you may require it.

Got a major cleaning task you can’t do alone?