3 Points in Choosing a Boston Maid Service

While speaking with some of my customers I have come across some of the concerns people have while choosing a Boston maid service. The answer lies in finding professionals who are trustworthy, reliable and likeable. Asking the right questions gives  you insight into the companies you contact and help you in making the right decision.

Is your Boston maid service trustworthy? Letting someone into your home can come with some doubts. Asking how long their employees have worked with a company lets you know whether they really know who they are sending to your home. Another important requirement for a recommendable maid service in Boston is carrying insurance (for all the unexpected situations that may arise).

Is the cleaning service reliable? Find out whether you will be getting service by a team or one person. Does the team have the necessary equipment and chemicals to thoroughly clean and disinfect your home? There is nothing worse than having an unprepared service show up at your home. Is their schedule orgaized and can they be reached by telephone or email when needed? We all know the unexpected happens, having a maid service that understands this will update you if anything changes and follow up to ensure everything went according to plan. The answers to these questions paint a clear picture of the Boston maid service that is right for you.

Flick Credit: sugarpinkspice

Do you like them? Would you consider them cleaning professionals? Does your salesperson ease your mind? Is your cleaning team both quick and thorough? Everyone that represents your Boston cleaning service should make you feel comfortable by being personable, understanding and knowledgeable about getting the best possible clean for you.

Are there other things you look for or ahve any other questions when you choose a Boston cleaning service?

Boston House Cleaning Rates Worthy of Professional Maid Service

Have you thought that having a Boston maids service was a luxury afforded only by people living in huge houses or estates?  Our attitudes are changing about hiring maids or a maid service as our lives become more and more hectic through the varied demands placed upon our time.  Once you begin to investigate house cleaning rates, you will see that the cost is one which is reasonably priced and can easily be afforded on most budgets.

 

House Cleaning Rates

House cleaning rates from maids or a maid service are generally based on the size of the house either by the number of bedrooms or the square footage, or the rate can be solely figured by the hour.  The base house cleaning rate can vary according to the condition of the home, how often the maids will be cleaning the home, and the level of services you require.

We've managed to uncover some nationally average house cleaning rates that will surely put this all in a much better perspective for you.  There are many options available as far as frequency, services provided, materials used, and the type of maid service that you choose.  

 

 

Typical house cleaning rates for the first cleaning which usually takes a little longer and is very thorough:

• 900 square foot apartment with 2 bedrooms and about 5 rooms total runs between $74-$200.

• 1300 square foot single story home with 7 rooms runs between $95 and $300.

• 2200 square foot two-story, 3-bedroom house with up to 9 rooms would run $149 to $400.

 

Once you've had the initial, first-time house cleaning, a professional Boston maids service would then generally clean your home on a bi-weekly basis.  Let's look at the house cleaning rates for bi-weekly cleaning of the same size homes as above:

• 900 square foot apartment or condo would be $59 - $124.

• 1300 square foot single-story home would be around $79 - $150.

• 2200 square foot two-story home would run $104 - $180.

 

House cleaning rates like these are truly worthy of a professional maid service in your home.  A typical house cleaning done on a regular basis should include vacuuming, dusting, scrubbing sinks, floors, countertops and range hoods. Some services include loading the dishwasher and changing bed linen if you leave the linen out for the maids.

 

Boston Maids Service

Remember these house cleaning rates are based on the national average.  Your area or locale may be within the range or higher or lower depending on the demand and the area the maid service covers.  

You can obtain a more specific house cleaning rate from your local Boston maids service by requesting an estimate.  The maids will come out to your home, review their services with you, walk through your home and determine the actual cost as it pertains to your unique home and requirements.

Maids in Boston Help Elderly Parents Keep Their House Clean

Hiring a house cleaning service in Boston for your elderly parents may just be a better way to save your time, and give you more quality hours to spend with them.  Our parents are getting on in their years now.  They've worked their entire lives and find themselves in retirement or perhaps in the later years of their lives.

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We, their children, are still working at our careers, raising our families, and have a myriad of activities and commitments marked in pen on our calendars.  When it comes to helping elderly parents keep their house clean, there are only a few options.

Most of us will try to care for our parents, raise our families, work our jobs, and still have time left over to do things we want and need to do.  Are you one of us?  Are you running your parent or parents to doctors' appointments, grocery shopping, hairdressers, dentists, or to visit with their friends or families in other towns?  Are you helping with meal preparation, laundry, or general house cleaning?

Housekeeping in Boston

A lot of us are trying to do all those things, plus care for our own homes and families.  It's a pretty steep hill we're climbing and there are options.  If you're helping elderly parents keep their house clean, then you are probably doing the weekly house cleaning chores such as vacuuming, washing the floors, cleaning countertops, cleaning the stove, the bathroom, the windows.  

The to do list is endless.  And even though they may have a smaller home or apartment now, it still takes a good chunk of your time.  That's time that you would much rather be spending with your parents as quality time.

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First to consider is that we want to do this for our parents.  They've spent their lives raising us, caring for us, helping us.  And with that, we feel responsible for caring for them in return when they need it.  

It's important to remember, though, that our parents really want our undivided attention and conversation when we come to visit.  They really do not want us to be puttering about cleaning the house while they sit back and look on, feeling helpless that they are unable to do these things themselves.

Maids in Boston

Besides doing all this house cleaning yourself, the most helpful idea that's been a great timesaver and is well worth every penny, is to hire a maid service or house cleaning service in the Boston area to attend to your parent's housekeeping needs.

You will find that the cost of hiring maids in Boston to start helping elderly parents keep their house clean will be much less expensive than you might have imagined.  The staff of a cleaning service is well trained in how to clean a house or apartment as efficiently as possible, and are very proud of the work that they do.  You can arrange for the maid service to clean your parents' home weekly, bi-weekly, or whatever schedule suits you.

Boston Cleaners

Having this house cleaning chores under control and in someone else's hands will give you that much more time to be with your parents and enjoy your time with them, instead of worrying about all the chores you need to get done.

House Cleaning Service in Boston As A Necessity

Whether you live in a large, expansive home, a practical abode designed for a small family, or a loft condo, hiring a house cleaning service can be a necessity rather than a luxury.

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Years ago, having a house cleaning service was considered a luxury for only the wealthy who lived in mansions or large properties where the lady of the house was not expected to perform such menial chores as house cleaning.  The times have changed and many people find that hiring a house cleaning service in Boston meets their needs on many levels.

Professional House Cleaning Benefits

House cleaning is a necessary part of owning or renting a home.  No matter who you are, you have numerous other responsibilities and commitments that require your time.  Coming home from work can present a daunting experience when confronted with all the house work that needs to be done on a regular basis.  If you're commuting a fair distance to work and home again, have children to get to various activities, and other commitments of your own - cleaning the house does not take priority.

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Other instances where hiring a professional house cleaning service is necessary could include families with expectant moms who find the physical task of house cleaning to be extremely difficult as their pregnancy advances.  Consider offering the services of a house cleaning service to your favorite expectant mother, and watch her face light up in relief.

As we all know, house cleaning can be a strenuous activity and there are many people with physical limitations that prohibit their ability to clean their homes on a regular basis, or sometimes to even be able to use the vacuum cleaner is compromised by their disability.  This is another perfect example of when a house cleaning service is a necessity rather than a luxury.

House Cleaning Help

Cleaning your home requires a fair amount of organization, time, and scheduling.  You want your home to be clean and sparkling for yourself, your family, and your guests.  The option of hiring a house cleaning service in Boston becomes a necessity when it is difficult or impossible for you, the homeowner, to manage to keep up with the household chores on a regular basis.

3 Questions You Should Ask A House Cleaning Service in Boston

Choosing a House Cleaning Service

There's no question about it, hiring anyone to do work for you - either home cleaning services - or on other personal items such as finances, you have to be sure who you are dealing with.  There are some straight forward questions you should be asking potential companies, no matter what service they can offer you, that will make your life far easier and with less worry.  A little extra footwork in the beginning of a business relationship will save you a lot of worry and disappointment in the end.

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If you're considering hiring a house cleaning service to take advantage of their cleaning expertise in your home, here are three questions you should be asking.  We'll list the questions and then discuss why they are important and what exactly you are trying to find out.

Questions To Ask A House Cleaning Service

1. Is the house cleaning company you are interviewing insured?
2. Who provides the products/appliances to clean with?
3. What type of products do they use and why?

A professional house cleaning service should be insured for both liability (which covers damage to your home, personal belongings, or bodily injury to you and family members through negligence attributed to the company) and for workers' compensation, which covers the employees of the service.  

It is important that you see the actual insurance certificate, either from the company representative or by making a direct call to the insurance agency who insures the home cleaning service.  Make sure that the policy is in force and that there are no cancellations in effect.  You want to be sure that any employees of the maid service are covered under worker's compensation should they be injured in your home.  This insurance will protect you, the homeowner, should an accident occur on your premises that would involve liability on your part.

House Cleaning Products

Although it is customary when dealing with a professional service, you do want to be sure that the company is providing their own cleaning products and appliances such as vacuums and steam cleaners.  The company generally has commercial grade vacuums that clean deeper and more efficiently than typical household ones.  Most house cleaning  services also have a particular line of cleaning products that they feel make their work most efficient and clean the best.  Sometimes you, the homeowner, can use your own product if there is a specific reason to do so.  Check with your cleaning company to determine the best methods.

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In this day and age, many of us are concerned about using products that are gentle on the environment and do not cause undo stress on our already overloaded immune systems.  Ask your intended Boston home cleaning service what type of products or brand they use and why they use them.  Many services are now going green with their products as they've found this greatly reduces allergic reactions in their clients and their employees.  Green products are also much better for the environment, our homes, pets, and children.

Take the time to ask questions of any house cleaning service or company with whom you are interested in establishing a relationship.  Don't leave it to chance.  Know what to expect and how the work will be done.

Summer House Cleaning Tips

It seems we're constantly changing seasons and within days, the summer season will be well upon us.  Summer means more company, visitors, cookouts, parties, friends and family, and most importantly, time to freshen up our homes.  We all want our homes clean, bright, and comfortable for this wonderful season.  

 

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Hopefully, you've been keeping up with your house cleaning over the past months.  If you've been negligent and failed to keep up, you will find the project to be quite overwhelming.  This might be the time to consider getting a little bit of help from a house cleaning service before you undertake the majority of the summer cleaning chores on your own.

Today, we're going to talk about which projects need tackling within your home.  You can decide if you wish to work at them yourself, or seek some help.  Let's get started!

Summer House Cleaning

After the long winter and the house being closed up tight, you'll want to dust off the radiators, shelves, books, all the baseboards, and where ever else you have dust accumulating.

Windows and screens will need dusting (or vacuuming works just as well), and washing both inside and out.  Some people find that they can attach a window cleaning mixture that they get from a hardware store to their outdoor hose.  This makes it so much easier to clean the exterior windows (and shutters) if you have a lot of windows or a two-story house.

This is a great time to wash all machine washable window treatments and bedding.  In addition, this is also when you should change out your heavier, winter-weight drapes, area rugs, throws, bedding and such for the warmer weather types.

 

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If you have area rugs that do not have proper backings on them, send those out to professional cleaners.  In the meantime, all your wall-to-wall carpets and area rugs with backings can be shampooed or steam cleaned with a rug/carpet cleaner.  Wood floors are best cleaned with a warm bucket of water and a clean mop.  No chemical cleaners are necessary.

Cleaning Floors

Floors seem to be the biggest stressor for many people, but nonetheless, they need to be cared for regularly.  As we've said, wood floors need only a warm, clean water wash.  You can strip and re-wax your vinyl or linoleum floors, which will bring back their shine.  You may also want to wax some wood floors, stone, brick, and unglazed tiles.  

Want a little shine in your home?  Don’t forget to polish the metal door and window hardware (the pretty, shiny brass pieces will thank you).  Oil your door and window hinges to eliminate those annoying squeaks.

 

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Cleaning your home for summer or for any season is always an easier job if you've been diligent in keeping up with the cleaning needs.  As we mentioned before, should you find yourself either short of time or energy, engaging the assistance of a house cleaning service in Boston can save you a lot of time.  You'll have a cleaner house in far less time, and still get to enjoy that backyard barbeque with your friends.

Five Reasons To Hire A House Cleaning Service in Boston

It's been a while since any of us have had a mother following us around and cleaning up after us.  And I'm sure, you are happy about that on one hand, but the other?  It's a huge part of our household responsibilities that threatens to take over every minute of free time we can find.  

Well, being adults does have its perks, and one of them is the ability and desire to hire a house cleaning service to take care of this major project that does, indeed, return to us each week (or sooner) with more floors to wash, vacuum, and things to dust.  You can take the stress off by having a professional maid service come in and do the cleaning for you.

Here are five reasons to hire a house cleaning service that may help you decide whether you are ready to get started.

1)  Regular cleaning keeps your house looking positively shining, smelling sweet and fresh, and ready for visitors at all times.  Most of us were raised with moms who did the housework on a set day, every single week.  These cleaning days were often exactly that, full days of cleaning; certainly enough to drive the kids out the door for the day.

The fact is that most of us want a clean house, but we find the extent of house cleaning to be such a chore, we fail to actually clean regularly or thoroughly.  When you hire a maid service to clean your home, believe me, it's clean, clean, clean.  Not only is it the most thorough cleaning you've ever experienced, but it's done regularly.  Amazing.

Flickr credit:  Big C Harvey

2)  A fantastic side effect of having a professional maid service clean your home is that you have free time to explore your creative side.  The cleanliness and fresh smell of your home can easily put you into a creative frame of mind.  Perhaps you would like to try a new hobby, or even resurrect a pastime that's long been forgotten due to your many commitments.  

3)  A clean home lends to a much more enjoyed home that gives you the sense of peace and tranquility.  When your home is being cleaned on a regular basis you can sit back, relax and enjoy your home for the peaceful retreat you have always hoped it to be.  You will find that no longer do you stress and fret about yet one more "chore" that has to be done.  You don't have to be a slave to your house any longer.

4)  More time.  This is such a major need for so many of us.  Our lives are so incredibly busy, the commitments overwhelming, yet we still want to be able to do more things that we enjoy.  House cleaning is not one of those enjoyable jobs for many.  With the extra time that you will have once you hire a maid service, you can spend more time with your family and friends, invest time in your community and in other worthy causes.

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5)  And the number one reason to hire a maid service?  It's all about the cleaning -- they clean far better than you could ever think.  A professional service is well trained in the best and most effective cleaning procedures.  They generally work in teams of two to four cleaners that work together to clean your house thoroughly and quickly.  They even enjoy cleaning, so are very "into" this project, leaving you with free time and a clean house.

Moving Out House Cleaning Service in Boston

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Real estate is once again moving, albeit not quite as quickly as we've seen in years past.  With property being bought and sold, there are many people preparing to relocate either to smaller homes, new areas, or even just down the street,

Having made several moves in the past, there is just so much to think about, arrange, and do.  The whole process of moving is an immense undertaking.  You need to, of course, find and decide on a property, sort your belongings to either lighten your load, or to simply prepare for packing.

Once you start packing your things into boxes and organizing them for the movers, you may find yourself pretty well overwhelmed with all this chaos.  Cleaning your house before you leave may be one item that is just more than you can manage to accomplish in the period of time you have left.

Moving Out House Cleaning Service

Here's where the procurement of a house cleaning service in Boston can make your life so much simpler and the whole moving event less stressful on you and your family.  Your time and your energy levels are of prime importance when you begin the actual moving to your new home.  Don't let the final clean up cost you your sanity and your happiness.

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Check with friends and neighbors for referrals of the maid service that they use.  You could also check with local realtors, even the realtor that has worked with you on the sale/purchase of your home, to find out who they recommend for a house cleaning service.  Some real estate agencies actually have a firm on-call to handle cleaning of their rental properties.

By making a few phone calls around town, you will find a house cleaning service that will fit your budget, do the job correctly, and that will be able to complete the cleaning of your home in a very timely fashion.  

Remember, an actual maid service will have a fair number of employees who enjoy the work that they do.  The firm will send out a team of professional house cleaners to your home and they will go through the property from top to bottom, following their usual routine of cleaning.  Everything will be done, shining and sparkling for the new owners.

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What will you gain from this moving out house cleaning service?  It's like having your very own "easy button."  You push the button (call the maid service), and out they come to clean your home and make it neat as a pin.  You have not had to worry about any of the work that has to be done.  Your family can get on with the rest of the moving process and get settled into your new house without worrying about getting back to the old house to clean it up.  Enjoy your new home.

House Cleaning Without Chemicals

We, as humans, have become so intent on cleaning our homes, vehicles, and bodies with such intensity, and such a desire to wipe out every little germ, bacteria, spot and stain, that we've overcompensated and created one of the most toxic environments for ourselves to live in.

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It has become well known, as of late, that many household cleaning products are loaded with chemicals and toxins that can cause us significant injury and long-lasting damage to our health.  The result of this constant, overuse of these commercial, chemical-based products is an extremely high cost to our personal health, and the concurrent damage to our environment not only by the manufacture of the products but by their disposal - which is often inappropriately dealt with.

Another concern is the high statistics that the US National Center for Health Statistics report:  1 out of 3 people in the United States suffer from allergies, asthma, chronic sinus infections, and bronchitis or pneumonia resultant from environmental toxins.  One of the biggest and best ways to help in the treatment of such conditions is to reduce or remove the use of chemical-based products and other synthetics in your environment.

Cleaning your home does not need to be yet another burden on your family.  Whether you clean your house yourself or employ a house cleaning service here in Boston to assist you, there are many green cleaning alternatives that can be used to help create a far more inviting and safe environment for you.

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We can talk all day about using non-toxic products and being more environmentally conscious in our choices, but would be remiss to not offer some information on the products that you can use today in your house cleaning efforts.  Here is a partial list of non-toxic, effective cleaners for your home.

• White vinegar - excellent to use to cut grease, remove mold and mildew,  deodorizes, and cleans windows (try 50 percent water and 50 percent white vinegar, put in a spray bottle, spray your windows and wipe clean with old newspapers.  You will be surprised at the sparkle and shine your windows will sport after cleaning with vinegar).
• Lemon - use either fresh lemon (yes, squeeze the lemons) or prepared lemon oil and use as a disinfectant.  This natural food acid is very effective in cleaning up bacteria that is common in your kitchen and bathrooms.
• Baking soda - an every day product that sits quietly on most everyone's kitchen cabinets, but isn't doing a whole lot of work.   To clean your oven (and not have to put up with those nasty fumes and toxic stench), mix a paste of water and baking soda, sponge or rub on the over floor, the walls of the over, and the racks.  Allow to sit overnight and then scrub everything down in the morning.  Another amazing result -- and no fumes.

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Using natural products to clean your house (in between cleaning service visits) will not only keep your body, your family, your home, and the environment safer -- but, you'll find a significant savings in your pocket as well.

A Special House Cleaning Gift for an Elderly Parent

We are now, officially, part of the sandwich generation.  That means that we are caring for our own children - and our elderly parents.  It's a difficult and busy lifestyle that we maintain.  Where did our plans for rest and relaxation go?  What happened to our weekend plans?

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This is a very self-less act that we offer when we care for our parents or for an elderly neighbor.  We have taken on an additional "To Do" list and this includes keeping two homes clean and bright.  Not only do you keep your own house clean, somehow; but, the elderly person in your life also needs his and/or her home cleaned.  There are many house cleaning and other chores that our elderly family members can no longer do for themselves.

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It seems that, for a while, you can manage the back and forth traveling, the errands, the extra grocery shopping, and cleaning two homes -- for a time, anyway.  Then, eventually, you start to run out of steam.  

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You may have thought a great idea would be to hire a house cleaning service in Boston to clean your home.  But, have you thought about hiring a house cleaning service to go and clean your elderly parent's home or apartment?  You can hire a service to come in weekly or less frequently, depending on the needs of your parent.  A small apartment with limited traffic throughout may need only a monthly cleaning.

Many elderly folks are very upset about not being able to clean their homes themselves.  This was a chore that was always a part of their lives, and now ends up being one more thing that they are unable to do.  They have also lived in a time when having a maid service was reserved only for the well-to-do neighbors, and not for the every day folk.  You may find that they would be pleased and proud to have someone come in and clean their home for them.  

If you are an adult child caring for an elderly parent, consider treating yourself to a clean house and have the service head over and clean your parent's home, as well.  Every little bit that you can do to lighten your load will allow you more quality time with your family members.  That quality time is the most important thing you can do or give to your parents.

Another option is to give the gift of maid service through the use of a gift certificate.  Holidays, birthdays, or just as a surprise are great times to present your special, elderly person with a gift certificate to a local house cleaning service such as The Maids Boston.  They will remember your thoughtfulness long after the service has been performed, and you will find yourself with a special gift of a little more quality time with your loved one.