The Greenspring Cleaners

We’ve probably all thought about the benefits and relief that would come from hiring a professional cleaner – but how do you make sure you’re hiring a reliable cleaning lady?

 

Houses are hard to keep up with – especially when most Canadian households have two parents who are dual earners, which means both spouses are working full-time, some with kids. 

 

Even if one member of your household is a stay-at-home figure, the division of labour is a huge bone of contention in most families, which means that your house – and the cleanliness of it – can become a big elephant in the room of your relationship. 

 

The benefits of hiring a professional cleaning service may go far beyond the simple joy of having a thoroughly, professionally cleaned home. 

 

The trick is making sure you’re hiring a service that meets your expectations and your needs. 

 

Whether you’re looking for a one-time deep-clean to get your house back to hygiene basics, or in anticipation of hosting a party or event (maybe your mother-in-law is scheduled to come for a prolonged visit?) you can find a professional home cleaner that’s perfect for you. 

 

Here’s what you need to know: 

 

  1. What is a cleaning lady?
  2. House cleaner vs housekeeper – what’s the difference?
  3. House cleaner vs a maid – what’s the difference?
  4. 3 steps to finding the perfect house cleaning services in Burlington, Ontario

 

Keep reading to get the answers! 

What is a cleaning lady?

 

Although the term “cleaning lady” is still widely used, it’s a bit of an outdated term. 

 

The terms professional house cleaner or housekeeper are more appropriate today, but we know what you mean if you’re looking for a cleaning lady. 

 

What you want is someone who is reliable and trusted, experienced and professional. 

 

Someone you can count on to help you care for your home, keep surfaces clean, and make sure the rooms you use on a daily basis are fresh and hygienic for you and your family. 

 

Chances are, if you’re here looking for a professional service in your area, you already have an idea about the services you’re hoping to attain by investing in professional help. 

 

You should know that there are key differences between a professional house cleaner and a professional housekeeper. 

 

Be aware of the differences before you make your choice so that you understand upfront what to expect from your service provider and, more importantly, what not to expect. 

 

House cleaner vs housekeeper – what’s the difference? 

A house cleaner is a professional service provided by one or more people. 

House cleaners will come into your home at a specified time, for an agreed-upon number of hours, to complete specific tasks such as cleaning bathrooms, scrubbing kitchen surfaces, or vacuuming and mopping floors. 

The range of tasks provided by a house cleaner varies between companies, but in general, professional house cleaners are coming to your home for brief periods of time to wash surfaces and complete deep cleaning of a room(s) within a house. 

A housekeeper, on the other hand, may spend much larger periods of time within the home. 

Depending on the housekeeper’s contract with a family, they may view their role as a full- or part-time job, and spend much (or most) of their time within the family home, managing your domestic tasks. 

A housekeeper may complete tasks such as room and surface cleaning, but  will likely have additional duties. 

For instance, a housekeeper may tidy toys or bedrooms, do the laundry and the dishes, run errands for the family like collecting drycleaning or restocking groceries, and perhaps even basic home repairs like fixing light bulbs or tending to the garden. 

A professional house cleaner is not going to spend the majority of their time with you managing your domestic duties, but they will do a great job while they’re there! 


Also read: Can’t Relax Until Your House is Clean? Read This!

House cleaner

Housekeeper

A contract service provider who performs specific tasks. 

 

Provides deep-cleaning services for a specific number of hours (usually 1-3 hrs). 

Usually perform specific tasks such as dusting, mopping, vacuuming, and cleaning of surfaces.

Do not run errands for clients or assist with child care. 

A full- or part-time manager of domestic duties.

 

May provide light cleaning and home maintenance within the home. 

May also assist with domestic chores such as doing the dishes, doing the laundry, tidying toys, etc. 

May run errands for clients and assist with childcare, depending on their contract and skills. 

House cleaner vs a maid – what’s the difference? 

 

The difference between a maid and a house cleaner is slightly more subtle. Some professional cleaning services market themselves as “maid” services which can make this a little more confusing. 

 

Many of the tasks a maid and a house cleaner perform are similar: they both focus on cleaning the home. 

 

However, there are a few key differences. 

 

For instance, a maid might tidy your living room for you before vacuuming floors, dusting, and cleaning surfaces. 

 

A professional house cleaner is more likely to begin work after the basic tasks of tidying and organising have been completed, so that they can provide an in-depth cleaning of the space. 

 

A maid service may also complete tasks that are focused more on aesthetics than deep-cleaning. For instance, a maid might arrange your throw cushions in the living room, or neatly make the beds in your bedrooms for you to make the space look pleasing. 

 

A professional cleaning service is focused on making sure that your rooms are thoroughly cleaned so that carpets, floors and surfaces are fresh and hygienic. 

 

Professional home cleaners are not likely to make your beds for you because their work is not to make your house pretty, but rather to ensure that it is extremely clean of germs and grime. 

 

In short, a maid service may visit your home more often to provide basic cleaning and organisation services, whereas a professional home cleaner is going to visit less often, but provide a much more in-depth cleaning. 

 

Also read: House Deep Cleaning Services: What to Look For



House cleaner

Maid

Provide deep-cleaning services ensuring that grit, grime and germs are eradicated from floors and surfaces. 



Will not provide organisation or tidying of rooms prior to cleaning. 


Will not provide aesthetic home organisation such as making beds. 



Usually attend the home less often to provide a deeper clean of well-used rooms. 

Provide surface-level floor and surface cleaning, including dusting, vacuuming, mopping. 



May provide tidying and organisation, and possibly aesthetic home arrangement. 


May provide aesthetic home arrangement such as making beds, arranging throw blankets and throw pillows, and beautifying a space following a tidy and light clean. 


Usually attend the home more often for less in-depth cleaning. 

 

3 steps to finding the perfect house cleaning services in Burlington 

What you’re looking for in a professional cleaner will vary depending on your needs. 

For instance, some people hire a professional cleaner when they’re moving out of a house, and/or when they’re moving into a new house

In other cases, customers may want to select a one time cleaning service. This gives them a chance to see what a professional cleaning service is all about, or to get their house back to a baseline of cleanliness and hygiene. 

Regardless of your reason for hiring a professional cleaning service, you need to know how to find the perfect service in your area. Follow these tips to learn. 

Also read: 10 Reasons It’s Time for a House Cleaner.

Step 1: Choose the service you’re looking for

Now that you know the differences between a maid, a housekeeper, and a professional house cleaner – which one are you looking for? 

Using the right language in your Google search will help you to track down the service provider that you need in your area. 

When you do a Google search, make sure to use keywords that will help you find the best in your area. 

For instance: Cleaning Service Burlington: How to find the Best House Cleaner

Step 2: Consider your personal values 

If you’re someone who’s careful about your environmental impact, you should make sure to explore the products that each professional house cleaner uses during their cleaning. 

Some cleaning chemicals can be harmful, and you may not want them to come into your home if you have children, or if you’re personally sensitive or mindful of chemicals that may be harmful to the environment. 

Check with the service provider to see whether they use eco-friendly cleaning products before you make a decision. 

Also read: Toxic Free Cleaning Products: 10 Reasons to Embrace Green Cleaning

Step 3: Select your professional house cleaning service 

When you have a service provider in mind, the next step is to vet them. 

Ask around and see if anyone you know has used the service provider you’re looking at. If no one has, don’t rule them out – just arrange a time to speak to them. 

Most places should provide you with a free, no-obligation consultation to provide you with a chance to talk about what you’re looking for, the scope of work, and the services that are provided by that professional home cleaner. 

When you speak to someone in-person or on the phone, you should be asking yourself three questions: 

  • Are the staff professional?
  • Do you trust them to be inside your home? 
  • Are they friendly? 
  • Does their approach to customer service align with your expectations?

These things matter, because if you hire a professional house cleaner, they’re going to be spending a good deal of time in your home, and you need to know that you can rely on them, communicate with them, and trust them. 

Book your free consultation today

 

Have more questions? We’re here to help. 

 

You can contact us by: 

 

 

We’re always happy to answer your questions about costs, hours, services, and the products we use to make sure your house is eco-clean! 



🌿 Book your free, no obligation consultation with us today. 🌿

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How to Hire a Reliable Cleaning Lady in Burlington

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