(WTXL) — When was the last time you pulled out your furniture or broke out the scouring pads to clean your home? If you can't remember, it's probably time for a deep clean, and you may need some help. What to expect when the cleaning crew goes deep is today's Angie's List report.
Tabbetha Sells has cleaned houses for six years. Every day, she dusts, disinfects and vacuum all part of the standard job.
When a client wants more, she and her crew go after the dirt, dust and grime you can't see without really looking for it.
"We'll open the cabinet doors and clean the inside of the cabinet doors and that ledge where stuff collects over time. We clean the inside of all the appliances - refrigerator, oven, microwave. We clean the baseboards thoroughly and we polish them afterwards," said Tabbetha Sells, Tidy Tabs.
"Spring is a great time to consider having your house deeply cleaned, and usually you should be doing that every two to three months, especially if you're getting ready to sell your house – that's a time you want to make sure you have it done," said Angie Hicks, Angie's List Founder.
Cleaning deep also means cleaning high, where things can be hard or even dangerous to reach.
"We do anything up high and it doesn't matter how high it is, we will clean it – exhaust fans, ceiling fans, vents in the walls."
Most companies charge by the job, not by the hour. Get a list of everything you want done, at the agreed upon price.
"You should always require a detailed estimate so that you know what to expect," said Sells.
"On average, our members have reported spending about 230 dollars for a deep clean, and that's about a hundred dollars more than a standard clean. And if you're looking to hire a house cleaner for the first time, you shouldn't be surprised if they recommend a deep cleaning as your first visit," said Angie Hicks, Angie's List Founder.
Before hiring anyone to clean your home, Angie says to look for a company that's bonded and insured. Ask specifically how they handle replacing anything that may be broken during cleaning. The service should provide all necessary supplies, but if you want them to use environmentally-friendly products, you may need to supply those yourself. And if you want a specific person to clean, ask for that to be written into the contract.
