Residential housekeeping

This article follows several requests to clarify what constitutes quality residential housekeeping service. While I'm not an expert, I've had several housekeepers throughout my career. This article will be based as much on my personal experience as on my experience as a building hygiene and sanitation consultant and trainer. We'll discuss quality, housekeeping quotes, routine maintenance, optional tasks, professional practices, and, finally, professional ethics.

First based on customer needs

I've always believed that to be valued as a contractor, you need to meet the client's needs, not your own. So, a contractor might have a sample cleaning quote to guide you through the types of tasks and frequencies available. I therefore suggest that anyone about to meet with a new contractor establish their own needs.

Here is an example of a residential cleaning quote that customers like.

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Residential Housekeeping Quote Template

Some techniques that the cleaning contractor should know and respect.

Dusting is not cleaning

Dusting should be reserved for high spaces only, such as door frames, moldings, frames, ceiling lights, ventilation hatches, etc. Dusting only removes dust, but does not clean...

While cleaning will remove embedded dirt, fingerprints, and germs, you can't "clean" by dusting.

You can't clean with dirty things. !

• Microfiber cloths are preferred as they are the most effective for picking up dirt and cleaning efficiency.
• You can't clean with dirty things, so the cloths must be changed after all 8 surfaces of the cloth have been used.
• Linens should not be re-soaked in boiler water as this would contaminate the wash water.
• Likewise, linens should be clean for each house.

  

• Washing equipment and accessories will be cleaned between cleanings
• Cleaning with a dual-tank flat mop system will increase the cleanliness of your floors as they will have been cleaned with clean water.

From highest to lowest

We should start by doing what's high up and then what's lower down. For example, if we dust the ceiling light and the dust falls, we can pick it up when cleaning the furniture and vacuuming the dust later. Otherwise, it would be a waste of time.

Also, when washing the floor, you have to know where you should start and where you should finish so as not to get stuck inside a room waiting for the floor to dry.

Ecological or biotechnological

We're spoiled in Quebec. We have several lines of highly effective ecological or biotechnological products. There's therefore no reason to use very strong products. It's also preferable for entrepreneurs to have their own products. They also have access to recognized commercial products that can dilute their products depending on the tasks that will be carried out.

L'ethics of the entrepreneur

Since the contractor is entering the client's private space, the contractor must respect their privacy. Here are some tips on how to do this.

Respect for customer choices

• The contractor will respect the way the client arranges and decorates the house.
• Knowing how to speak the client's language, or at least French or English, is essential in Quebec.

Respect confidentiality and be discreet

• Discretion regarding the contents of the client's home or personal belongings must be kept confidential, for life! It's a matter of respect.
• Furthermore, just because the client grants access to their home doesn't mean they're granting access to their private life or that they want to be friends with the cleaning staff. Be careful not to cross the line of professionalism.

Show your white paw

• The client must offer complete trust to the employees, who may be left alone in the house in the absence of the owners. Therefore, a record without criminal records is desirable.
• Is there any candy or money left on the table? It belongs to the owner!

For your information, according to Wikipedia, "show white paw" takes its origin from the expression coming from the fable by La Fontaine The Wolf, the Goat, and the Kid (Book IV, fable 15). The goat recommended to her goat not to open the door to anyone in his absence. When the wolf appeared, imitating his mother's voice, the kid said to him: Show me your credentials or I won't open the door..

Dear Entrepreneur

Finally, let me turn to the residential cleaning contractor. If you think your methods could use some improvement, don't hesitate to consult our training calendarYour customers will be all the happier to receive your professional services. We look forward to meeting you.