Booking a house cleaning service for the first time comes with a lot of small unknowns. Do you need to be home. What counts as a standard clean versus a deep clean. Will they know how to handle a hundred year old rowhome with plaster walls and narrow stairs instead of the open floor plan most cleaning franchises are used to. Here is what actually happens, from booking to the first visit and beyond.
1. Standard cleanings and deep cleanings are not the same job
A standard or recurring cleaning covers the basics: bathrooms, kitchens, dusting, vacuuming, mopping, and making beds. A deep clean goes further, covering baseboards, inside appliances, window sills, light fixtures, and buildup in spots that do not get touched during a regular visit. Most companies recommend a deep clean for the first visit, even if you plan to switch to standard cleanings afterward, since it gets the home to a baseline that regular visits can then maintain. Ask which one you are booking, since the price and time on site will differ.
2. You do not have to be home, but it helps the first time
Many homeowners give their cleaner a key, a lockbox code, or a garage code and are not present during the service. That said, being home for the first visit is worth considering. It lets you walk the cleaner through the house, point out anything fragile or off limits, and answer questions about how you like things done. After the first visit, most people switch to not being present, since a familiar cleaner does not need the walkthrough again.
3. Rowhome layouts take more time than open floor plans
Philadelphia's rowhomes were not built with cleaning efficiency in mind. Narrow staircases, three or four floors instead of a single level, plaster walls and ceilings instead of drywall, and older hardwood or original tile floors all add time compared to a single story suburban house of the same square footage. If a company gives you a quote based on square footage alone without asking about layout, mention the number of floors and the stairs. A crew that has worked in Philadelphia rowhomes before will usually ask this themselves.
4. A walkthrough or a few photos speeds up the first quote
Most companies can give a rough estimate over the phone based on square footage and number of bedrooms and bathrooms, but a walkthrough or a set of photos gets you a more accurate one. This matters more in a Philadelphia rowhome than elsewhere, since two homes with the same listed square footage can have very different amounts of actual cleaning surface once you account for stairs, trim, and older architectural details like built in shelving or a decorative cornice.
5. Confirm they are bonded and insured before booking
A cleaner is in your home, often unsupervised, handling breakable items and sometimes holding a key. Bonded means the company has a policy that covers theft by an employee. Insured typically means general liability coverage that pays out if something gets damaged or someone is injured on your property. Ask for this directly rather than assuming a company that shows up in a branded van has it. A legitimate service will answer without hesitation.
6. Know what they bring and what you are expected to provide
Most companies bring their own supplies and equipment, including a vacuum, unless you specifically request they use products you provide, which is common for households managing allergies, pets, or a preference for certain cleaning products. Confirm this ahead of time. If your home has original hardwood floors, older tile, or natural stone counters, common in a lot of Philadelphia's older housing stock, mention it, since some standard cleaning products are not safe for these surfaces and a good company will already have a plan for them.
7. Set expectations for what is and is not included
Standard house cleaning generally does not include exterior windows, laundry, dishes, heavy furniture moving, or anything involving mold, pest droppings, or biohazard cleanup. It also usually does not include inside a stuffed refrigerator or oven unless you specifically booked that as an add-on. If you are hoping for something outside the typical scope, ask before booking rather than being surprised when the crew leaves a task undone.
8. Communicate anything unusual before the first visit, not during it
If you have pets that need to be secured, a room that should stay off limits, allergies to fragranced products, or a no shoes policy given how much salt and slush gets tracked in during a Philadelphia winter, say so when you book. Cleaning companies work off notes attached to your account, and getting these details recorded before the first visit means the crew already knows rather than guessing when they arrive.
A few Philadelphia area house cleaning services to check out
- MaidPro Lafayette Hill, Lafayette Hill
- All-Out House Works LLC, Philadelphia
- Philly Cleaning Mermaids, Wyncote
- Maid Aid Express - Cleaning Services, Philadelphia
- Sousa's Sweeps LLC, Philadelphia
Or browse the full list of house cleaning services serving the Philadelphia area to compare more options and read reviews.