Deep cleaning is a process that includes all parts of something, not just surfaces or places where dirt can be seen -Cambridge Dictionary -

-In the context of home cleaning this means removing clutter that collects dust and germs. It means that special attention is paid to floors, corners and countertops. It also means preventative measures that decrease dust, insects and staining- Measures like making sure air vents are cleaned, window tracks are clear of debris,  and using cleaning methods(vacuums  vs. brooms) and detergents that actually remove dirt and establish barriers to future dirt accumulation

These terms are often used interchangeably in the cleaning industry but they DO NOT MEAN the same thing and set very different expectations.

Cleaning- mechanically removes surface dirt and germs

Sanitizing- reduces the amount of germs present on a surface

Disinfecting- Kills germs on a surface

The same chemicals can be used to do all these tasks but to assure that something is disinfected vs. just cleaned means adhering a product’s specific “kill time” before rinsing it off. i.e. if you have a household cleaner that says ‘sanitizes and disinfects’ - there will be a time designation for each of those aspects on the info label of your product. If your cleaner has a 10 min disinfect time and you rinse it off at 5 minutes YOU HAVE NOT DISINFECTED, but you may have sanitized.

In home cleaning, like anything, you get what you pay for. There is nothing worse than getting a “good deal” on home cleaning then having to either

A. Clean your home again yourself

OR

B. Pay AGAIN for someone else to do a better job.

The goal here is to set clear expectations about what clients can expect to pay.** Click the link below to get a quick calculation.

**The price shown is what will be charged as long as no undisclosed catastrophies are found and there are no last minute additions.

Cost Calculator

The industry standard we use to help clients assess the dirt level of their home is provided by the APPA published Custodial Appearance Levels-this standard is used by professional cleaners from elementary classrooms to IVY league housing.

APPA Custodial Appearance Levels

PLEASE. PLEASE. PLEASE answer this question honestly, it is not about judgement. This scale along with the square footage of client’s homes are used to determine staffing levels for the appointment, equipment, time etc. If a property is not as described we will have to charge more. Our goal regardless of the state of a home is to leave it at a level 1 orderly and spotless. BUT if a client says their house is at a 3 and we staff for that but, the house is actually at a level 5 two things are possible-

1. staff available do their best given the chosen tier of cleaning and level 1 may not be achieved. (we strive for excellence so this is not a good feeling)

2. We have to recruit more staff and charge for a higher tier of cleaning (not a good feeling for client)

None of this will happen without first communicating with the client. If one of those two options are acceptable we will proceed in the manner agreed upon.

Clients can look up the *living area* square footage of a house by typing the address into their local County Assesor site.

Or

The square footage listed on any realty search site is usually the living area. Local Assesors typically will also have a diagram listing the square footage of each room in a home.

*living area=heated and cooled square footage*

Please remember to subtract rooms or areas that are off limits from your square footage.

When clients book with Domestique, time is reserved on the schedule exclusively for them! This means that their house is the sole focus of a cleaning team on that day. This is intentional in order to deliver a higher standard of clean.

Having said that, life happens and things come up so if client needs to reschedule for ANY reason (especially illness) please call asap! Cancellations made less than 24 hours from scheduled services, without rescheduling, are subject to a $100 fee.

*Clients will never be charged if Domestique requires rescheduling. If service is canceled less than 24 hours prior to appointment a 10% discount will be applied to the rescheduled service for the inconvenience. Thank you for understanding.

Big animal lovers over here! The strange noises and new faces that come with a house cleaning can be stressful for some pets so we ask that clients place their pets in a designated safe space (crate or with a sitter). This insures that the animal is not over-stimulated and that the cleaning team can access all spaces safely. If they are unable to access a portion of a client’s house, out of consideration for the pet or their own safety, the client will still be charged for the full service. If you do plan to have an “off limits” room please account for that in the square footage during booking.

Absolutely! You can book a single room cleaning for the Luxe and Ritz levels of care