How to choose an apartment cleaning service and check the finished work
Two quotes for the same apartment can cover different work. One includes routine cleaning; another adds windows, a fridge and old deposits. Start with what you want cleaned and how you will check it. This guide covers homes in normal use, for occasional or regular cleaning.
Contents
What to agree in advance
- Send every provider the same task list.
- Mention delicate surfaces, pets and product preferences.
- Confirm the total, equipment, access and extras in writing.
- Check the list at the end and try one visit before arranging regular cleaning.
1. Replace 'deep clean' with a specific list
Explain your goal: weekly upkeep, preparing for guests or a more thorough first visit. The words 'deep clean' do not guarantee every drawer and window is included. Ask for a room-by-room list showing accessible surfaces and agreed tasks. This will also form the basis of your final check.
| Area | Include in your request | Clarify separately |
|---|---|---|
| Rooms and hallway | Accessible dusting, vacuuming, floors | Under furniture, fragile objects, moving heavy pieces |
| Kitchen | Worktops, sink, external cabinet and appliance surfaces | Inside the oven, fridge and cupboards |
| Bathroom | Toilet, basin, bath or shower, mirror | Persistent deposits, damaged grout |
| Windows and balcony | Number, size and access | Outside, height, insect screens and blinds |
This is a discussion template, not a mandatory service standard. Include only agreed tasks.
2. Provide the details that affect the estimate
Send these with your request
- Town and area, approximate floor area, number of rooms and bathrooms.
- Preferred date, access window and whether the home is furnished and occupied.
- When it was last cleaned and where there is grease, limescale or substantial pet hair.
- Relevant photos of difficult areas, without documents or other personal information.
- Floor types, sensitive surfaces and any available care instructions.
- Whether there is a lift, parking, running water and working electricity.
- Pets, known sensitivities and preferences about fragrance in products.
Put away clothes, toys and personal belongings if tidying is not included. Otherwise, some of the time you pay for will go on moving things. If you need this help too, ask for it to be priced.
3. Compare the same work, not just the final number
Request two or three quotes against the same list. Check whether each price is hourly or per visit, how many people will come and the expected duration. Three hours with two people means six hours of labour. Ask who supplies the vacuum and products, whether travel is included and what could change the total.
For hourly work, agree a limit and order of priorities. For a per-visit price, request confirmation of inclusions and exclusions. Photos help with estimating but cannot show everything. Any difference noticed on arrival should be discussed before extra work begins. Keep the conversation and payment confirmation.
4. Check products without asking for impossible guarantees
Ask which products will be used and mention known sensitivities. 'Natural' or 'eco' on a bottle does not by itself explain suitability for your home. As an international reference, EPA Safer Choice (opens in a new tab) assesses ingredients and performance in certified products. A label does not replace instructions or compatibility checks.
For a normal home, do not automatically request disinfection of every surface: CDC says it is unnecessary in most household situations (opens in a new tab). If there is a special situation, explain it before booking and discuss an appropriate service.
Have care instructions for delicate surfaces available. For example, Kährs recommends damp cleaning its own wood floors (opens in a new tab) only when needed, with a well-wrung mop. This advice does not automatically apply to other materials. Identify surfaces that must be left untouched until the method is clarified.
5. Arrange access and protect your privacy
Confirm who is coming and how you will be told if that changes. Allow time for a short walkthrough on the first visit. Put away cash, documents and valuables, identify areas that are off limits and arrange a separate place for pets. If handing over keys or codes, agree their handover, return and use. Do not put access codes in a public listing.
Say whether you permit photos to record the initial condition. Permission to document a job is not permission to publish images. Discuss any portfolio use separately, including what may appear and whether the address or personal belongings could be recognised.
6. Check the list in normal lighting
Your final walkthrough
- Agreed surfaces have no visible dust or cleaning residue.
- Floors have no visible debris, pooled water or sticky areas.
- The sink, basin, toilet and shower have been cleaned within the agreed scope.
- Included mirrors and windows have been checked from ordinary viewing angles.
- Moved objects are back in place and rubbish is taken to the agreed point.
- Omissions and any damage are discussed before the cleaner leaves.
Be specific: 'there is dust left on this shelf' is easier to resolve than 'it is not good'. A permanent stain, damaged grout or an old scratch cannot be fixed by more scrubbing. Ask for an explanation and do not encourage aggressive treatment merely to complete the checklist. Agree how omissions will be corrected and how soon later discoveries should be reported.
7. Set the schedule after the first visit
The first clean may take longer than later upkeep. Afterwards, adjust the frequency and list: tasks on every visit, periodic work and extras approved separately. Confirm the recurring price, cancellations and what happens when a visit is skipped. For continuity, ask that agreed preferences are passed on to any replacement cleaner.
A request template for Crelto
'I need routine cleaning for a furnished apartment of [floor area], with [number] rooms and [number] bathrooms, in [area]. Please include accessible dusting, vacuuming, floors, the bathroom and external kitchen surfaces. Windows and appliance interiors are excluded. There are [pets/delicate surfaces/preferences]. I need [date and time window], initially one visit, then possibly [frequency]. Please quote the total and expected duration, and say whether you supply products and equipment.'
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to stay home throughout the visit?
Agree this together. For the first visit, being there for the initial walkthrough and final check is useful. If you leave, provide a contact number and clear instructions for access and locking up.
Are windows included in apartment cleaning?
Only if confirmed on the list. Specify the number, access, inside and outside surfaces, frames and insect screens. Do not assume work at height is part of an ordinary visit.
How do I choose between one cleaner and a team?
Compare organisation, scope, continuity and the total price. A team may finish sooner in elapsed time, but check the labour hours and who is accountable for the result. Neither team size nor price alone proves quality.
Sources
- Cleaning and Disinfecting with Bleach (opens in a new tab), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), accessed 15 October 2026
- Learn About the Safer Choice Label (opens in a new tab), United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), accessed 15 October 2026
- Maintain wood floors (opens in a new tab), Kährs, accessed 15 October 2026