There’s much more to a good cleaning service than meets the eye. Reputation, pricing, and customer service are valuable aspects that make a noticeable difference. And of course, you need your cleaning lady to be careful with your home and belongings. 

But what are the telltale signs of a bad cleaning lady that you’ll want to watch out for? In this article, you’ll find out the 7 most common ones. If you notice the following signs, you’ll want to entrust your home to a more professional and experienced service, like Vella.

Bad Housekeeper Sign #1: Poor Time Management

Some housekeeping companies can take almost an entire workday to clean a small home. On the other hand, there are companies that claim they can clean your home in just two hours, which may not be nearly sufficient for quality results. 

Many services will even only send one cleaning lady. This automatically ensures that the job will take longer by default.

Vella sends two housekeepers to every client to help facilitate a quicker workflow and better attention to detail. A house-cleaning duo also makes jobs less stressful and safer for our employees. 

Our cleaners arrive on time for every home, so you can expect that we’ll have your home perfectly clean within the agreed-upon timeframe.

Bad Housekeeper Sign #2: Lack of Care By Using Toxic Cleaning Products

A clean home is a healthy home, but a bad cleaning service can create the opposite effect. One of the most concerning signs of a bad cleaning lady is the use of toxic cleaning products. 

Cleaners who clean homes with potentially toxic products might be able to get your home clean, but it comes at the cost of making allergies worse or getting pets and children sick.

Vella is still the only cleaning service in Dallas that prioritizes using nontoxic cleaning products. The health and safety of our customers is paramount to us, which is why you can trust us to use effective, non-toxic products at no extra charge consistently. 

Bad Housekeeper Sign #3: Minimal Communication 

Do you know exactly what to expect from your cleaning services when they arrive? One of the unfortunate signs of a bad cleaning lady is needing clarification about what they’ll be cleaning. 

Some companies will offer vague, broad guarantees and say they’ll clean “everything,” but you’ll be understandably upset when you get home and realize the service fell short of this promise. 

Other bad housekeepers don’t have specific guidelines in place for their cleanings and fail to communicate clearly with you. This leaves you in the dark about what exactly you’re paying for.

The cleaning team at Vella provides detailed guidelines for all of our services and communicates with you every step of the way. We have clear checklists for all our services on our website, so you know what to expect. 

We also encourage our customers to reach out if they’d like additional services. We’re always happy to help clean other parts of your home that aren’t on your list!

Bad Housekeeper Sign #4: Misses Areas or Skips Tasks

A bad cleaning service may cut corners by missing areas or skipping tasks, leading to subpar results. Discovering dust on your shelves, dirt on your floors, or grime in your bathroom after the cleaning service has left can be frustrating.

At Vella, we pride ourselves on our thoroughness and attention to detail. Our comprehensive cleaning checklists ensure that every nook and cranny of your home is addressed. 

We also conduct spot checks before leaving to ensure nothing is overlooked. With Vella, you can rest assured that your home will be immaculate from top to bottom, and every area will be cleaned meticulously.

Bad Housekeeper Sign #5: Forgets to Secure Your Home After Cleaning

A bad cleaning service might leave windows or doors unlocked or even open. This undoubtedly poses an unwanted and significant security risk. When you hire a housekeeper, you should feel safe and secure in your home, especially after the cleaning is through.

At Vella, we coordinate with you to receive accurate instructions so we can access your home and not waste any of your valuable cleaning time. Our house keepers are trained to double-check all entry points to ensure your home is secure before they leave. Your safety is our top priority, and we take all necessary precautions to protect your home.

Bad Housekeeper Sign #6: Has Negative Reviews or No References

A lack of positive reviews or references can be a significant red flag when hiring a cleaning service. You want to be confident that you are employing a reputable service with a proven track record of satisfied customers.

At Vella, we’re honored that we’ve received a huge number of positive reviews from delighted clients. Thanks to our attention to detail, people have been more than satisfied with our cleaning services. 

Take a look at our homepage and see what our customers have said about us. After reading, we’re confident you’ll feel comfortable trusting that you are in good hands with Vella.

Bad Housekeeper Sign #7: Unprofessional Demeanor

A bad attitude, disrespect for your home, or simply not taking the job seriously, is a clear indication of a bad cleaning lady.

To screen for this, pay attention to how the cleaner communicates with you from the start. Are they polite and respectful, or do they exhibit a lack of interest when discussing business? 

Also, ask for references or again, look at their online reviews. See what other clients have said about their demeanor and work ethic. Observing these aspects can help you determine if the cleaner is right for you.

At Vella, we uphold the highest standards of professionalism. We treat your home and belongings with the utmost respect and take pride in our work. 

Our housekeepers are friendly, courteous, and professional at all times. When you choose Vella, you can expect nothing but the best, as we are committed to providing top-notch cleaning services that meet – and exceed – your expectations.

Hire a Trusted Housekeeper from Vella

Remember, a good housekeeper should make your life easier, not harder. By keeping an eye out for the 7 signs we’ve covered, you’ll be well on your way to finding a reliable, trustworthy housekeeper to clean your home. 

We at Vella believe we can do that for you. As we’ve discussed, we’ve built our reputation around avoiding these common pitfalls by providing homeowners like you with a smooth and stress-free experience.

With Vella caring for your home, you can avoid the frustrations of hiring a bad cleaning lady. We guarantee you’ll enjoy the peace of mind that comes with exceptional service. 

That’s because at Vella, we understand that when you hire us for housekeeping services, you are entrusting your home to us. If you’re looking for an unbeatable clean in Dallas from cleaners who care, reach out to Vella today to book your appointment!

Housekeeper vs. maid: are there any real differences between the two? The answer is yes, and once you find out the difference, you’ll likely never want to hire a cheap maid service again. Let’s discuss.

Housekeeper vs. Maid: Breaking Down the Differences

Despite the simplification of the terms, housekeeper and maid are not interchangeable. The specific skillset and professionalism that comes with hiring a housekeeper is often not found when hiring a maid.

What Does a Maid Do?

Close your eyes and picture your typical maid service. What does it include? Typical maid services hire their workers on the cheap. That means low pay and usually, no benefits. It makes sense then, that a big difference between a maid and housekeeper is that most maids don’t have the specialized skills and tact to be a successful housekeeper.

You might be thinking: well I don’t need an expert. I just need somebody to tidy things up in the house. Who you hire to clean your home is a personal decision, but remember that most maid services don’t train or vet their maids. At best, you could have somebody in your home who has never cleaned a house before. At worst, you could have somebody with a criminal record. It’s a risk you take when you use a typical maid agency or hire a cleaner on a contract basis. You can look for a maid’s services when you want simple cleaning. Just remember, you’re risking your home and your safety when you opt for the cheaper option.

Another big difference between a maid and a housekeeper: Legitimate housekeeping companies like Vella carry insurance to protect your home in case of an accident. When you choose to hire a cheap maid, you’re not protected should an item be broken.

What is a Housekeeper?

Housekeepers do similar jobs to those of maids but have the skillset and support to do excellent work and provide additional services. And that’s another big difference between a housekeeper and a maid: Housekeepers are the trustworthy, experienced cleaning crew you need for regular home cleaning.

The term “housekeeper” encapsulates what it really takes to keep a home. Housekeepers are trained to tackle each room systematically, making sure that no space is left incomplete. Unlike what a maid does, housekeepers know just what product to use for each specific mess (and they know how much product to use, too). They’re also trained to recognize delicate surfaces that can’t handle the same conventional cleaning products that most maids use – surfaces like marble, other natural stones, unfinished wood, and more.

Using a legitimate and trustworthy housekeeping service provides clarity. They provide regular cleaning with a defined list of tasks and rates. The housekeeping companies that offer reliable service with trained and professional cleaning crews are their first choice.

And another consideration in the housekeeper vs. maid debate: Housekeeping services are a bit flexible with the services they offer. They have a checklist of essential services that they provide but are open to their client’s suggestions or requests. You can always ask your housekeeping service if they might be able to complete a task that’s specific to you.

Book Vella Services

Vella is the largest independent housekeeping service in the United States, offering  reputable and trustworthy services. We call our staff housekeepers to acknowledge the specific skill and training it took for them to earn a spot on Vella’s team, creating a clear distinction between housekeeper vs. maid. In turn, we’re throwing out the term “maid” and Making Housekeeping a Profession™ with people who can provide the highest quality service and bring order to your home.

We have many satisfied customers, some of whom have been with us for almost a decade! If you want your home to look fresh and clean every day or week, here are just a few of the services that our professional housekeepers can provide.

Tidy Cleaning

A tidy clean is our most basic service. A team of two professional housekeepers will take care of the absolute basics so you can come home to a neat and tidy space.

During a tidy cleaning, our team will make your bed, take out your trash, wash dishes, and pick up any clothes or mess left out of place.

Basic Cleaning

Basic cleaning is great for when you want your home to look good and smell good. You can hire one of our trustworthy teams when you need your house cleaned. We always send a team of two professionals for all cleaning services, ensuring efficient and timely work.

Our basic cleaning crew dusts the furniture, and vacuums and mops the floors. They also clean the bathrooms, kitchen, cabinets, and drawers.

Deep Cleaning

Deep cleaning covers the Basic Cleaning checklist with a few more services. Our professionals bring all the supplies, ladders, and tools they need to clean your house from top to bottom.

Including the basic cleaning services, deep cleaning includes baseboards, underneath the furniture, scrubbing bathrooms and kitchen, and cleaning the light fixture. We are also open to special instructions you can share with us when you book an appointment.

Moving In/Out

Moving in or out of a house is extremely overwhelming. We make it easier by taking care of the cleaning tasks for you. From cleaning appliances to wiping the insides of cabinets and drawers, everything is covered in this cleaning service, including the deep cleaning checklist. We also use top-quality, eco-friendly products to protect the environment and your home.

Construction Cleaning

What’s the one thing that’s even more overwhelming than moving? Having construction and renovation done in your home. With Vella’s Construction clean, we’ll handle the stress and dust for you. With extremely thorough vacuuming to handwiping the insides of cabinets and drawers, everything is covered in this cleaning service, including the deep cleaning checklist. And as always, we’ll use top quality and safe cleaning products that will get the job done right without releasing toxins into your home.

Vella is a one-stop solution for your home cleaning requirements. Ready to hire our housekeepers for maid or housekeeping service? Contact us today to book your appointment.