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.

If it feels like you’re always cleaning kitchen surfaces and items, it might be time to make some changes. From the way you organize your kitchen to the times you choose to do kitchen cleaning, small changes can make a big difference. 

If you’re unsure about how to clean a kitchen effectively, the 9 steps from our kitchen cleaning checklist can help you get started. We’ll go over them in a moment, but first let’s discuss a few crucial elements to have in order before you start cleaning your kitchen.

How to Clean a Kitchen: Start Here

Before your kitchen cleaning journey even begins, it’s important to set the stage. Preparation makes the process easier and ensures a thorough clean. Here are three crucial elements to have in order before you begin your kitchen cleaning process:

Remember, Safety First

Get rubber gloves and wear them. Your hands will thank you for protecting them from nasty germs and bacteria. Make sure the kitchen is well-ventilated too. Open windows or turn on exhaust fans to guarantee you’ve got good airflow.

Set Up a Garbage Disposal Area

Dedicate a space, like a bin or a box, for items you decide to throw away or recycle. This keeps the discarded items organized and prevents them from creating more clutter in the cleaning process.

Set a Timer

For efficiency and to prevent burnout, set a timer for each task. This will help you stay focused and give you a sense of accomplishment as you make progress. It also provides a structure to your kitchen cleaning checklist, ensuring you don’t miss out on any task.

Our 9-Step Guide to a Spotless, Clean Kitchen

Maintaining a clean kitchen doesn’t have to be a herculean task. With the right strategies, you can keep your kitchen sparkling on a regular basis with ease.

Our kitchen cleaning checklist is crafted to help you achieve exactly that. And while we’ve laid these tips out as steps, don’t feel obligated to follow them in this order. 

Take liberty with your approach. Tackle each step in the order that aligns with your own journey towards a spotless, organized, and clean kitchen

1. Clear Off Your Countertops to Make Kitchen Cleaning Easier

It’s not uncommon to store food containers, utensils, and appliances on a kitchen countertop. If this sounds like your kitchen, take a closer look at your countertops. 

They may look cluttered, and if you were to move some of those items, you would probably find crumbs, stains, and other messes behind them. You can solve this problem and simplify your kitchen cleaning process by storing everything in your cupboards. 

If you find that there isn’t enough room, take this as a sign that you have too much clutter. Get rid of appliances and utensils you rarely use. Once you remove the clutter from your countertops, you’ll not only make your space more aesthetically pleasing but also streamline your kitchen cleaning time.

2. Disinfect Frequently-Touched Surfaces

In addition to wiping down countertops and appliances, be sure to regularly disinfect frequently-touched surfaces such as cabinet handles, light switches, and doorknobs. This is especially important during flu season or times of illness. 

These areas are hotspots for germs and bacteria to accumulate, and they can easily spread to your hands and then to your food you prepare and consume. Use all-natural disinfectants like white vinegar or yes, vodka, which both can kill a wide range of bacteria and viruses. 

Don’t just rely on a quick wipe either. Allow your disinfectant to sit on the surface for a certain amount of time before wiping it off. This ensures that you are truly killing the germs and not just spreading them around.

3. Do a Little at a Time to Avoid Big Messes

You’ll keep kitchen cleaning tasks under control if you clean in your spare time. There are many instances when you’re waiting for water to boil or meat to cook. 

Use this time to start cleaning up. If you peeled and chopped veggies for dinner, take this time to wash the knife, peeler, and cutting board. 

When thinking about how to clean a kitchen more efficiently, remember there’s always something you can do. How long has it been since you wiped the dust from the top of your refrigerator? 

Maybe there’s expired food in your cupboards that you can toss out. Stay on top of these tasks while you’re preparing meals so you’ll have less to do later.

4. Clean Spills Right Away to Avoid Kitchen Cleaning Nightmares

Even if you hire Vella to tackle your deep clean kitchen checklist from time to time, you’ll want to stay on top of spills. Just a small pool of water can stain some surfaces. To ensure a clean kitchen, soak up spilled liquids with a towel before wiping the countertop with a sponge and soapy water. 

In particular, clean up spilled powders and granular ingredients right away. Spilled sugar, salt, and flour attract insects in addition to the possibility of discoloring your countertops. Keep ingredients in sealed plastic containers to reduce pest invasions and spills.

5. Keep a Compost Bowl Handy

One of the best practices for keeping a clean kitchen is to manage food waste effectively. You’ll avoid plumbing issues if you reduce the amount of scraps that get flushed down the drain. 

Keep a compost or waste bowl handy as you prepare your meals. Pits, stems, and the ends of vegetables or fruits should all go into this bowl. This essential tip in our kitchen cleaning checklist will keep your life simple by holding all of your food waste in one place.

6. Use Rugs to Soak Up Water

If you don’t have a dishwasher, it can be easy to make a mess of yourself when you wash dirty dishes. To keep a clean kitchen, set a rug down in front of your sink. Doing so will prevent you from leaving a puddle on the floor.

The rug will catch the water and help you avoid making another kitchen cleaning task for yourself.  For households with pets, placing a rug under their food and water bowls can help avoid even more spills. 

Just don’t forget to add “launder the rugs once a week” to your kitchen cleaning checklist. When you wash them regularly, you keep them from developing mold and mildew. You can choose rugs that add to the decor in your kitchen so they won’t seem out of place.

7. Implement a “No Shoes” Policy

One of the simplest yet most effective ways to maintain a clean kitchen is by implementing a “no shoes” policy in your home. Shoes can carry a surprising amount of dirt, bacteria, and other unwanted elements from the outdoors. This debris can then wind up in your kitchen, creating more work for you and potentially contaminating your cooking and eating spaces. 

Asking family members and guests to leave their shoes at the door is a simple solution to this problem. You significantly reduce the amount of dirt and germs that enter your kitchen, and you won’t have to mop or sweep your floors as much as a result.

8. Deep Clean Your Appliances 

Don’t forget about the appliances that work hard to keep your kitchen running smoothly. Add a monthly reminder to your kitchen cleaning checklist to deep clean your oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, and other major appliances. This will not only improve their efficiency but also extend their lifespan. 

Here’s a kitchen deep cleaning checklist you can follow for the upkeep of your home appliances:

1. Start by cleaning the interior surfaces. Remove any old food residues or spills that can contribute to unpleasant odors and potential bacteria growth. 
2. Don’t forget to check and clean any filters. Clogged filters can significantly impact the performance of your appliances. For example, cleaning the grease filters in your oven or range hood can prevent the risk of fire. 
3. Finally, take time to clean the seals around the doors of your refrigerator and oven. This will help to maintain your appliance’s temperature and energy efficiency.

Remember that regular maintenance and deep cleaning of your appliances is an investment in their longevity, ultimately saving you money in the long run.

9. Keep a Kitchen Cleaning List of Regular Tasks

Finally, to keep your home sparkling clean, you need a system for maintaining it. You can use a whiteboard or chalkboard to create a kitchen cleaning list for yourself or your family. The list should separate chores by how often you should do them. 

In one section, list things that need attention every day. These tasks could include wiping down countertops, washing the dishes, and mopping the floor. 

Every two weeks, you might need a reminder to dust or wipe down hard-to-reach areas. On a monthly basis, remind yourself to clean expired food out of the refrigerator and pantry.

One Last Kitchen Cleaning Tip: Don’t Be Afraid to Hire Help

You’re more than capable of handling all the tips we’ve recommended in this article on your own. But at the same time, you don’t have to feel as though cleaning your kitchen is something you have to do by yourself. 

From basic to deep cleans, Vella offers a range of cleaning services by an extensively vetted and trained professional cleaning team that will help you maintain a more sanitary and clean kitchen. To lighten your burden and start spending less time in your kitchen, contact us today!