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What is Included in a Deep House Cleaning?

Recently in this space, we discussed some of the common elements that will typically be included in a basic house cleaning from a maid service or related entity. What about for those who require a more significant deep cleaning, whether for moving needs or any related purpose?

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we offer a huge range of house cleaning service options that includes both basic cleaning and deep cleaning, move out/in cleaning services and more. While precise elements will vary from home to home here, let’s go over some of the most common features that will be included in a deep cleaning service.

All Elements of Basic Cleaning

For starters, it should be noted that in virtually all cases, a deep cleaning service will include every single basic cleaning element that we went over in the previous piece. These basics are important for maintaining a clean and healthy home, so they’re always included even when focusing on more advanced services like deep cleaning.

Advanced Dirt and Grime Removal

Within a deep clean, however, there will often be more advanced dirt and grime removal components. These may include things like heavy duty scrubbing of tough-to-clean surfaces, steam cleaning for carpets or upholstery, and similar tasks that require extra effort to truly remove all dirt and germs.

For instance, if you’re moving into a new home and want to make sure every inch is spotless before arranging furniture, our move-in cleaning services will include more extensive cleanings in potentially overlooked areas like closets or cabinets. This ensures that the entire home is sanitized and ready for your family.

Cleaning Inside Many Appliances

While basic cleaning services typically won’t include themes like cleaning inside ovens or refrigerators, this is often included in deep cleaning services. These areas may accumulate grime and bacteria over time, and it’s important to thoroughly clean them out for both your health and appliance longevity purposes.

For example, when performing a move-out cleaning, our team will thoroughly clean the inside of all appliances that are being left behind for the next occupants. This ensures that they start off with a clean slate and won’t have to deal with any lingering dirt or odors from previous tenants.

Window Washing

Another common element of deep cleaning services is thorough window washing. While basic cleaning may include wiping down window sills and removing surface-level dirt, deep cleaning will often involve more thorough techniques like using specialized cleaning solutions and tools to remove built-up grime from both the inside and outside of windows.

Additional Services

In addition to these common elements, some deep cleaning services may also include additional tasks such as baseboard cleaning, dusting high surfaces like ceiling fans or light fixtures, and even organizing cluttered areas.

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we understand that each home and individual has different needs when it comes to cleaning. That’s why we offer customizable deep cleaning services tailored to fit your specific requirements. Whether you’re moving in or out of a home, preparing for a special event, or simply want a more thorough clean for your living space, contact us today to learn more!

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Tipping House Cleaners: Amounts, Non-Monetary

In part one of this two-part blog series, we looked at some basics on tipping house cleaners for their services. From the basics on whether this is appropriate (it typically is) to some common methods for tipping house cleaners, there are a few important things to know here if you want to show that extra little bit of appreciation for great service. 

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we’re happy to provide quality maintenance cleaning, deep cleaning and other house cleaning services to clients around Ogden. Today’s part two of our series will look at some general recommendations for how much to tip housekeepers if you’ve decided to go this route, plus some non-monetary ways of showing your appreciation in addition to financial tips. 

How Much to Tip?

There’s really no right or wrong answer when it comes to how much to tip a house cleaner. As with many service-based industries, it’s common for tips in this space to be based on percentage of the total cost of the service provided. However, there are also some general guidelines that can help you decide on an appropriate amount:

  • For maintenance cleaning services, such as regular weekly or bi-weekly visits, a tip of 10-15% of the total cost is typical.
  • For deep cleaning services, which are typically more expensive due to the extra time and effort involved, tips in the range of 15-20% of the total cost are common.
  • If you’re using a coupon or discount for your cleaning service, it’s generally considered polite to tip based on the regular price of the service rather than the discounted price.
  • In some cases, you may want to consider a slightly higher tip if your house cleaner has gone above and beyond in terms of quality or special requests.

Non-Monetary Tips

While financial tips are always appreciated, there are also other ways to show your house cleaner that you value their services:

  • Leave a positive review or testimonial on the company’s website or social media pages.
  • Offer to provide a reference for them to potential clients.
  • Write a thank you note expressing your gratitude and leave it with your tip.

For particularly exemplary service, you might consider using both these routes. You can leave a slightly larger tip than normal and also write a positive review or testimonial. This will show your house cleaner how much you appreciate their hard work and dedication.

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we take pride in providing top-notch cleaning services to our clients, and we’re always grateful for any tips or positive feedback that we receive. We hope this two-part blog series has provided you with some helpful information on tipping house cleaners and how to show your appreciation for their services. Contact us today for all your house cleaning needs in the Ogden area!

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Health Benefits of Clean Homes: Allergies, Diet, Savings

In part one of this two-part blog series, we looked at some of the considerable health benefits that may be available simply from maintaining a clean home on a regular basis. While some people only associate a clean home with aesthetics and comfort, the reality is that a consistently clean house offers several health-related plusses to all occupants.

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we’re proud to offer a huge range of house cleaning services to clients around Ogden, including maintenance cleaning, move out/in cleaning and much more. Today’s part two of our series will go over some additional health benefits that come with our services, including a few that may surprise you.

Seasonal Allergies

One major area where a consistently clean home can benefit your health is in limiting seasonal allergies. Dust and other allergens build up quickly in areas that aren’t cleaned regularly, leading to increased allergy symptoms, sneezing, watery eyes and many others.

By keeping your home clean on a regular basis, you reduce the presence of these allergens and limit their impact on anyone living there – especially children, who tend to be more susceptible to allergies. Some people’s allergies aren’t even confined only to seasonal irritants, but also include pet dander or other similar elements. A clean home can help with these issues as well.

Healthier Diet Choices

Did you know that research reveals that things like stress, clutter and chaos in the home can lead to poor food choices? This is because these elements tend to introduce anxiety, and many of us default to unhealthy eating habits when we’re anxious.

By keeping your home clean and organized, you reduce this anxiety and make it easier to stick with healthier food options. Many of our clients have told us how much more likely they are to cook a healthy meal at home when their kitchen is clean and clutter-free.

Saving Money

Another big area we’ve seen in our clients: Regularly cleaning the home can actually save you money on healthcare costs. Poor home hygiene can lead to increased chances of problems like respiratory infections, which require expensive doctor’s visits or medication.

But with a clean home and reduced transmission of germs or bacteria, you reduce these risks considerably – and could save major money over time. Consider the realm of air quality, for instance – this is far better in a regularly cleaned home, leading to reduced risk of asthma and other respiratory ailments.

As you can see, there are several major health benefits to maintaining a clean home. For more information on how our house cleaning services can help you take advantage of these benefits, or to learn about any of our other housekeeping solutions, speak to the staff at Healthy Homes Housekeeping today. We look forward to helping you live in a healthier and happier environment!

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Housekeeping for Rentals: Qualities to Prioritize

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the key benefits that come with utilizing professional housekeeping services for your vacation rental. If you own or operate a vacation rental property of any kind, housekeeping solutions offer a number of positive benefits – but what should you be looking for in your professionals?

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we proudly offer both maintenance cleaning and deep cleaning services from high-quality professionals to clients around Ogden. Today’s part two of our series will look at some of the chief qualities you should be looking for in any housekeeping entity you consider for your vacation rental.

Experience With Properties Like Yours

Not only is general housekeeping experience important to consider, but you should also be sure to look for professionals who have tackled properties like yours in the past. If your rental property is a condominium or apartment complex, for example, you’ll want to find experienced housekeeping staff that understand how best to clean and maintain residential communities of this size.

Flexibility

It’s important to remember that vacation rental turnover times are often tight and changeable – you may find yourself needing to book services with just a few hours’ notice. Look for professional housekeeping companies that are able to accommodate your sudden scheduling changes and demands.

For instance, at Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we strive to provide maximum flexibility for our clients. We understand that your rental needs may not always follow a predictable schedule – so if you have an unexpected need for housekeeping services, just give us a call and let us know when and how we can help you!

Proper Equipment and Products

Some housekeeping entities will bring their own supplies to the job, while others may ask you to provide them with specific products or equipment. Make sure that whatever housekeeping team you choose is properly equipped for your property – and if they need any specialized products or cleaning tools, let them know ahead of time so they can be sure to bring everything along with them on the day.

Bonded and Insured

Finally, you should never choose a housekeeping team that is not bonded and insured. This protects both you and the housekeepers in case of any accidents or damages that may occur while they are on-site.

Make sure to do your due diligence when it comes to researching potential housekeeping companies – look for those with years of experience, flexibility and proper equipment, as well as insurance and bonding protections. Doing so will ensure that you have the best possible experience when hiring a housekeeping team for your vacation rental property.

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we are proud to offer our clients our years of experience, flexibility and properly equipped staff, as well as the safety of being bonded and insured. Contact us today to learn more about how we can take care of your vacation rental property!

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Housekeeping for Rentals: Key Benefits to Consider

There are several different groups of people who should be considering the use of housekeeping services, and not all of them are necessarily residents of the homes in question. Those who own or operate rental homes are also among this population, and there are several ways that professional housekeepers bring value to rental homes.

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we’re proud to offer a wide range of house cleaning services to clients around Ogden, including maintenance cleaning, move-in/move-out cleaning and more. This two-part blog series will go over some of the chief benefits of utilizing professional house cleaning services for a rental property, such as an Airbnb or similar program, plus some qualities to be looking for if you’re in this position.

Saving Time

One of the first and most notable benefits of utilizing professional house cleaners for rental homes is the time it saves you. Professional housekeepers are able to quickly and efficiently clean an entire home in a fraction of the time, something that would take you several hours if done alone.

Additionally, not having to spend any of your own personal time cleaning can be incredibly valuable. Your energy and attention can be devoted to more pressing matters, such as responding to inquiries or requests from clients.

Quality Cleaning Services

Another benefit of engaging professional house cleaning services for rental homes is the improved level of quality that they provide compared to what you could achieve on your own. Professional house cleaners have extensive experience and know exactly how to clean a property to the highest standard.

They will know what products and techniques to use so that the rental property looks its best when clients check-in. This goes a long way in providing a comfortable, clean atmosphere for your guests and leaving them with a positive impression of the home and your business.

Guest Satisfaction

Furthermore, utilizing professional house cleaning services for rental homes is a great way to ensure guest satisfaction. When your guests enter the home, they’ll be impressed with how well it has been maintained and taken care of.

This will make them feel more comfortable during their stay, and their positive review could lead to more bookings in the future. Professional housekeepers can also help ensure that the home is up to certain hygiene standards, which will be a major plus for your guests.

These are just some of the key benefits of utilizing professional house cleaning services for rental homes and properties. At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we strive to provide top-notch quality services so that clients in Ogden can get the most out of their rental property. Keep an eye out for our next blog post, which will discuss what qualities to look for when considering a house cleaning service provider. Contact us today and learn more about how we can help keep your rental residence clean and welcoming for guests!

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House Cleaning Focal Points: Basics and Initial Examples

The theme of focal points is one that’s present in a number of spatial-related tasks, and one great example is house cleaning. Both homeowners themselves and any professionals you hire to clean your home will have some typical focal points that often define much of their cleaning process, and some of the more common rooms or areas in our homes are chief candidates as such focal points.

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we’re here to provide a wide range of house cleaning and maid services, from simple maintenance cleaning solutions to deep cleaning, move-in and move-out cleaning and more. Why are focal points often useful for cleaning a home, and what are some of the most common focal points for both homeowners and professional cleaners alike? This two-part blog series will go over everything you need to know.

Why Are Focal Points Useful for House Cleaning?

Firstly, let’s look at why it’s often useful to have a few primary focal points when cleaning your home. Focal points are great for efficiency, and with the right ones, you can prioritize certain areas and tasks that require extra attention while still giving other parts of your home some love.

For instance, some will center their focal points around key rooms like the kitchen, bathrooms and living areas while giving attention to other parts of their home as they have time. This way, you can ensure that the most important tasks are taken care of and still make progress throughout your entire home. Focal points also help keep things organized when it comes to house cleaning processes, ensuring that specific goals are met in the right timelines.

Our next several sections will go over some common examples of focal points – though of course, this is a very individualized process and your own house cleaning routine might differ from what’s listed here.

Major Rooms

As we touched on above, many homeowners and professional cleaners alike will often use the major rooms of a home as their focal points. This includes areas like kitchens, bathrooms, living spaces and any other room you consider to be a major area for your home.

Kitchens are often particularly important in this regard, as they tend to require more attention due to the presence of appliances, food, and more. Cleaning a kitchen properly means wiping down surfaces, sanitizing any kitchen appliances (like the sink or stove), sweeping and mopping the floors and more.

Specific Appliances

In other cases, people might use specific appliances as their focal points. This often includes things like refrigerators, ovens and dishwashers, which all require a good amount of attention when it comes to cleaning. Not only do these areas need to be scrubbed thoroughly, but you should also be checking for any signs of wear and tear (or even potential maintenance issues) that could be causing your appliance to act up.

In part two of our blog series, we’ll dive even deeper into these topics and look at more specific examples of focal points for both homeowners and professional house cleaners. Stay tuned!

For more here, or to book an appointment for house cleaning services, contact Healthy Homes Housekeeping today. Our team of experienced professionals can take care of all your needs in one convenient visit!

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Ogden Maid Service Value: Time and Health

There’s a tendency to only think about how much we’re spending on certain home services, and not to focus enough on the value that we’re getting in return and whether it’s worthwhile. The realm of maid services and house cleaning is a great example: In many cases, especially if you’re working with a great house cleaning company, you’ll be getting so much value for your buck that it can actually feel like you’re saving money.

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, this is the reality we strive for with all our Ogden clients, for whom we provide everything from basic house cleaning services to deep cleaning, move-in/move-out services and more. We provide such high-quality services, and for such affordable rates, that many of our clients are confident we’ve saved them significant amounts of both money and time over the years. In this two-part blog series, we’ll look at some of the ways “value” should be considered within house cleaning, plus how the right partnership with a great maid service like ours will be great for your wallet.

The Value of Time

First and foremost, there’s an unfortunate tendency among some people, including too many Americans, to minimize the value of personal time. That is, too many people don’t think of time as being worth a tangible amount equivalent to that of money. We’re so focused on squeezing in as much work, recreation and downtime as possible that we don’t consider the opportunity cost of all this time- and money-saving activity: In some cases, it’s a lot easier and more efficient to pay someone else to do something for us than struggle through it alone or with limited help.

This concept is key in understanding the value of house cleaning in particular. Think about it this way: If you could use a few hours to go out and meet friends, work on a hobby or pursue other personal passions, wouldn’t it be worth it to pay someone to tidy up your home for you?

The Value of Health

Another major value that a good house cleaning company can provide for you is, of course, the value of your health. This is related to time efficiency in that a clean home makes it easier for you to get things done and stay healthy over the long term. A good home won’t just be free from dust and allergens like mold and pet dander; it will also be free from germs, bacteria and other potentially harmful substances that can make you sick.

This means that a great house cleaning company can be more than just a one-time expense; for many of us, it’s a necessity. In part two of this blog post, we’ll look at some additional ways to consider the value your home care company provides you with and how these might impact your selection process.

For more here, or to learn about any of our Ogden house cleaning services, speak to our dedicated team at Healthy Homes Housekeeping today.

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Ogden DIY Vacuuming Tips: Bag and Filter, Dusting, Crevice Feature

There are certain home cleaning tasks that will be carried out regularly by both homeowners and professional housekeepers (if they’re hired), and a good example here is vacuuming. One of the single most common home cleaning tasks out there, vacuuming helps remove various dust, debris, dirt, hair and other materials from your flooring, particularly carpets, rugs and other fabrics.

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, detailed vacuuming and related suction solutions will be just one small piece of our comprehensive house cleaning services, which include everything from maintenance cleaning to deep cleaning and move-in/move-out services in Ogden and nearby areas. However, we also naturally realize that our clients will perform some vacuuming on their own — and we’re here to offer expertise for these settings as well. In this multi-part blog series, we’ll go over some basic DIY vacuuming tips from the best housekeepers in the business.

Bag and Filter

No matter which vacuum you own or which area of your home you’ll be cleaning, you should first check the vacuum’s bag or filter. These are the two components that will collect any kind of debris, dust, dirt and other materials you’re attempting to clean up with your machine. A full bag or dirty filter is going to decrease the effectiveness of your vacuum whenever you attempt to use it.

The simplest approach here: Check the bag and filter before each use, but also before each major vacuuming session on any given day. This way you won’t have to exert the effort of bending down every single time you want to start vacuuming — plus, it helps avoid accidentally missing anything important.

Dust First

Especially if it’s been some time since a given room was cleaned, we strongly recommend dusting first. This means using a dusting mop, duster or cloth to specifically remove any loose particles and materials before you’ve started vacuuming — the easy stuff that will be compacted into your vacuum’s bag/filter if you don’t get it first.

It is also good to remember that some surfaces (particularly plush carpets) will require an approach of pre-vacuuming, so that all the dust and dirt particles are pushed closer to your vacuum’s base. This will help ensure no internal vacuuming issues result from these larger surface materials being pulled into your machine later on.

Crevice Feature

One vital feature to utilize when you’re vacuuming a hard floor is the crevice tool, which will help remove dirt from edges and other tight spaces. The crevice feature will also help immensely when it comes to cleaning around furniture legs — essentially anything that’s small enough to be difficult or near-impossible for regular suction power to reach. If you’re not using the crevice tool when vacuuming a given room, you’ll be leaving hair, dirt and other debris built up in corners.

For more tips on DIY vacuuming from the best housekeepers in town, or to learn about any of our Ogden housekeeping services, speak to the staff at Healthy Homes Housekeeping today.

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