While professional house cleaners can work wonders in making your home look nice and sparkling, there are some jobs that fall outside of their skillset and time constraints. Prior to hiring a maid service, it’s important to have an understanding of what house cleaners can and cannot do when it comes to sprucing up your space.
“Pro cleaners have a very strict amount of time and energy, so they cannot deep clean every single area of our home,” Alessandro Gazzo, a cleaning expert working for Emily’s Maids, says. “Most pro cleaners focus on getting your house clean and tidy and make sure heavy-traffic areas are clean.”
Here, we’re sharing more insights regarding jobs that your pro cleaner just won’t be able to check off their list—you’ll need to call in another professional to get these more complex tasks resolved.
Mold
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Mold is one area in your home that cleaners aren’t able to address to the fullest. However, Scott Schrader, a cleaning expert at CottageCare, explains that the right cleaner will be happy to refer you to someone who can better tackle the job.
“Even if most people think mold is pretty simple, sometimes mold can be a complex issue in your home,” Steve Evans, the founder of Memphis Maids, says.
Your house cleaner may spot visible mold and be easily able to wipe it away, but if you’re dealing with a larger infestation, you’re going to want to call in a professional, he explains. It will be worth your while, given that this person will be able to go pretty in-depth.
After all, Evans adds, a pro specializing in mold removal will also be able to examine your home to determine whether the mold is growing in non-visible places, such as inside of your walls.
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Chimneys
Do not ever expect your house cleaner to tackle the chimney—this is a job for a pro dedicated to this area of the home, specifically, Evans notes.
“They have proper training and safety equipment to climb on the roof (if needed),” he says.
Of course, your house cleaner will vacuum up any visible ashes and wipe around your fireplace, but they won’t go inside of it under any circumstances.
HVAC Systems
This is yet another instance where you will need to call in a specialized pro, Evans shares. While your cleaner is most likely happy to vacuum your HVAC vent, the job stops there—they don’t have the tools necessary to vacuum your ductwork, he explains.
“This process takes more energy and knowledge, and pro cleaners usually won’t offer this service,” Evans says.
Windows and Gutters
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This is by no means a task that you should expect your cleaner to handle. Schrader explains how there are safety risks and the need for special equipment that could prevent a typical cleaning person from being able to partake in this chore.
When ladders are involved, safety becomes a significant issue, and you will want to leave climbing high up onto the roof to a trusted pro.
Carpets
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While vacuuming carpet is par for the course when a cleaner comes to your home, keep in mind that house cleaners are not going to deep clean carpets for you, Gazzo explains.
Rather, he states, anyone dealing with stains and other flaws will want to call in a professional carpet cleaner.
Hardwood Floors
When it comes to the hardwood floors in your home, don’t worry—cleaners will be happy to vacuum and mop them, Gazzo shares. That said, if your wood floors need more complex upkeep, you will need to hire additional help, as wood floors are quite sensitive and they have to be refinished by professionals.
Gazzo recommends refinishing your hardwood floors once every seven to 10 years, depending on its material, usage, and the like.