FAQ
Your Questions Answered: Explore Common Inquiries and Find Solutions Quickly!
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to commonly asked questions about our products and services.
What is your cleaning policy?
We offer a 24-hour satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not completely satisfied with our service, we will return to your home to address any missed areas. Your satisfaction is our priority!
How do I know I can trust Skilled Maids?
Skilled Maids is a local recognized leader in residential home and office cleaning services. We have been in business for more than 10 years providing quality and reliable cleaning services to Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC. All of our maids are bonded, insured, background checked, uniformed and undergo drug testing company wide. References supplied upon request.
Do I Have to sign a contract?
No way. We want you to keep us because you love us! If you must cancel a regularly scheduled appointment, initiate the “cancel” at least 48 hours in advance. A cancellation without enough notice to reschedule another appointment directly affects the team’s income.
Do I have to be at home for a cleaning?
Not at all, that is entirely up to you. The majority of our cleaning occurs Monday through Friday, 8 am-2pm. Most of our customers are not at home. Many of our customers prefer to give us a key. Others leave us a key in a safe place each visit. Alarm systems can either be left off or you can give us entry/exit codes. We are not responsible for any charges whenever an alarm goes off. We protect your keys by locking them away in a locked key storage device which only the manager has access to. The key is issued to the team leader on the day of your cleaning. The team leader returns the key at the end of the day. All keys are coded and cannot be traced to you, your home, or information in your account. Should you choose not to provide Skilled Maids with a key and are also not home when our team arrives, a cancellation fee may apply. In the unlikely event your key is lost, we’re insured for key replacement and re-keying your locks.
What about my pets?
We love pets! As long as your pet is comfortable with us, he/she is free to roam. We want to ensure the safety of both your pets and our staff. If you think your pet may become overly anxious while we are there, please make temporary arrangements (such as the garage, a kennel, or a closed-off room) while we are in your home.
What if I have a special request for that day?
Please let us know 24 business-hours before your scheduled cleaning. It will help us plan the day in case your special request requires us to be in your home longer and also to make sure we bring necessary supplies, so we can be prepared. You can call, email or text us. If there are specific areas you wish us to avoid and not clean, please contact the office in advance and we are happy to comply. Please note, however, we do not clean items such as computers, areas containing bodily fluids or excretions, or litter boxes.
What if I would like something cleaned that is not part of your system?
We offer a wide variety of additional home services and special projects that can be tailored to your exact needs. Call our office or email us at [email protected] for details.
Will I get the same crew to clean each service?
We do our best to keep the same team of two assigned to your home each visit except for special circumstances, vacations, and/or time-off requested by our staff. Occasionally a member of your team may be sick, in which case, we send a substitute. Since our teams are grouped of 2 or more, it should not affect your clean. At least one of your regular team members is sure to go to your home. We ask you to be understanding.
How do I pay?
We do require a credit card on file. Payment is due at the time of cleaning service. You can pay by cash or check. Please leave it for pick-up the day of cleaning. (fees will be incurred for late payments and returned checks.) If payment is not given at the time of service, Skilled Maids reserves the right to not service your home and an extra charge may be assessed for the trip. We accept all credit cards. You can pay through PayPal as well to To avoid late fees (non-payment fee of $15.00, late payment fee of $35.00, or returned check fee of $50.00).
How many people will clean my home?
We work in teams of two. Two-person teams prove to be the most efficient because each employee can concentrate on a specific task while in your home. Depending on the scheduled day, we may add an additional person to our team to meet the customers’ demand. You are paying per labor – hour, the hourly rate is “per person – per hour”.
Are your cleaners trained and supervised?
Team members are fully trained and ready to clean your home. Training continues as we learn about new products/methods and to reinforce prior training. Each team includes a team leader who verifies that cleaning tasks are thoroughly completed.
What does the ARCSI membership designation mean?
As an ARCSI member we bring you the confidence of dealing with a dedicated professional that is committed to providing a valuable service based on strong business ethics and high service standards. ARCSI’s Seal of Accreditation is awarded to professional residential cleaning companies who meet a rigorous set of industry and business standards.
Do I supply any cleaning materials or equipment for the crew?
We bring our own products and vacuum cleaners. All you need to provide is trash bags and we require water and electricity. If you prefer we use special products, we will be happy to use them. Just set them on the kitchen counter for us. Please note: we are not liable for any damage caused by your choice of cleaners. For sanitary and hygienic purposes, it is preferable that clients utilize their own vacuum, microfiber mops, etc. However, if it is necessary, we can also bring those items for cleanings.
Which cleaning products do you use?
We use trusted and top-rated Proctor & Gamble (P&G) branded, professional cleaning products.
What if I am not happy with my cleaning?
Skilled Maids backs all its work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you are not satisfied with any area we have cleaned, just contact us within 24 business hours and we will come back and re-clean the area at no additional charge.
Do you offer Gift Certificates?
Of course, we offer gift certificates in any dollar amount, plus several pampering gift packages to choose from! If you are interested in purchasing a gift certificate please contact us today or buy through our website! We accept credit cards to make the purchase quick and easy.
Is my personal information secure?
Yes, we take the security of your personal information seriously. We use industry-standard encryption and security measures to protect your data. Your information will only be used for order processing and will not be shared with any third parties.
How can I contact your customer service?
Our customer service team is available to assist you via email, phone, or live chat. You can find our contact information on our websites Contact Us page. We strive to respond to all inquiries within 24 hours.
What if something in my home is damaged or broken?
While we always take great care while cleaning your home, accidents do happen. Our teams are trained to report all damage to the office immediately, and we will contact you to discuss repairs, replacement, or reimbursement. We are insured and a copy of our insurance policy is available upon your request. Our staff is trained to work thoroughly and carefully but accidents can happen on even the best cleaning teams. Therefore, we encourage you to put away any valuables or heirlooms to avoid mishaps. Items that are typically excluded from coverage include but not limited to; cash, jewelry, art, antiques, and electronics. If you have any irreplaceable collectable or expensive objects, we ask that those items be properly secured or put away in order to avoid accidents, or loss of those items.
What if I have to skip, cancel or change the day of my clean?
Please contact us 48 business-hours before your scheduled clean without penalty. Otherwise, a fee may apply. Without proper notice and/or we can’t access your home the day of your scheduled cleaning, a “lock-out fee” of 50% percent of your regular cleaning rate will be assessed. However, when the system generates these dates, they become your regular schedule. If you ask for a reschedule of a specific date, nothing will change to your regular dates.
If you reschedule for a week later from your regular date, the following appointment date will stay the same. When you request a total change of schedule based on the last appointment, we cannot guarantee the same crew. We can reschedule or proceed with your next scheduled service. There will be an additional charge if we proceed with you next scheduled clean as our cleaning crew may be in your home longer than usual.
Frequent cancellations may result in a cancellation fee, a price increase and loss of your scheduled time-slot or preferred cleaning team. If you are set up for weekly, biweekly, or monthly cleaning and you skip a cleaning, the next time we clean, your rate will change. Our weekly customers that skip a cleaning will have to pay the biweekly rate. The biweekly customers that skip a cleaning will pay the monthly rate and for our monthly customers that skip a cleaning we will have an additional charge of $20 if the cleaning is done on the 6th week after the schedule date. Your schedule date will not change.
What should I do before the cleaning crew arrives?
To make our services more efficient, we ask that you pick up clothing, toys and other household items prior to our visit, so we can concentrate on the actual cleaning. We are happy to help pick-up if you cannot. We will pick up toys, laundry, dishes, just no poo please. However, we will need extra time to finish the job and we need to charge for it.
How will our relationship work?
Communication is a very important in relationships and business. We are flexible and work with you to meet your housecleaning needs. Establishing open communication ensures your satisfaction as a long-term customer.
Are your cleaners trained and supervised?
Team members are fully trained and ready to clean your home. Each team includes a team leader who verifies that cleaning tasks are completed. Each employee takes pride in their work, receiving regularly updated training and supervision to ensure quality cleaning service.
What is an MSDS?
A material safety data sheet is a form that includes all information related to cleaning products and supplies relating to chemical makeup, safety, chemical reactivity. We are required by OSHA to have MSDS information for all products used in our services. Each team leader carries an MSDS binder to all job sites. You can be assured that safety is a priority.
What if my regular cleaning day falls on a Holiday?
We contact clients to reschedule for a more convenient time.
How flexible is Skilled Maids around the holidays and vacation time?
Very flexible! We take off Memorial Day, Labor Day, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. We are willing to accommodate your family’s vacation times and special events.
Do you make beds?
Yes. And we will change the sheets if clean ones are left on the bed. A fee may apply.
What time can I expect the team to arrive at my house?
We provide a two-hour estimated arrival window. We can’t guarantee what time the team will precisely arrive. Weather, traffic and the preceding home-cleaning sometimes slow us down. If you require an appointment at a specific time we will need to schedule it for first-cleaning-of-the-day. Some houses take longer than others and we don’t want a team to leave before it is completed in order to keep an appointment with another customer. Our first appointment of the day is at 8:00am and our last appointment is no later than 3pm.
How much time is needed for a regularly scheduled cleaning service?
The amount of time depends on the size and needs of your home. Call us for a free in-home consultation and estimate.
Can we hire one of the Skilled Maids staff members?
Our employees are very important to us. We spend valuable resources to train and maintain their employment with us. A fee of $2,500 will be charged to any client who hires any staff member of Skilled Maids cleaning service while they are employed with our company. Our staff members also sign a non-compete clause that extends the assessment to 1 year following their last day of employment.
Why does the first-time cleaning cost more?
It usually takes us longer to clean your house the first time. There are areas of the home that we will be cleaning that haven’t been cleaned in quite a while. Our services can be arranged on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. Note: we do not provide service on major holidays.
May I tip my cleaning team?
Tipping is not necessary, but with many service professionals, tipping is greatly appreciated and a nice way to show gratitude for a job well done. If you do elect to tip your maids for each cleaning, 10-30% of your total charge is appropriate and it should be split between all cleaners. Even if you opt not to tip each time, you may want to include a tip in your check, during the holiday season. In either case, the tip is more of a “thank you” bonus.
Why hire someone who is bonded and insured when unlicensed and uninsured cleaners cost less?
Persons & companies who work “under the table” do so without thought of long term repercussions to either themselves or their customers. They charge less because they are not paying taxes, medical, workman’s comp, insurance, and social security into the system. When something goes wrong, these workers will often disappear without a trace. You the customer have a responsibility in making sure that you check to see if those who offer to work for you are legitimate. Protect your home and family: work with insured professionals!
Do team members speak English?
We are a non-discriminating employer and have a diverse, multi-cultural staff. Good communication is important to us. Thus, we ask our clients to contact us to relay any notes or requests. We add this information to the team’s work orders. Our teams are in touch with the office via cell phone throughout the work day. We can call a team to relay a message for you even while they are working in your home. Just let us know.
May I request team members to remove their shoes when they clean?
No. For personal safety reasons, team members are required to wear shoes at all times when cleaning. We are sorry, but for liability for the customer and the company, all team members have to wear tennis shoes when cleaning. If you want shoes covered, let us know in advance to update your profile for the crew.
Do you wash laundry or do dishes?
No. We do not provide laundry or dish washing service at this time.