First-Time Hiring? Here's What Actually Happens
Hiring a cleaning service for the first time feels a little odd for most people. There's something personal about letting strangers into your home, not knowing quite what to prepare, whether to be home, or how it all works. We hear this from new clients regularly. So here's the honest walkthrough — no marketing fluff — of exactly what to expect when you book with Simply Done Cleaning.
Before You Book: What to Think About
The two most common questions before a first booking are: "How much will it cost?" and "What should I clean before they arrive?" Let's answer both.
On cost: Our residential rate is $38/hour per cleaner. A typical first clean on a three-bedroom home runs four to six hours. First cleans almost always take longer than ongoing maintenance cleans — there's more to reset. After your first clean, subsequent visits move faster.
On pre-cleaning: You don't need to clean before we arrive. Tidying helps — if surfaces are clear of clutter, we can clean them rather than work around them. But scrubbing anything before we get there defeats the purpose. Dishes in the sink are fine. A bathroom that hasn't been touched in a month is exactly why you called.
The Day of Your Clean
Our crew will arrive in the scheduled window with their own supplies and equipment. You don't need to provide anything — no cleaning products, no mop, nothing. A few things make the day smoother:
- Pets: If you have dogs or cats, having them in a separate room or outside gives our team freedom to move through the home without interruption and helps avoid accidental escapes when doors are opened
- Access: Make sure we can get in — whether that's a key, a code, or someone home to let us in
- Priorities: If there's a room or area that matters most to you, tell us. We'll tackle that first
- To-do or avoid list: If you have specific preferences — don't touch the home office, pay extra attention to the kids' bathroom — just let us know
What We Actually Clean
A standard residential clean covers:
- All surface cleaning and wiping (counters, shelves, tables, appliance exteriors)
- Vacuuming all floors and carpet
- Mopping hard floors
- Bathroom cleaning: toilet, tub/shower, sink, mirror, floor
- Kitchen cleaning: sink, counters, stovetop exterior, appliance exteriors, backsplash
- Emptying trash throughout the home
- Dusting accessible surfaces
Add-ons like inside the oven, inside the fridge, inside cabinets, and window washing are available but need to be requested at booking — they extend the time and we want to plan for it.
Do You Need to Be Home?
That's entirely up to you. Many of our regular clients give us a key or door code and go about their day. Others prefer to be home, especially for a first clean. There's no wrong answer. What matters is that you're comfortable and that access is sorted in advance.
After the Clean: What to Expect
A professional clean should be noticeably different from a self-clean — not just visually tidier, but genuinely cleaner in the way that takes sustained effort to achieve. Baseboards wiped. Bathroom fixtures polished. Floors mopped right to the edges. If something wasn't done or wasn't done to your satisfaction, we want to know. That feedback shapes how we serve you going forward.
What Makes a Good Cleaning Company
When comparing services in Grande Prairie, look for a few things that separate a professional operation from someone running a side hustle:
- WCB coverage — protects you if a cleaner is injured on your property
- Liability insurance — covers damage to your home or belongings
- Bonded employees — background-checked, accountable staff
- Consistent teams — the same people in your home, not random rotations
- Clear pricing — no mystery quotes, no surprise fees
If you're ready to give professional cleaning a try, we'd love to be your first experience done right. Call us at 780-831-8950 and we'll walk you through everything before your first booking.