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Best House Cleaning Services in Boston | Frequently Asked Questions

Professional home cleaning solutions in Boston and surrounding areas. Find expert answers on appointments, pricing, and our specific cleaning services for pets, plus information on gift cards.

Getting Started — Appointments & Payments

+What areas do you cover?
We serve all of Boston, including South Boston, Dorchester, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, and the surrounding suburbs in North Shore and West of Boston. Our full service list includes: Allston, Arlington, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Belmont, Brighton, Brookline, Cambridge, Charlestown, Dorchester, Fenway, Jamaica Plain, Kenmore, Lynnfield, Lexington, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Milton, Newton, North End, Quincy, Roslindale, Saugus, Somerville, South End, South Boston, Stoneham, Waltham, Watertown, and West Roxbury.
+How do I book my house cleaning services in Boston?
Booking is easy! Fill out our secure booking form and select the time and date you want us to clean your home. Once complete, you'll get a confirmation email to let you know that we have received your request.
+What if I don't want to book online?
You can reach us by telephone or email. Call our Client Service Team at (617) 780-6831 or email hello@houseblisscleaning.com. We'll respond within one business day.
+How much does it cost to clean my house?
We price based on the number of rooms in the home and the scope of work. If you book online, select the number of rooms and the extras that apply to your home. The price for cleaning your house is set according to the information you provide and will show instantly on the Booking Page. We offer amazing discounts for recurring service scheduled on a weekly, bi-weekly, or every 3 and 4 weeks.
+Why is the first cleaning more expensive?
The initial cleaning requires more effort to bring the home to our cleaning standards, which will take considerably more time than the general maintenance cleaning. We're confident you'll enjoy this top to bottom house cleaning which prepares your home for the recurring maintenance cleaning of your choice.
+Does green cleaning cost more?
No. You're not paying extra for environmentally friendly cleaning products. Our rates are competitive if compared with legitimate, professional, and insured companies. We pride ourselves on staying on the leading edge of technology, products, tools, and methods.
+What are the payment options?
We require a credit card on file for all new clients. We can also accept cash or check in person if you prefer. If the crew does not receive the payment in person, we will charge your credit or debit card after the cleaning is complete.
+When do I have to pay?
Payment is due the day of your scheduled cleaning and must be presented before services are rendered. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this policy. If you do not want your credit card to be charged, you may pay us with cash or check. If you won't be at home at the time of the scheduled cleaning, leave the payment (cash or check) in a sealed envelope on your kitchen counter, clearly marked for House Bliss Cleaning, LLC.
+Will my credit card number be safe?
Yes, your credit card is sensitive data. We do not store your credit card number or CVC. This confidential information will be encrypted in an https server. Our employees will not see your credit card number.
+Do I have to tip?
As with other services, tips are not required but highly appreciated. 100% of your tip goes to your cleaner. You can enter the tip amount in our booking form. If you choose to leave a cash tip, please leave it on the outside of the envelope with your payment and mark it clearly TIP FOR CLEANERS. Our staff is not allowed to take any money that would not be clearly marked theirs.
+Do I have to sign a contract if I sign up for a recurring cleaning service?
No. We only request that you agree with our Service Agreement which states you understand and accept our cleaning method and company policy, such as our cancellation and lock-out policy.
+How do I change or cancel my booking?
The best way to reschedule or cancel an appointment is by contacting us via email at hello@houseblisscleaning.com, or text us at 617-780-6831. We understand plans change, people get the flu, life happens — we get it! We want to be flexible with you, but please consider that we hold a time slot for you and have to turn away other potential clients. Our crew's schedule is planned a week in advance. We request that you please provide 48 hours notice before your scheduled appointment. Appointments canceled within less than 48 hours may be charged a late cancellation fee of $60. Same-day cancellations will result in a full service charge.
+What if my appointment falls on a holiday?
We will contact you in advance to reschedule your cleaning. We observe the following holidays: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving & Day After, and Christmas Day.
+Do I need to be home when the cleaners come?
No, you don't have to be home, but it is your preference. Many clients give us a spare key to their home, or have a lock box or hidden key which they share information for our cleaners to enter. These are some of the safest and most reliable options to ensure no interruption in service, wait times, or lock-out fees. If you prefer to stay home, we ask you to please refrain from being in the same room where the cleaners are working so they can work efficiently without distractions.
+How many people will be at my house?
Depending on the size of the job, we may assign a dedicated team of one up to four cleaners. We will inform you about the number of cleaners who will be in your home. We create trusting relationships with our customers, and that's why we do our best to send the same cleaner(s) to your home every time. If we have to send a different team, we will notify you. Due to illness, vacation, or other unforeseen circumstances, we cannot guarantee the same team every visit. Rest assured, the cleaning team servicing your home has a detailed work order with special instructions just for your home, and they will clean consistently as the previous team.

Services

+Do you bring your own cleaning supplies and equipment?
Yes, we bring everything we need to clean your home, including equipment, supplies, and cleaners. We may use your vacuum if desirable. If you prefer we use your equipment, we will be happy to do so, but we are unable to accept responsibility in case of breakage, or the results from their use.
+Do I need to provide anything?
We request clients to provide their own trash bags, toilet brush, and in some cases a step ladder. If you'd like your cleaner to use your own products, please add a note to the client intake survey with relevant instructions.
+Which products do you clean with?
Our motto is not a marketing green-washing or a sales technique. All our cleaning products and equipment meet our high standards for sustainability and environmental and human safety. We research and evaluate products that are Green Seal Certified or EPA Safer Choice Certified. We use a combination of earth-friendly plant-based products, as well as some home-brewed solutions. Many ingredients in our solutions are everyday household products such as vinegar, baking soda, rubbing alcohol, 3% hydrogen peroxide, and essential oils. Our store-bought favorites are: Borax, Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds Liquid Cleaner, CitraSolv concentrated cleaner & degreaser, Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Multi-purpose Cleaner, and Eco Me Natural Multi Purpose Wood Cleaner and Polish. The vacuums we use are HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) — these are vacuums with filters that provide the highest level of filtration. On occasion, some bathrooms that have mold or mildew, we'll use a chemical-based product. Mold is known to be allergy-causing, so the benefits of getting rid of it outweigh some of the negatives of a chemical-based solution, but rest assured that we'll limit their use as much as possible.
+Can I request you to clean with my favorite products?
When it comes to product choice, our founder has tried it all and selected only highly effective products to minimize the number of products our crews carry in their heavy bags. We cannot carry everything under the sun! So if you have a favorite like Bona for floors, a leather wipe, or only unscented products of your choice, please let us know that you'll provide them.
+I'm concerned about cross-contamination. Are your cleaning cloths sanitized?
Absolutely. Our cleaning microfibers are laundered in a three-step process to eliminate harmful pathogens. First, we pre-soak the microfiber cloths in hot water and Lysol Laundry Sanitizer for at least 6–8 hours (overnight). Second, we rinse and load the washing machine with laundry detergent and oxygen bleach — set at heavy duty, high heat, and extra rinse cycle. Finally, the load is dried at high heat. We also color-code our cleaning cloths: the blue microfiber is used only for cleaning kitchens and is never mixed with other colors. If you have any concerns about the sanitation of our materials, please don't hesitate to ask.
+What is the House Bliss Cleaning Happiness Guarantee?
We're happy when our clients are happy. That's why we guarantee that you are satisfied with our services when you return to your clean home. If we missed any item from our cleaning list, let us know within 24 hours of the appointment — including pictures of the area that needs to be re-cleaned. We'll come back to rectify it at no extra charge.
+Why an arrival window?
Due to the time-consuming nature of cleaning, and unpredictable circumstances beyond our control such as traffic, parking, and weather conditions, we cannot guarantee the exact time of arrival. When you book your cleaning for the first time, we require the flexibility to arrive within a 2-hour arrival window. For your convenience, if requested, we can contact you within a 1-hour window of time to expect our arrival.
+Do you ever charge an hourly rate instead of a flat rate?
In cases of special projects, or extreme dirty situations, we can suggest working on an hourly base rate.
+How long will it take to clean my house?
The amount of time to clean your home depends on the size and the services requested, and other factors like the degree of dirtiness, clutter, and any extras you tell us about. We estimate an allotted time based on the information you provide in the booking form or a phone consultation. Our cleaners are not incentivized to work at a slow pace or to rush their work. Our focus is to do a job well done.
+What happens if the cleaning requires more time?
Usually, this means our team encountered rooms that are much larger than usual, or needed to work around excessive clutter such as piles, papers, clothing, toys, excessive toiletries, or counters full of last night's dishes. If that's your case, we will contact you about adding more time to the appointment or suggest a priority cleaning so that our team doesn't run late for appointments scheduled after yours.
+I never had a house cleaner before. How do I know if the house needs a deep clean?
We have seen it all, and no home is the same. Since we don't perform a walkthrough until the day of the cleaning, the flat-rate estimate is based on some assumptions. We are not going to judge or expect that your house is "Martha-Stewart-clean," but we recommend that you select deep clean if you have not had your home professionally cleaned in the past three months. We will reach out to you if any space in your home is more than 70% cluttered or in a heavy-duty condition. No matter what, we would be glad to help — we just need accurate information to schedule the job accordingly.
+What can I do to assist the cleaners for a successful job?
Before the initial cleaning we ask you to complete our New Client Intake Survey where you can inform us how to gain access to your home. If you live in an apartment building, be sure the concierge is aware to let our crew inside. Furthermore, please inform us of any delicate items, broken pieces, valuable antiques, or irreplaceable items in your home. If you're enrolled in our maintenance cleaning, please write to us about any notable changes in your home since the last visit.
+What is the Client Intake Survey?
To best serve you, prior to your first appointment we will email a confirmation email with a link to our New Client Intake Survey. The survey takes an average of 8 minutes to complete. Your answers will be shared with the cleaning team, to help them understand your personal preferences and more details about your home.
+What's included in the service?
The initial clean and deep clean includes more tasks or areas within a room. The standard recurring service maintains your home in a clean standard, including cleaning the bathrooms, kitchen, living room, bedroom, dusting, vacuuming, and mopping floors. We also offer extra services like cleaning inside the oven, fridge, laundry, and more — these can be selected on the booking form or requested via email.
+Can I request the cleaners to do extra tasks on the spot?
We encourage our customers to request add-on services via our office at least one week before the cleaning so we can increase the time needed. We will do everything we can to accommodate your request if we have availability to complete the extra task on the spot. Any task not included in the team's work order is considered an add-on service, and your pricing will reflect that.
+If I am willing to pay extra will the cleaning team clean everything I ask?
No. For the health and safety of our cleaning staff, we cannot clean pet excrement, bodily waste, mold, or other biohazards. We are also not available to clean fireplaces, the exterior of windows, carpets, light bulbs, hard calcium buildup, or permanently hard water spots. We do not remove blinds to clean. We cannot reach areas above a 6-foot ladder reach. We do not move furniture over 30 lbs.
+How do I provide feedback on my cleanings?
After your cleaning, you'll receive a rating email. You have the opportunity to provide us feedback in this email. You may also email us directly at any time with feedback about our services.
+Can I hire one of your cleaning professionals directly?
If you want to hire one of our cleaners to work for you directly, we can work out a temp-to-hire arrangement for a fee. House Bliss makes a significant investment in recruiting and training qualified cleaning team members. Each member signs a non-compete agreement that prohibits them from working directly with our clients during one year after employment with House Bliss Cleaning. We ask that you abide by this same agreement.
+What guarantee do I have that there will be no damage during the cleaning?
If any company or person tells you they have never broken anything during cleaning, they're not honest. We appreciate that you trust us with your most valuable asset — your home. We train our cleaners to take their time and work carefully, but unfortunately, accidents can happen. Items of sentimental value or that are irreplaceable are the most vulnerable. One option to protect these items is to store them away on the cleaning day or instruct us not to clean them. Please note we cannot be responsible for breakage due to normal wear and tear, improper assembly, or deterioration caused by the age of any item. If our team accidentally breaks something, they'll document it with a picture and notify you. The office will follow up with a phone call or email to arrange the best course of action.
+How can I get in touch with a House Bliss Cleaning staff member?
We are a family-run business. Reach us over the phone at (617) 780-6831 or by email at hello@houseblisscleaning.com. We'll respond within one business day.

Pets

+Do you charge more if I have pets?
We love pets and see them as part of your family. It takes more time to clean homes with pets. As the scope of work changes, we adjust our pricing to allow more time to do a job well done. We cannot guarantee to completely remove fur from upholstered furniture. Please let us know if you want us to vacuum their beds or inside the crate. We cannot solve pet spray odor and stain issues. We do not clean homes with animal hoarding issues.
+Does my dog have to be crated?
Although we do not take care of your pets, we want them to feel comfortable while we clean your home. The New Client Intake Survey has a dedicated area where you can inform us about your pets. If your pet will be roaming free at home while we clean, it helps us to know their names so we can talk to them if needed. We also need to ensure the safety of our team. Any pets that exhibit aggressive behavior while we are present may need to be contained in a crate or locked in a room. Please note, our cleaning crew will not pick up pet accidents, change or scoop a litter box. We also do not clean flea-infested homes.

Gift Cards

+How do I buy a Gift Certificate?
You can buy a gift certificate for anyone online or over the phone.
+Can you send a special gift basket and the certificate?
We're happy to accommodate special requests. Just contact us to discuss what you are looking for.
+How can I claim my Gift Certificate?
You can redeem by entering the gift card number on the discount field of the booking form or over the phone with our client service.
+Can I check the balance left on my Gift Certificate?
The balance is stored in your account. To log in to your account, use the same email where you received the gift certificate.
+Can I use my gift certificate balance for future cleanings?
Without a doubt! You can use it to the last penny until the balance is depleted. Keep in mind you might need to complete the payment if the balance is low.
+Does my gift certificate expire?
Gift certificates are valid up to 1 year from the date of purchase.

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