Are you interested in booking? Here are some answers to some questions you might have!

General FAQ

Who will be cleaning my home? Different Bird Cleaning is a solely owned and operated company by me! My name is Val! I have several years of experience as a residential cleaner. This experience includes knowledge of working with varied materials within a home that may require special or different care, an understanding of safe consumer use cleaning product and chemical handling, and professional practice.

My goal as a cleaner and business operator is to work according to my values rooted in care, love, and justice. I work towards building transparent, honest, positive, and accountable relationships with my clients by being clear about my abilities and limitations, the cost of my labor, and fostering an environment of mutual benefit.

There may be instances where I need assistance with a job and may subcontract a similarly experienced cleaner with whom I have personal experience working with. This will always be done with client consent.

Do I need to supply anything? The only things you MUST provide is a toilet brush for all bathrooms and toilet paper. All other equipment and supplies are brought by the cleaner. If there is any specific equipment or product you have that you prefer your cleaner use, feel free to bring it up at the time of your booking!

Is there any prep I have to do to before my cleaning? I usually ask that:

• If you have any food left out after breakfast or lunch that it be put away so that none of your food is exposed to cleaners or dust.
• If you have a potty training toddler I will also ask that any training potties be emptied and cleared.
• For interior oven I ask that you refrain from baking anything at least 2 hours before I arrive to clean (its hard to clean a hot oven!).
• For fridge cleanings I also ask that some or all food be cleared out, or if not, that it I be given liberty to toss away any old or rotting food and reorganize the fridge as I see fit.
• As for anything else I always say, if you don’t want me to see it feel free to tuck it away! I don’t open drawers, or clean closets, so those are always safe spots.

Do I need to be home for the cleaning? Its not necessary, but its always nice to meet clients face-to-face, especially for first time cleans. If you are going to be home for your cleaning, we ask that you and everyone present please wear a mask for the duration of the service whenever sharing space with the cleaner. You may also open windows and run air filters if possible.

If you are unable to be present you may leave a key in a safe place, let us know key codes for auto door locks, or make other arrangements for us to gain entry into your home. Keys cannot be held by the cleaner overnight, and will be returned to a lock box, or closed inside of the house after every service.

Can I leave my dog at home with you? I’m not too knowledgeable when it comes to dogs, I’ve never even taken one for a walk! I’m good about staying calm and reading body language, but if you have a young puppy with little training, one who needs support with strangers, or a generally anxious friend, it’d be helpful and allow me to focus on my work if they had someone they trust at home with them while I clean. Old bones who just fart and sleep are a-okay!

What about my cat? I have a lot of experience with cats, both feral, stray, and domesticated with various behavioral “quirks”, and will be fine to clean while they’re home. If you have a runner who may slip through my legs as I open a front door, I’d appreciate that foreknowledge! Additionally, if their litter or food is in a non obvious place, please let me know so I don’t accidentally close their access to it.

How much will a service cost? Firstly, each job is charged at a fixed rate, not per hour. This ensures that the cost of labor is sufficiently covered, and there is no concern over how long a job may take, increasing the price.

That being said, most cleaning companies wont disclose the price of a cleaning without a quote, this is mainly due to the fact that the factors that contribute to the cost of a cleaning, such as rooms, pets, and even age of a home – all of which directly correlate to the amount of time it might take to clean – are unpredictable. And when price relies on how long a cleaning takes, if time is unpredictable so is the price. But if I can give you an idea of how much a cleaning will typically will cost you.

Residential cleaning rates run from $30-$40 per hour. For a deep clean prices can range between $150-$300, with some variation based on the size of the home or additional services. For jobs that may require more than 7-8 hours of labor, I may have a peer cleaner assist me. If you opt for reoccurring service after your initial deep clean you can expect to pay between $100-$225.

Commercial Rates Start at $50-$75 per hour.

A $75 non- refundable deposit is required for booking.

I’m not in your service area; can I still have my home cleaned? Unfortunately, I am limited in how far I can travel for work and preference will always be given to those within my service area. However, I’m glad to talk about what may be possible. An additional fee of $20 for travel may be applied.

Can I buy a cleaning for someone else, as a surprise gift? I’d be glad to clean as a gift to a loved one, but unfortunately I cannot offer it as a surprise unless you also live in the residence. I would need the full consent of the primary resident(s) as well as a certain amount of information I need about the home to do my job well.

How can I pay? You can pay via Venmo, through a debit or credit card by invoice, or cash*. A card must be held on file in order to book. This card will not be shared or distributed. This card will not be charged unless in situations of non payment 3 days after services have been completed or any violations as detailed in the Cleaning Contract.

*Cash payments are due upon arrival.

Covid-19 Policy

Covid-19 is an ongoing and continuous threat to the health and well-being of many in our community. As a person who works closely in contact with several households throughout a work week, I want to do everything in my ability to protect others and myself. I will be wearing a mask at all times during your cleaning, and highly encourage you to wear one as well, especially if you or someone you have been in close contact with is sick or feeling unwell. If you are testing positive with Covid (whether symptomatic or asymptomatic) please let me know ASAP, there is no fee for cancellations associated with active Covid-19 cases. I’ll be glad to reschedule your appointment to a new date 10 business days from your cancellation, or whenever you and your household are testing negative.

Cancellation Policy

Appointments can be cancelled or rescheduled up to 24 hours before your scheduled date with no associated fee. Any deposit for first time cleans can be carried over to new dates with no additional fee so long as notice is given more than 24 hours in advance.

Cancellations of a service with less than 24 hours notice for the first time not will incur a fee, however all cancellations or last minute reschedules within 24 hours of your appointment going forward will garner a fee of 75% of your total cleaning bill.

In the event of a No Notice Cancellation (where you do not offer any notice of cancellation, and either I clean anyhow, or I am unable to be clean due to property being inaccessible or other circumstance), a fee of 100% of the total cost of service will be fined.

In the event of a Lockout (where entry instructions are incomplete, or incorrect, and a property is inaccessible as a result) I will wait 30 minutes at the property and do my best to get in contact with you. However, after the 30 minute mark, you will be charged a fee of 75% of the total cost of cleaning.

I hope all of this is clear and easy to understand! If you have anymore questions please feel free to reach out by text or email!