Finding the right house cleaning service shouldn’t feel like a gamble. After running a residential cleaning company in San Diego for over a decade, I’ve seen firsthand what separates exceptional services from those that leave homeowners frustrated and disappointed.
The truth is, inviting someone into your home to clean requires trust. You’re not just paying for sparkling countertops—you’re investing in peace of mind, reliability, and the confidence that your space will be treated with respect.
This Mexi Maids Cleaning San Diego will walk you through exactly how to choose a cleaning service that matches your needs, budget, and expectations. Whether you’re hiring help for the first time or switching from a service that’s let you down, these 15 questions will help you make an informed decision.
Understanding What You’re Really Paying For
Before diving into the questions, let’s establish what quality house cleaning actually includes. A professional service should offer more than surface-level tidying. You deserve thorough cleaning that addresses high-touch surfaces, hard-to-reach areas, and the details that make a home truly clean.
The best services combine consistency, professionalism, and accountability. But how do you identify these qualities before signing a contract? Let’s break it down.
The 15 Essential Questions to Ask Before Hiring
1. Are You Licensed, Bonded, and Insured?
This is non-negotiable. A legitimate cleaning service should carry three types of protection:
General Liability Insurance protects your property if something breaks during cleaning. If a cleaner accidentally knocks over your television or damages hardwood floors, their insurance covers the repair or replacement.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance protects you from liability if a cleaner gets injured in your home. Without this coverage, you could be held responsible for medical bills if someone slips on your stairs or strains their back moving furniture.
Bonding provides financial protection against theft. While rare, bonding ensures you’re reimbursed if a team member steals from your home.
Always ask for proof of these protections. Reputable companies will provide certificates of insurance without hesitation. If a company hesitates or says they’re “working on getting insured,” walk away immediately.
2. Do You Conduct Background Checks on All Employees?
Your home contains your most valuable possessions and personal information. The people entering should be thoroughly vetted.
Ask specifically about their screening process:
- Do they run criminal background checks?
- How far back do these checks go?
- Do they verify previous employment?
- What disqualifies someone from employment?
Professional companies screen every employee before they enter a client’s home. Some even conduct ongoing checks to ensure continued trustworthiness. This isn’t paranoia—it’s responsible business practice.
3. What Training Do Your Cleaners Receive?
Cleaning professionally requires skill beyond household chores. Proper training ensures cleaners know how to handle different surfaces, use products safely, and work efficiently.
Quality training programs cover:
- Safe chemical handling and proper dilution ratios
- Surface-specific cleaning techniques (granite vs. laminate, hardwood vs. tile)
- Time management and systematic cleaning approaches
- Customer service and communication standards
- Security protocols for accessing homes
Ask whether training is ongoing. The best companies hold regular training sessions to introduce new techniques, reinforce standards, and ensure consistency across all teams.
4. What’s Included in Your Standard Cleaning Service?
This question reveals whether you’re comparing apples to apples when evaluating different companies.
Standard cleaning typically includes:
- Dusting all accessible surfaces
- Vacuuming and mopping floors
- Cleaning and sanitizing bathrooms
- Kitchen cleaning (counters, sinks, exterior appliances)
- Wiping down high-touch surfaces
- Taking out trash
However, definitions vary. One company’s “standard clean” might include baseboards and interior windows, while another charges extra for these tasks. Get specifics in writing to avoid surprise charges later.
5. How Do You Price Your Services?
Understanding pricing models helps you budget accurately and compare services fairly.
Flat Rate Pricing charges a set fee based on your home’s size and condition. While this offers predictability, it can be problematic. Flat rates often mean you’re overpaying when your home needs minimal work, or the service rushes through to stay profitable when your home requires extra attention. You’re locked into the same price whether they spend 90 minutes or three hours—which can incentivize speed over quality.
Hourly Pricing charges based on actual time spent cleaning your home. This is the most transparent and fair approach for both clients and cleaning professionals. You pay for the work performed, not arbitrary estimates.
Per Square Foot Pricing calculates cost based on your home’s size. This works well for initial quotes but doesn’t account for variables like clutter level, number of bathrooms, or pets.
Watch for pricing red flags: companies that won’t provide written estimates, services significantly cheaper than competitors (usually 30% or more below market rate), or those charging surprise fees after the first cleaning.
6. What’s Your Cancellation and Rescheduling Policy?
Life happens. You get sick, family visits unexpectedly, or work demands change your schedule. Understanding the flexibility—or lack thereof—in cancellation policies prevents future frustration.
Reasonable policies typically require 24-48 hours notice for cancellations without penalty. Some companies charge partial fees for last-minute cancellations to compensate their cleaners.
Ask about:
- Notice requirements for cancellations
- Fees for missed appointments
- How to reschedule recurring cleanings
- Policy for canceling during holidays
- What happens if the company needs to cancel
Also clarify whether you can skip cleanings without penalty. If you’re traveling for two weeks, can you pause service without losing your time slot or paying cancellation fees?
7. Do You Use the Same Team for Each Visit?
Consistency matters tremendously in house cleaning. When the same team cleans your home regularly, they learn your preferences, understand your space’s quirks, and work more efficiently.
Regular teams build familiarity. They remember that you prefer kitchen towels folded a certain way, know to be careful around your antique furniture, and understand which rooms need extra attention.
If companies rotate teams, ask how they maintain consistency. Do they use detailed cleaning checklists? How do they communicate your preferences to different teams?
8. What Cleaning Products Do You Use?
Product quality directly impacts cleaning effectiveness and your family’s health. This question is especially important if you have children, pets, allergies, or chemical sensitivities.
Professional-grade products often outperform consumer versions, but not all professional products are created equal. The best services balance effectiveness with safety.
9. What Does “Eco-Friendly” or “Green” Cleaning Actually Mean?
Many companies advertise eco-friendly or green cleaning, but these terms mean different things to different businesses. Some use genuinely certified sustainable products, while others simply avoid harsh chemicals without meeting any verified standards.
Legitimate eco-certifications to look for:
EPA Safer Choice indicates products meet strict safety criteria set by the Environmental Protection Agency. These products clean effectively while minimizing impact on human health and the environment.
ECOLOGO Certified (UL 2792) verifies that products meet rigorous environmental and health standards throughout their entire lifecycle—from manufacturing to disposal.
Green Seal Certified ensures products meet sustainability criteria including reduced toxicity, minimal packaging waste, and responsible manufacturing.
Don’t accept vague claims. Ask specifically: “Which certifications do your products carry?” Reputable companies will provide brand names and show you product labels.
Also clarify whether eco-friendly cleaning costs extra. Some companies charge premium rates for green products, while others include them as standard.
10. How Do You Handle Special Requests or Problem Areas?
Every home has unique needs. Maybe you have hard water stains that won’t budge, pet odors that linger, or delicate surfaces requiring special care.
Ask how the company handles:
- Specific problem areas you’ve identified
- Special cleaning requests
- Delicate or valuable items
- Areas requiring extra attention
The response reveals their flexibility and problem-solving approach. Quality services welcome these conversations and work with you to address concerns.
11. What’s Your Satisfaction Guarantee?
Even excellent companies occasionally make mistakes or miss spots. What matters is how they handle issues when they arise.
A solid satisfaction guarantee should include:
- Clear timeframe for reporting problems (usually 24-48 hours)
- Commitment to return and re-clean at no charge
- Specific process for addressing concerns
- Contact information for reaching management
Ask: “What happens if I’m not satisfied with a cleaning?” Their answer should be immediate, confident, and specific. Hesitation or vague promises suggest they don’t handle complaints well.
12. How Do You Enter My Home?
Logistics matter for security and convenience. Understand exactly how cleaners access your property.
Options typically include:
- You provide a key (stored securely at their office)
- You’re home during cleaning
- You use a lockbox or keypad entry
- They text upon arrival and you let them in
If you’re providing keys, ask about their key security protocol. Where are keys stored? Who has access? Are they labeled with addresses? Professional companies use secure key management systems that protect your home.
13. Do You Bring Your Own Equipment and Supplies?
Most professional services bring their own vacuum cleaners, mops, buckets, and cleaning products. This ensures they have the right tools for the job and maintains hygiene standards between homes.
Using their own equipment also means you’re not wearing out your vacuum or going through your cleaning supplies. However, some companies charge supply fees, so clarify what’s included in your quoted price.
If you have specific equipment preferences—like only using HEPA filter vacuums due to allergies—discuss this upfront.
14. How Do You Handle Quality Control?
Quality control systems separate professional operations from casual cleaners. Ask about their oversight process:
- Do supervisors conduct random quality checks?
- How often do managers inspect completed jobs?
- What happens if a cleaner repeatedly misses areas?
- Do they use checklists or digital tracking systems?
Companies with robust quality control have lower error rates and address problems faster. They’re also more likely to maintain consistency across different teams.
15. Can You Provide Local References?
Online reviews tell part of the story, but speaking with actual clients reveals details you won’t find in star ratings.
Ask for 2-3 references from clients in your area who’ve used the service for at least six months. Long-term clients can speak to consistency, reliability, and how the company handles issues over time.
When contacting references, ask:
- How long have you used this service?
- Have they ever missed appointments or arrived late?
- How do they handle problems or complaints?
- Would you hire them again?
Red Flags to Avoid
Certain warning signs should end your search immediately:
No Insurance or Proper Licensing: If they can’t prove insurance, they’re putting your property and finances at risk.
Cash-Only Payment: Legitimate businesses accept multiple payment methods and provide receipts. Cash-only operations often avoid taxes and accountability.
Pressure to Book: Quality services don’t need high-pressure tactics. If they’re pushing you to commit on the spot, they’re prioritizing sales over service.
Unwilling to Provide Written Estimates: Everything should be documented. Verbal agreements lead to disputes and disappointment.
Significantly Below Market Pricing: If a quote seems too good to be true, it probably is. Extremely low prices usually mean corner-cutting—whether through inadequate insurance, undertrained staff, or rushed work.
Poor Communication: If they’re hard to reach during the sales process, they’ll be impossible to contact when problems arise.
No Online Presence: In 2026, legitimate businesses have websites, online reviews, and digital footprints. Complete absence suggests an unprofessional operation.
Vague Answers: Professional companies should answer questions clearly and confidently. Evasiveness about insurance, training, or policies indicates they have something to hide.
How to Evaluate Online Reviews Properly
Online reviews provide valuable insights, but you need to read them strategically.
Look for Patterns, Not Individual Complaints: Every business occasionally disappoints someone. What matters is whether the same issues appear repeatedly. If five reviews mention missed spots or scheduling problems, that’s a pattern worth noting.
Read the Middle Reviews: Five-star reviews might come from friends or exceptional circumstances. One-star reviews sometimes reflect unrealistic expectations. The three and four-star reviews often provide the most honest, balanced perspective.
Check Review Recency: A company with perfect reviews from 2022 but nothing recent might have declined in quality. Look for consistent, recent feedback.
Notice How Companies Respond: Do they reply to negative reviews professionally? Do they take responsibility and offer solutions? Response quality reveals customer service priorities.
Verify Across Multiple Platforms: Check Google, Yelp, Facebook, and industry-specific sites like HomeAdvisor. Consistent ratings across platforms indicate genuine reputation.
Be Skeptical of Perfect Scores: A company with nothing but five-star reviews—especially if they’re all brief and generic—might be filtering or fabricating feedback.
Understanding Contract Terms
Before signing anything, understand these crucial contract elements:
Service Frequency and Duration: How often will they clean? Are you committing to a minimum number of cleanings?
Pricing Lock: Is your rate guaranteed for a specific period? Can they raise prices, and if so, with how much notice?
Termination Clause: Can you cancel anytime? Is there a cancellation fee? What notice period is required?
Damage Liability: What happens if something breaks? What’s the claims process?
Service Scope Changes: Can you modify what’s included in each cleaning? How do pricing adjustments work?
Payment Terms: When is payment due? What payment methods are accepted? Are there late fees?
Never feel pressured to sign immediately. Take contracts home, read them carefully, and ask questions about anything unclear.
Making Your Final Decision
After gathering this information, compare your options systematically. Create a simple spreadsheet listing each company and how they answered these questions.
Consider weighting factors based on your priorities. If you have severe allergies, eco-friendly products might be your top concern. If you travel frequently, cancellation flexibility matters most.
The cheapest option rarely provides the best value. Instead, look for the service offering the strongest combination of professionalism, reliability, and fair pricing for your specific needs.
Starting on the Right Foot
Once you’ve chosen a service, set yourself up for success:
Communicate Clearly: Before the first cleaning, walk through your home and point out priorities, problem areas, and items requiring special care.
Start with a Deep Clean: Most companies recommend beginning with a thorough deep clean before switching to regular maintenance. This establishes a proper baseline.
Provide Feedback Early: After the first few cleanings, share what’s working and what needs adjustment. Early communication prevents ongoing frustration.
Keep Communication Open: If your needs change or problems arise, speak up promptly. The best client relationships involve ongoing dialogue.
Your Home Deserves the Best
Choosing a house cleaning service is about more than just finding someone to dust and vacuum. You’re selecting a partner in maintaining your home—your most valuable investment and personal sanctuary.
Take time with this decision. Ask these 15 questions, watch for red flags, and trust your instincts. The right service will answer confidently, work with your budget, and treat your home with the respect it deserves.
A quality cleaning service doesn’t just clean your house—it gives you back your time, reduces your stress, and ensures you always come home to a space that feels welcoming and cared for. That peace of mind is worth the effort to find the right match.