First Extended Maintenance Cleans

Often when a client books your services for the first time, they do so because the house is lagging behind in the cleaning. Therefore, you will find that the first visit to their home requires that you spend much longer catching up on the work that is required. This first visit may not be a full Spring-Clean as you will only be doing the basics, but instead of keeping an ‘already clean’ house maintained you are bringing a dusty and grimy house into order so that a Maintenance clean is all that it now needs.

Often the work that most needs to be done is the dusting, so this will require you to dust every little corner, nook and cranny that there is. This means moving any furniture that you are able to move as well as lifting every ornament that sits on benches and tables. There will be a build-up of dust under the lounge and behind and under beds, so make sure that on this first clean you catch up on this. Then your Regular cleans will be much easier to do. This service should include the following:

LIVING AREAS, BEDROOMS, HALLWAYS AND STUDY:

General dusting and polishing of all furniture throughout the house (at all levels within standing reach)

Moving of light furniture including beds, lounges & chairs so that you may dust and vacuum under & behind

Dusting of lampshades, accessible skirting boards, windowsills, picture frames & rails, door frames

If required, sweeping, mopping and drying. Take the scatter rugs outside to shake

Polish glass tabletops and glass windows in cabinet doors. Polish the front of the T.V.

Wipe dirty marks off the walls around the light switches, and spot clean larger marks off walls

Wipe over the leather lounges, or vacuum both under and on top of the cushions on the cloth lounges

Polish mirror wardrobes from top to bottom and then dust the track they run on

Clean the telephone handsets. Change the sheets and make the beds (when requested)

 

Hygienic Handling of Soils and Stains

Make sure you use gloves when you are cleaning toilets, handling clothes,

sheets or towels that have been soiled, or when cleaning up blood, vomit and spills.

KITCHEN

Clean the inside and the outside of the microwave oven

Wipe all fronts of cupboards and tops of benches

Wipe the outside and the top of the refrigerator, stove and oven

Clean any splash marks off the window above the sink

Dust the windowsills and polish the kitchen sink

Clean the exhaust fan, and de-grease the Rangehood

Tripping Hazards

Make sure your pathway is clear. Shut pets out of the room you are working in.

Have electrical and telephone leads moved off the floor.

BATHROOM, TOILET AND ENSUITE

Clean the shower screen and door tracks, ensuring that all glass has no streaks

Scrub and sanitise the shower recess floor

Remove mould from grout between tiles, and also the soap residue from the tiles

Clean the soap dish, shine the taps, pull the showerhead down and shine that as well

Clean and sanitise the hand basin, wipe the vanity unit and the cupboard under the sink

Wipe tiles above hand basin and remember to dry them off so they shine

Clean, sanitise and dry the bath, looking out for the ring that will appear when people have used the bath

Dust all bottles and ornaments on ledges and shelves

Clean & sanitise the toilet inside & out, including the pipes and the fittings at the back of the toilet

Dust the windowsills and polish the mirrors, leaving no streaks

Empty the bins and change their liners. Sweep and mop the floor

LAUNDRY

Dust the windowsills and empty the bins

Wipe the washing machine, dryer, water heater and freezer

If there is one, clean the laundry toilet. Sweep and mop the floor.

Wash the cleaning cloths and put away the products

Empty the water from the bucket into the tub, and clean, dry and polish the tub.

The definition of a First Extended Maintenance Clean is: all services normally provided on a Regular Maintenance Clean (no Spring Clean services, however), with no services being rotated or left until next visit. 

More time is spent on the details, therefore, most First Extended Maintenance cleans take 2 –3 hours longer than the recommended number of hours for a normal Maintenance clean. You should still charge the same rate as Regular Maintenance Cleaning (client’s products and equipment) but add $15 extra if you use your own products and equipment.

Slipping Hazard

If there is a slippery or dangerous floor, suggest that a safer floor covering be used instead,

 as it is a hazard for your client too.