House Cleaning FAQ: 20 Questions North Shore Homeowners Ask Before Hiring

Hiring someone to clean your home means letting a stranger through your front door, so it is fair to have questions first. Below are the ones North Shore homeowners ask us most often, answered plainly. If yours is not here, call or text us at 978-650-2525 and ask.

Trust and insurance

Is Magda Maids insured and bonded?

Yes. Magda Maids is fully insured and bonded, so you are protected in the unlikely event of damage or loss while we are working in your home. We are happy to provide proof of coverage before your first clean if you would like to see it.

Do you run background checks on the people who enter my home?

Yes. Every person who works in your home clears a criminal background check and reference checks before their first job. Nobody is sent to a client's home on trust alone. Combined with being insured and bonded, that is how we make sure the person at your door is someone we would send to our own family.

Will it be the same cleaner every time?

We aim to send the same cleaner or team to your home each visit, so they learn your layout, your preferences and the things you care about most. If your regular cleaner is ever unavailable through illness or holiday, we will let you know in advance and brief whoever covers from the notes on your home, so nothing gets missed.

Which towns and areas do you clean in?

We are based in Peabody and serve Peabody, Salem, Marblehead, Swampscott and the wider North Shore of Massachusetts. If you are just outside that area, call or text 978-650-2525. We can often still help, and we will tell you straight away if we cannot.

Estimates, pricing and scheduling

Can I get a free in-home estimate before booking?

Yes, and we recommend it. Photos and square footage only tell us so much. Walking through the home lets us see the real condition, the surfaces and the details that matter to you, so the price we quote is the price you pay. The visit is free, carries no obligation and usually takes fifteen to twenty minutes.

What affects the price of a cleaning?

The size and condition of the home, and how often we visit. The main factors are the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the square footage, whether it is a first-time or recurring clean, how much build-up there is to start with, pets, and any extras you would like added such as inside the oven or refrigerator, interior windows or laundry.

Recurring clients pay less per visit than one-time bookings, because a home we maintain never gets back to the state it started in.

Why is the first cleaning more expensive?

The first visit is the heaviest one. We are catching up on everything that built up before we arrived: soap scum, grease, dust on the tops of things and the corners a routine clean never reaches. That simply takes more hours than maintaining a home we already know. Once your home is at our standard, every visit after that is quicker and cheaper. Think of the first clean as the reset and the recurring visits as keeping it there.

Can I book weekly, bi-weekly or monthly cleanings?

Yes. Weekly, bi-weekly and monthly schedules are all available, and recurring visits cost less per clean than one-off bookings. You keep the same day and time slot, so it becomes one less thing to think about. You can pause, skip or change your frequency whenever you need with twenty-four hours' notice.

How much notice do you need to reschedule or cancel?

Twenty-four hours. That lets us offer the slot to someone else and keeps your regular time protected. Just call or text 978-650-2525. Life happens, so if something comes up at the last minute, talk to us rather than worrying about it.

What payment methods do you accept?

Cash, check, Venmo, Zelle, and all major credit and debit cards. Whatever is easiest for you.

On the day of your cleaning

Do you bring your own cleaning supplies?

Yes. We arrive with everything needed, including vacuums, microfibre cloths and professional-grade products, so you do not need to buy or store anything. If you would rather we used a specific product you already own, whether for a delicate surface, an allergy or a scent you prefer, just leave it out and let us know. We are glad to use it.

Do I need to be home while you clean?

No. Most of our clients are at work while we clean and come home to a finished house, using a key, a lockbox code or a garage code. You are just as welcome to be there. Whichever you prefer is fine, and any access arrangement we agree on stays confidential and is used only for your scheduled visits.

How should I prepare for my cleaning appointment?

Very little is needed, but a few minutes helps us spend our time cleaning rather than tidying. Pick up clothes, toys and paperwork from the floors and surfaces you want cleaned, clear the kitchen sink of dishes if you can, and put away anything valuable or fragile. Let us know about pets and about any room you would rather we skipped. Then leave the rest to us.

How do you handle pets?

Pets are welcome and very common in the homes we clean. Let us know in advance what animals you have, their names, and anything we should watch for: a cat who bolts for open doors, a dog who needs to stay crated, a nervous rescue who does better in another room. Tell us if a product needs avoiding for their sake. We work around litter trays, feeding stations and beds, and we will give them a little attention if they are the friendly sort.

How long will my cleaning take?

It depends on the size and condition of your home, so we give you a realistic time estimate along with your quote after the free in-home visit. A first-time or deep clean always takes noticeably longer than a recurring visit, because we are catching up rather than maintaining. We would rather give you an honest window than rush a job to hit a clock.

What should I do if something was missed?

Call or text us at 978-650-2525 and we will come back and put it right at no charge. We would genuinely rather hear about it than have you quietly be disappointed. Feedback is how we learn to get your home exactly the way you want it, and it is how a one-time client becomes a long-term one.

What each service includes

What is included in standard house cleaning?

A standard cleaning covers the whole home. We dust furniture, shelves and accessible surfaces, wipe high-touch points like doorknobs and light switches, vacuum carpets and rugs, sweep and mop hard floors, and empty bins.

In bathrooms we scrub and disinfect the toilet, shower, tub, sink and counters, and polish mirrors and fixtures. In the kitchen we wipe counters, backsplash and appliance exteriors, clean the sink and clear the surfaces. Bedrooms are dusted, floors done, and beds made or changed if you leave fresh linen out.

Heavier work such as inside the oven, inside the refrigerator, interior windows or baseboards is available as an add-on, or as part of a deep clean.

What is included in a deep cleaning?

A deep clean targets the build-up a routine visit never reaches. Throughout the home that means dusting high shelves, vents, ceiling fans and light fixtures, washing baseboards, door frames and trim, cleaning marks off walls, vacuuming upholstery and behind furniture, cleaning windows, tracks and sills, removing cobwebs, and sanitising high-touch points.

In the kitchen we degrease cabinet fronts, clean inside the microwave, the refrigerator shelves and drawers and the oven interior, and clean under and behind small appliances. Bathrooms get descaled tile and grout, deep-scrubbed showers and tubs, and disinfected fixtures. Floors are done edge to edge with attention to grout lines.

What does a move-in or move-out cleaning involve?

This is a top-to-bottom clean for a home that is empty or nearly empty, and it goes well beyond a regular visit. We clean inside and outside every cabinet and drawer, inside the refrigerator, freezer, oven and microwave, and scrub countertops, backsplashes and sinks. Walls, baseboards, doors and trim are washed, cobwebs come down, light fixtures and switches are cleaned, and floors are vacuumed and mopped right into the edges and corners.

Tenants use it to protect a security deposit, and buyers and sellers use it so the property meets move-in standards.

What does post-construction cleaning cover?

Construction dust gets everywhere and keeps resettling, so this service is about removing every trace of the project. We clear dust from walls, ceilings, baseboards, light fixtures, inside cabinets and drawers, window tracks, vents and fans, then clean and sanitise doors, trim, hardware, countertops, shelves, mirrors, glass, new fixtures and inside closets and built-ins.

Floors get HEPA vacuuming, mopping and scrubbing, plus grout haze, adhesive and paint-drop removal. We also clear leftover materials, packaging, window and appliance stickers, paint splatter and caulk residue. You walk into a space that feels brand new rather than just finished.

Still have a question?

Call or text Magda Maids at 978-650-2525, or email Info@magdamaids.com. We serve Peabody, Salem, Marblehead, Swampscott and the North Shore of Massachusetts, and the in-home estimate is always free.