Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I clean specific rooms in my house: Kitchen, Bathrooms, Living Room, etc...?

Kitchen
Keep it daily. No need to channel your inner health inspector, but wipe down counters where food touched or splattered, run the dishwasher, scrub the sink, and clear grease from the stove. Don’t forget the handles, knobs, and drawer pulls—they’re some of the germiest spots in the house. Skip them long enough, and you’re basically auditioning for a food-borne illness PSA.

Bathrooms
Organization is half the battle—if you put things away after use, the weekly deep clean is quick work. Plan for about 40 minutes max once a week: scrub the toilet and sink, sweep the floors, and rinse the shower or tub. A daily shower spray or hard water treatment cuts that time down a lot, since the tub/shower is usually the grime magnet.

Bedrooms & Living Spaces
These are more about maintenance than scrubbing. Do a quick pickup whenever things pile up—put away what doesn’t belong. Just don’t cheat by moving the mess to another room; that’s not cleaning, that’s clutter migration.

Extras You Might Forget

Floors: Sweep or vacuum high-traffic areas a few times a week; mop as needed.
Dusting: Weekly for surfaces, more often if you’ve got pets or allergies.
Laundry: Not technically “room cleaning,” but if your laundry piles up, every room feels dirty.

What natural /eco friendly products should I use to clean my home, & will they work?

These are the staples I use when requested, and you most likely have them in your home.

Vinegar – Cuts grease, deodorizes, and shines glass. Think of it as Windex’s crunchy cousin.
Baking Soda – Gentle scrubber and odor eater. Great for sinks, tubs, and mystery fridge smells.
Dawn Dish Soap – Breaks down grease like nobody’s business. Not just for dishes—works on counters, cabinets, even laundry stains.
70% Alcohol – Disinfects high-touch areas (knobs, switches, remotes). Fast-drying, no residue.
Bar Keepers Friend – Tackles tough stains on stainless steel, ceramic, and glass cooktops. The “muscle” of the group.
The Pink Stuff – Mild abrasive paste for stubborn spots without wrecking surfaces. Great for ovens, grout, and scuffs.
Simple Green – All-purpose cleaner that’s eco-friendlier than the neon-blue sprays. Safe for most surfaces, smells clean.
Do they work?
Yes. They’ve been around forever because they do work. They’re not magic—scrubbing still required—it takes more time, but they clean effectively without turning your home into a chemical weapons testing site.

How do I get rid of bad odors in my home?

Bad odors are just detective work—find the source, don’t just spray perfume on the problem.

Kitchen
Start with appliances: dishwasher trap, garbage disposal, fridge, and trash can. Bleach is still the heavyweight champ for trash cans—do it outside with a hose, let it dry, no lingering smell. Clean the seals on fridges and dishwashers; they mold if neglected. Rotate fridge food before it turns into a science experiment. And don’t forget under the fridge—spills, crumbs, pet hair, and the occasional critter love it down there.
Bathroom
Toilets aren’t just bowls—clean the floor around them too. Grout is porous, so accidents (especially from kids) seep in. Wet towels or bathroom rugs sour fast, usually within a few days. Wash and rotate them. Drains are another culprit; a little buildup goes a long way in the stink department.
Housewide
Check under sinks for leaks—plumbing or product spills can cause musty odors. Beyond that, if you’ve sniffed every corner and still can’t find the source, it’s time to call in reinforcements. Sometimes you need a fresh nose (or a pro’s toolkit) to solve the mystery.

I can go on, this list is far from comprehensive, but most of the time it's something from the list above.

How can I sanitize without using harsh chemicals like bleach?

You don’t need bleach to sanitize.

Start with a dime-sized drop of Dawn in a small bucket of warm water and a microfiber towel. Wipe down the spots that collect grease and crumbs—cabinet pulls, appliance handles, even that lip under the counter everyone forgets exists.
Let the soap sit for 3–4 minutes so it can actually do its job, then rinse with a clean rag and fresh water.

Pro tip: don’t mix your soapy water with your rinse water, and never confuse your rags. Soap rag is soap rag, rinse rag is rinse rag. And remember—this isn’t supposed to be a soggy mess. If your rag is dripping, wring it out more.

Finish with a dry microfiber for streak-free surfaces, and a light spritz of 70% alcohol on high-touch areas. Done—sanitized without bleach fumes

How do I keep my home cleaner for longer, (dust, clutter, kitchen areas)?

Keeping a home cleaner for longer is all about habits. A quick 15-minute pickup at night saves you hours later—just put things back where they belong before bed.

For the deeper stuff, having someone come in every other week to hit the forgotten spots (baseboards, door knobs, door frames, window tracks) makes a huge difference in keeping your home looking fresh.

Beyond that, it really depends on your household: how committed everyone is, how busy your schedules are, and how much cooperation you get. Cleaning lasts longer when it’s part of a routine, not a once-in-a-blue-moon event.

How long will it take to clean my house?

Asking how long it’ll take to clean your house is like asking how long dinner will take to cook—depends on the ingredients. ‘Clean’ is wildly subjective.

Pets, kids, bathroom habits, how often the kitchen sees a sponge… all of it changes the math.

That said, for a ballpark: a well-maintained 3-bed, 2-bath home usually takes about 4-5 hours when cleaned twice a month. Think of it as an estimate that gets more accurate once a routine is established. Square footage matters as well.

I have tried a few cleaners but they all seem to take too long, how quickly can you clean it?

Nobody—no matter how good they are—can tell you exactly how fast your house will get cleaned. The first several visits (usually 4–6) are like orientation: figuring out where outlets are, how bad the shower buildup is, bad lighting and which way the clutter tends to migrate. Your personal likes & dislikes, have to be learned.

Every home has its quirks, and cleaners need time to build a rhythm. Instead of fixating on speed, pay attention to quality and thoroughness. Once a routine is set, the pace naturally improves.

What is included in a standard cleaning?

Standard Cleaning

Recommended: Twice Monthly

What It Is

Standard cleaning is your home’s regular reset. It’s the routine upkeep—dusting, vacuuming, mopping, wiping down counters, and sanitizing kitchens and bathrooms—that keeps your space livable and welcoming.

Benefits

Prevents buildup: Stops dirt, dust, and grime before they get out of control.
Fresh set of eyes: You go “blind” to clutter—cleaners notice what you miss.
Protects your home: Regular upkeep extends the life of appliances, surfaces, and finishes.
Keeps life easier: A consistent schedule means less scrambling, less overwhelm.

Think of it like brushing your teeth. It’s not a full dental procedure, but twice a day keeps you from needing root canals. Standard cleaning does the same for your home—it’s the habit that prevents the big problems.

What is a deep clean, how does it differ from a standard cleaning?

Deep Cleaning

Recommended: Quarterly

What It Is

Deep cleaning is your home’s seasonal reboot. It goes beyond the basics to tackle soap scum, grease, and grime in the places that don’t get weekly love: scrubbing grout, washing baseboards, dusting ceiling fans, cleaning behind appliances, and pulling buildup from overlooked spaces.

Benefits

Healthier home: Evicts mold, allergens, and bacteria hiding in corners.
Fresh slate: Gives every room that “new home” feeling again.
Long-term savings: Prevents damage from buildup on tile, grout, and fixtures.
Peace of mind: Removes the grime you know is there but don’t want to face.

Standard cleaning is wiping the counter. Deep cleaning is moving the toaster, scrubbing the backsplash, and getting the gunk out of the grout lines. One makes things tidy, the other makes them shine like new.

What is a detailing?

Detailing

Recommended Minimum: Once a Year

What It Is

Detailing is precision cleaning for the spots that demand extra attention. It’s not about routine or heavy scrubdowns—it’s about polishing the details: window tracks, vent covers, door frames, cabinet fronts, seals, and the overlooked nooks where dust and grease hide.

Benefits

Polished look: Gives your home that showroom finish.
Safety boost: Cuts fire risks from grease buildup and lowers bills by unclogging vents and filters.
Protects investments: Keeps appliances, surfaces, and finishes looking newer, longer.
“Wow” factor: The difference between “that looks nice” and “this place sparkles.”

Detailing is like getting your car professionally detailed—sure, it ran fine before, but now it gleams. At home, that means sparkling fixtures, clean vent covers, and window tracks so fresh you’ll forget they ever had grime.

Important Note

Detailing is best requested by room or by section. It’s time-intensive and can get… funky. You don’t want me scrubbing your kitchen right after I’ve detailed your bathroom. We’ll make a separate appointment for each area, which also makes it more cost-sustainable over time.

What’s the difference between Neat Freaks and TaskRabbit?

Neat Freaks is my business — it’s the standard, the method, and the care I bring to every job.

TaskRabbit is the platform that connects clients to my services.

Think of TaskRabbit as the booking tool, and Neat Freaks as the hands, skill, and experience that make it all happen. When you book through TaskRabbit, you’re hiring me — and you’re also getting the organization, consistency, and reliability that define Neat Freaks.

How does payment work when booking Neat Freaks?

All Neat Freaks appointments are booked and paid through the TaskRabbit platform.

TaskRabbit handles scheduling, payment processing, and insurance coverage, keeping everything secure and transparent.

It protects both of us — your payment is verified and backed by TaskRabbit’s policies, and my work is fully documented and insured.

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