The Spanish moss might be beautiful draped across Savannah's live oaks, but that Georgia humidity it thrives in? It's doing your home no favors. Between the coastal moisture rolling in from the Savannah River and those sweltering summers, your floors, baseboards, and bathroom grout are working overtime against mildew and that sticky film that settles on everything. Add in the pollen explosions every spring and the red dust that finds its way into every corner of these historic homes—many with original hardwood floors that need special care—and you've got cleaning challenges that go way beyond a quick vacuum. If you're in Ardsley Park or anywhere with those gorgeous older homes, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
Finding someone you trust to handle all of this isn't as simple as picking the cheapest option on Google. You're handing over keys to your home and expecting someone to understand the difference between cleaning century-old heart pine and laminate, or knowing which products won't damage natural stone. The wrong hire can mean wasted money, damage to your finishes, or worse—a security risk. Before you commit to anyone, there are specific things you need to verify: how they vet their cleaners, what's actually included in their pricing, and the red flags that separate professionals from disasters waiting to happen.
Step 1: Decide What You Need
- Recurring cleaning — weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Keeps your home consistently clean. Best value per hour.
- Deep cleaning — comprehensive top-to-bottom. Inside appliances, baseboards, fixtures. Typically 2–3× the cost of a standard clean.
- Move-in/move-out cleaning — thorough cleaning of an empty property.
- One-time cleaning — for a specific occasion (guests arriving, post-renovation, etc.)
Pricing Reference for Savannah
1–2 bedroom: from $139/visit biweekly · 3 bed: from $189/visit · 4+ bed: call for quote
Step 2: Questions to Ask Every Company
Licensing, Insurance & Background Checks
- "Are your cleaners employees or independent contractors?" — Employees provide more accountability.
- "Are all cleaners background-checked?" — What does the check include?
- "Are you fully insured for general liability and theft?" — Ask for a certificate of insurance.
- "Are your workers covered by workers' compensation?" — If a cleaner is injured without coverage, you could be liable.
Products and Equipment
- "Do you bring your own supplies or do I need to provide them?"
- "What cleaning products do you use?" — Ask specifically if you have allergies, pets, or eco-friendly preferences.
- "Do you use HEPA-filtered vacuums?" — Important for allergy sufferers.
Process and Quality
- "What's included in a standard recurring clean vs. a deep clean?"
- "Do the same cleaners come each time?" — Consistency matters for trust and quality.
- "What's your quality guarantee? What happens if I'm not satisfied?"
Red Flags to Watch For
- No insurance certificate available on request
- Refuses to provide references or has no online reviews
- Pricing too low to be realistic (often indicates no insurance, no background checks)
- Wants full payment upfront before any service
- No written service agreement or scope of work
- Uses 1099 contractors exclusively with no training program
- Unclear or no cancellation policy
What to Do Before the First Cleaning
- Declutter — put away items from surfaces so cleaners can clean, not organize
- Secure valuables — jewelry, cash, and important documents should be locked away
- Note special instructions — fragile items, areas to avoid, product preferences
- Provide access — confirm key handoff or lockbox code
- Be home for the first visit if possible — to walk through and establish expectations
Why TotalCare for Savannah
TotalCare Cleaning serves Savannah with fully insured, background-checked professional cleaners. We use consistent teams, carry full general liability insurance, and back every clean with a satisfaction guarantee.
Get a quote for your Savannah home: (888) 378-7451