Frequently Asked Questions
Is a contract required for service?
No, a contract is not required for residential house cleaning services. If you are interested in hiring us for commercial cleaning, please contact the business owner to discuss terms.
How long have you been cleaning homes?
Lacey Brooks, owner, has over a decade of prior experience working as a housekeeper in hotel settings and as a house cleaner for a residential service. She has experience training other house cleaners as well as supervisory experience in the field of human services. She started her own house cleaning service, now known as Caribou Cleaners, in 2018.
Where do you provide service?
Caribou Cleaners service area includes Anchorage, Eagle River, Chugiak, Wasilla, Palmer, Big Lake, and Houston, Alaska.
What is included in your cleaning service?
Caribou Cleaners professional house cleaning service includes dusting, spot cleaning on walls, vacuuming carpets, cleaning hard floors, cleaning kitchens and bathrooms, entryways, hallways, and other living areas. Striving for thoroughness and efficiency, your housecleaner will do a detailed deep cleaning and help you to maintain your home.
If you request it, your housecleaner will work with you to provide other services (organizing, carpet shampooing, etc) as an add-on to your housecleaning, as long as the service is within scope and ability.
If you request it, your housecleaner will work with you to provide other services (organizing, carpet shampooing, etc) as an add-on to your housecleaning, as long as the service is within scope and ability.
What kind of cleaners do you use? Do you bring your own cleaning supplies?
Caribou Cleaners does provide cleaning supplies, but can use cleaners supplied by the customer if they have a specific type or brand of cleaner which they prefer.
Caribou Cleaners tries to keep harsh chemicals, dyes, and detergents to a minimum by using cleansers with gentle, non-toxic ingredients as often as possible. Some cleaning products contain essential oils, but thes can be eliminated for households in which allergies to the oils may be a concern.
The primary cleaning products used are:
Pledge multi-surface for furniture polish, and Weiman’s stainless steel polish on stainless steel appliances. Weiman’s cleaner for glass cook tops on stoves. Will use a razor scraper on your glass cook top as needed.
Your housecleaner may use products containing hydrochloric acid (such as Lime-Away) to assist with heavy buildup of mineral deposits in bathrooms or kitchens when needed. A pumice stone may also be used to remove heavy mineral build-up.
Soft Scrub with Bleach or Tilex in kitchens or bathrooms where mold or mildew is present. CLR Mold and Mildew remover may also be used as an alternative.
Simple Green D disinfectant, but may also use a bleach solution or Lysol products on request.
Caribou Cleaners provides vacuum, mop, dusters, brushes, and scrubbing pads. An extendable pole is available to dust ceiling fans and hard-to-reach areas, and a step ladder to reach light fixtures and high shelves. A steam mop cleans and sanitizes most hard floors and tile naturally, without the use of chemicals. If your flooring is not rated for a steam mop, we will mop using a different method (spray mop or twist mop). Hand mopping may incur an added fee.
Caribou Cleaners tries to keep harsh chemicals, dyes, and detergents to a minimum by using cleansers with gentle, non-toxic ingredients as often as possible. Some cleaning products contain essential oils, but thes can be eliminated for households in which allergies to the oils may be a concern.
The primary cleaning products used are:
- Vinegar Solution (lightly scented with lavender essential oil)
- Castile Soap (a vegetable-oil based soap that is biodegradable and environmentally friendly)
- Baking Soda
- Oxygen Bleach (such as OxiClean)
- General Purpose Cleaner (our own formula, using castile soap, baking soda, and essential oils)
Pledge multi-surface for furniture polish, and Weiman’s stainless steel polish on stainless steel appliances. Weiman’s cleaner for glass cook tops on stoves. Will use a razor scraper on your glass cook top as needed.
Your housecleaner may use products containing hydrochloric acid (such as Lime-Away) to assist with heavy buildup of mineral deposits in bathrooms or kitchens when needed. A pumice stone may also be used to remove heavy mineral build-up.
Soft Scrub with Bleach or Tilex in kitchens or bathrooms where mold or mildew is present. CLR Mold and Mildew remover may also be used as an alternative.
Simple Green D disinfectant, but may also use a bleach solution or Lysol products on request.
Caribou Cleaners provides vacuum, mop, dusters, brushes, and scrubbing pads. An extendable pole is available to dust ceiling fans and hard-to-reach areas, and a step ladder to reach light fixtures and high shelves. A steam mop cleans and sanitizes most hard floors and tile naturally, without the use of chemicals. If your flooring is not rated for a steam mop, we will mop using a different method (spray mop or twist mop). Hand mopping may incur an added fee.
What should I expect on my first visit?
Typically, your first visit from Caribou Cleaners is a short meet & greet with your house cleaner, which includes your walkthrough and price estimate. This meeting is free of charge, and establishes what your service should entail. You’ll determine a schedule and discuss any particular details that your house cleaner should be aware of - allergies, pets, specific things to focus on, areas of the home that are to be left alone, etc.
When setting up a regular service (weekly or bi-weekly), your first housecleaning appointment typically takes longer and may cost more than subsequent appointments. Dust and dirt build up in your home over time, and a professional cleaning typically includes many details, cleaning the home as thoroughly as possible. When you house cleaner returns for recurrent visits, they will be able to establish an efficient routine tailored to your home, and to rotate cleaning tasks that don’t need to be done at every visit to keep your home maintained.
When setting up a regular service (weekly or bi-weekly), your first housecleaning appointment typically takes longer and may cost more than subsequent appointments. Dust and dirt build up in your home over time, and a professional cleaning typically includes many details, cleaning the home as thoroughly as possible. When you house cleaner returns for recurrent visits, they will be able to establish an efficient routine tailored to your home, and to rotate cleaning tasks that don’t need to be done at every visit to keep your home maintained.
Will my home be cleaned by the same people every time?
Yes. Your house cleaner will be the same person every time. You will be notified in the event of any changes, and work with you to ensure a high quality and professional service.
Do I need to be home during my housecleaning?
You do not have to be home when your house is cleaned, so long as you can provide access to the home. Some clients provide a key or an access code for the cleaners to use. It is recommended you be available by phone in case of any problems or questions that come up during your housecleaning.
Some clients prefer to be home, or are in and out during housecleaning. That is perfectly fine as well!
Please keep kids or pets occupied in a separate space while we are cleaning in a particular area. It can be hard to get a floor to a professional standard of clean if the dog keeps walking across a just-mopped surface, for example; and while your housecleaner will most likely be friendly in passing conversation with your kids, it is not their responsibility to babysit.
Some clients prefer to be home, or are in and out during housecleaning. That is perfectly fine as well!
Please keep kids or pets occupied in a separate space while we are cleaning in a particular area. It can be hard to get a floor to a professional standard of clean if the dog keeps walking across a just-mopped surface, for example; and while your housecleaner will most likely be friendly in passing conversation with your kids, it is not their responsibility to babysit.
How long will it take to clean my house?
Each home is different. Most homes take a single house cleaner between for and six hours to clean. A first-time, one-time, or occasional cleaning tends to take longer than a regular maintenance cleaning.
A clean-out service for homes that are preparing for new tenants or after construction may take an entire day or longer to complete.
A clean-out service for homes that are preparing for new tenants or after construction may take an entire day or longer to complete.
Will you always come at the same time and day?
Most clients are on a recurring schedule, with the same time and day of week for each housecleaning. This works well for weekly and bi-weekly cleanings.
Monthly or less frequent cleanings are scheduled each month, and the day of the week or time of day is likely to change between appointments.
Sometimes a job may take a little more or less time than anticipated to complete. Weather, road conditions, and unforeseen circumstances may impact arrival times.
Please allow some flexibility with the appointment time. Your house cleaner will notify you as soon as possible of any changes.
Monthly or less frequent cleanings are scheduled each month, and the day of the week or time of day is likely to change between appointments.
Sometimes a job may take a little more or less time than anticipated to complete. Weather, road conditions, and unforeseen circumstances may impact arrival times.
Please allow some flexibility with the appointment time. Your house cleaner will notify you as soon as possible of any changes.
How much will it cost?
Each home is different. We will provide a price quote upon meeting with you and seeing the home.
Most recurring cleanings are between $125 and $180 per cleaning. Deep Cleaning, One-Time Cleaning, and Cleanouts are billed at an hourly rate of $45 per labor hour, and may take one or more days to complete depending on the size of the job.
Most recurring cleanings are between $125 and $180 per cleaning. Deep Cleaning, One-Time Cleaning, and Cleanouts are billed at an hourly rate of $45 per labor hour, and may take one or more days to complete depending on the size of the job.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule?
Caribou Cleaners requests 24 hours notice in the event of cancellations. Your house cleaner will work with you to reschedule your service to the next available date.
Less than 24 hours notice may incur a cancellation fee of $50. Cancellation fees may be waived in the event of illness or emergency.
Repeated cancellations without proper notice may cause us to drop you as a client. If your house cleaner arrives at your home for a housecleaning appointment, and cannot get in and cannot reach you, that will be considered a cancellation without proper notice.
Caribou Cleaners may contact you to cancel or reschedule a housecleaning in the event of illness/injury of workers, holidays, severe weather, or travel issues.
Less than 24 hours notice may incur a cancellation fee of $50. Cancellation fees may be waived in the event of illness or emergency.
Repeated cancellations without proper notice may cause us to drop you as a client. If your house cleaner arrives at your home for a housecleaning appointment, and cannot get in and cannot reach you, that will be considered a cancellation without proper notice.
Caribou Cleaners may contact you to cancel or reschedule a housecleaning in the event of illness/injury of workers, holidays, severe weather, or travel issues.
What if I’m not happy with the service? Do you give refunds?
Caribou Cleanes does not offer refunds. But if your house cleaner made a mistake or has forgotten something, we appreciate the opportunity to fix it.
If you are a regular (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly) client:
Your house cleaner will return as soon as possible to correct what was missed. Please make sure to notify them right away (within 24 hours).
Cleanout service, deep cleaning, and one-time cleanings:
Clean-out service, deep cleaning, and one-time cleanings are billed at an hourly rate. Caribou Cleaners does not issue refunds for time that was provided. These jobs may sometimes require more time than the initial estimate to complete. Please keep in mind that an estimate is not a guaranteed price quote. Your house cleaner will work with you to communicate changes as they occur.
In the event that a cleanout service, deep cleaning, or one-time cleaning takes longer than estimated to complete, your house cleaner may schedule with you to return at a later date to continue. The hourly rate will apply to continued service.
Caribou Cleaners gives scheduling priority to regular clients, and availability for cleanouts and one-time cleanings may be limited.
If you are a regular (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly) client:
Your house cleaner will return as soon as possible to correct what was missed. Please make sure to notify them right away (within 24 hours).
Cleanout service, deep cleaning, and one-time cleanings:
Clean-out service, deep cleaning, and one-time cleanings are billed at an hourly rate. Caribou Cleaners does not issue refunds for time that was provided. These jobs may sometimes require more time than the initial estimate to complete. Please keep in mind that an estimate is not a guaranteed price quote. Your house cleaner will work with you to communicate changes as they occur.
In the event that a cleanout service, deep cleaning, or one-time cleaning takes longer than estimated to complete, your house cleaner may schedule with you to return at a later date to continue. The hourly rate will apply to continued service.
Caribou Cleaners gives scheduling priority to regular clients, and availability for cleanouts and one-time cleanings may be limited.
Do you do background checks?
Yes, we do background checks. Currently, Caribou Cleaners is a sole proprietorship owned and operated by one person. Caribou Cleaners is a screened and approved provider with HomeAdvisor. References are available upon request.
In the event that Caribou Cleaners does hire additional staff in the future, the hiring policy includes the following:
In the event that Caribou Cleaners does hire additional staff in the future, the hiring policy includes the following:
- Applicants will provide background check prior to starting work.
- We follow Alaska state standards regarding barrier crimes and consider a prospective hire’s entire application, references, and interview before making a hiring decision.
- Prospective employees will provide employment history and references. Employees will not be eligible for a lead position until a probationary period has passed with a positive evaluation.
- Business owner/manager will provide training and supervision during housecleaning appointments to ensure quality of service, and will communicate with clients and workers regularly.
- We do not send new employees to a home without notifying the client.