Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is non-toxic cleaning the same as green cleaning?
A: Non-toxic cleaning IS a form of green cleaning with an emphasis not only on environmental impact, but also on the health effect on adults, children and pets.
Q: How do you work with clients? Do you require contracts?
A: The best way to maintain your house is to clean bi-weekly. Since we know we must earn your continued trust on each visit, we don't require contracts. We depend on the superb quality of our service, with open communication and your candid evaluation of our service. If you are happy, tell a friend. Also, let us know of ways we can serve you better.
Q: Does your team speak English?
A: Communication is important. It is our policy to have at least one good English speaking person on the team. The other team member(s) should also be able to communicate in preliminary English. Most of our technicians communicate very well.
Q: How many people will clean my home?
A: We operate in teams of two (occasionally three) people. One of the members is the team captain, who will double-check your entire home before we leave. We believe that a team is best for our customers and employees due to supervision, safety and length of time spent in your home
Q: How do I prepare before the cleaning?
A: In order to give you the greatest value, we ask you to take a few minutes the night before to pick up extraneous clothing, toys, and other household items.
Q: What will Fresh Tech Maid Services do in my home?
A: Our free in-home estimate allows us to better understand your cleaning needs and expectations. Our service includes Regular Clean, Deluxe Clean, and Spring/Fall Clean / Deep Clean. Visit the Services Page for a more in-depth list of tasks. We can easily customize a cleaning program to fit your home’s unique needs.
Q: What if there is more work than expected?
A: We can give you a call if we have time to do more for the same visit, and you can just pay an additional hourly. Or, we can quickly schedule a return visit.
Q: At what time will your cleaning team be at my home?
A: Our normal work days are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. While in most cases it is not possible to give a specific time to be at your home, but we can give you a two-hour arrival window.
Q: How long will you be at my home?
A: We charge by the job. How long it will take to complete the job depends on how many technicians are in the team (usually two and sometimes three) and what type of clean you requested (regular, deluxe, or deep clean). You will be charged the same price for the same job.
Q: What if something is damaged when my home is cleaned?
A: We treat your home with the greatest care; however, should damage or breakage occur while we are cleaning your home, we will make every effort to have the item repaired, or replaced if it cannot be repaired. Insurance claims will be filed when appropriate. We are fully insured and bonded.
Q: Am I potentially liable for worker's compensation insurance or taxes?
A: No. Fresh Tech Maid Services takes care of this for you by never hiring independent contractors. We only use our own employees.
Q: Do I need to provide any supplies or equipment?
A: Fresh Tech Maid Services will provide all tools needed for cleaning. If required by a customer, Fresh Tech will provide you a set of new cleaning tools used exclusively for your home. You can also use these tools for your routine maintenance. We still need to use our allergy relieving vacuum. The quality of our HEPA vacuum is far superior than any household grade vacuum. The floor tool of our vacuum is disinfected after each house cleaning.
Q: Do I have to be home when the team comes? How do you handle entry?
A: No. We can do whatever you need. Of course, a key gives us the freedom to get the job done without bothering you, and we are licensed, bonded, and insured with a great reputation. For added security, all keys are coded individually and cross-referenced separately for security reasons. All keys are secured in a top grade business safe in our office.
Q: What if I forgot you are coming and locked you out?
A: We depend on our customers to understand how important their business is to us. We save your appointment space specifically for you and therefore turn other business away. Our employees count on the scheduled cleanings for their income. We will charge you the FULL rate for lock outs or cancellations less than 24 hours of the scheduled clean.
Q:What if my cleaning falls on a holiday?
A: If your scheduled cleaning falls on the observance of a major holiday, we will contact you to reschedule your service. We make sure that we always call or email you the day before to remind you of your appointment.
Q: What if I need to change the scheduled cleaning?
A: You must give us a call 24 hours in advance!!
Q: Are you insured and bonded ?
A: Yes. Fresh Tech Maid Services is FULLY insured and bonded.
Q: How can I know if you serve our neighborhood?
A: Please see our Service Area Page. We service many Chicago suburban cities in Cook and Lake County Illinois. In addition, we can refer you to a reputable company in your area if we do not cover yours.
Q: What will it cost to clean our home?
A: It depends on the situation of your house. We offer a free in-home estimate to evaluate your needs in detail.
Q: Can I get a ballpark estimate over the phone?
A: Sure! We don't want to waste your time if our prices do not coincide with your budget. We will follow up our phone conversations with a walk through at your home so we can take into consideration things like size, the amount of furniture and furnishings and condition. This way you can point out things that are of particular importance to you and we will know just how you want things done.
Q: Can I purchase your service for someone else?
A: Yes. Fresh Tech has a gift certificate program which allows you to give the gift of a clean fresh home to a friend or loved one. Our gift certificates are great ideas for weddings, birthdays, new moms & dads or just a very original way to say "I'm thinking of you." With the Fresh Tech experience, no detail is too small.
Q: How do I pay?
A: We expect payment at the time of service. We recommend one of the following payment options:
1. Simply leave a check on your kitchen table or counter.
2. We accept all major credit cards.
3. You can also use the PayPal option on our site and send payment to payment@freshtechmaids.com. You do not need to have a PayPal account to pay by this method. PayPal accepts all major credit cards.
Q: With the wide list of services you provide with each cleaning, how can your prices be so competitive?
A: Simple. Fresh Tech Maid Services is not merely interested in getting you as a customer once, we build lasting relationships with our clients. Over time our loyal clients have helped us to grow, and we show our appreciation for that relationship by providing the best quality work with a reasonable price.
Q: What are APEs and NPEs?
A: APEs and NPEs are alkylphenolic compounds, synthetic surfactants that do not readily biodegrade in soil and water.
Q: What are biodegradable cleaning materials?
A: Biodegradable cleaning materials are the ones capable of being broken down by living things like microorganisms and bacteria and fungi, then absorbed into the ecosystem.
Q: What is a Carcinogen?
A: A carcinogen is any substance that can cause or aggravate cancer. Many popular cleaning products – all-purpose cleaners, dishwashing liquids, furniture polish, oven cleaners, window cleaners, air fresheners, spray starch, and spot removers – might contain ingredients with known or suspected carcinogenic properties.
Q: What is a Endocrine Disrupter?
A: Endocrine Disrupter can be naturally occurring hormones or manmade chemicals that may interfere with the body’s hormonal or reproductive system. Endocrine disrupters can mimic, block, or interfere with natural hormones, causing all sorts of problems to develop, including altered immune function, developmental disabilities, and endometriosis. Some laundry detergents, furniture waxes, and metal polishes might all contain endocrine disrupters, which can also be referred to as hormone mimics, hormone disrupters, or reproductive disrupters.
Q: What is Green Cleaning?
A: Simply put, green cleaning is cleaning to protect health without harming the environment.
Q: What is a house cleaning team?
A: A team of cleaning technicians (usually 2 to 5). One of the members is the team captain, who will lead the team. Many house cleaning service companies (maid services) believe that a team is best for the customers and employees due to supervision, safety and length of time spent in a home
Q: What is HEPA?
A: HEPA means High Efficient Particulate Air. HEPA vacuum filter is a throwaway, extended-medium, dry type filter in a rigid frame having a minimum particle collection efficiency of 99.97% (that is, a maximum particle penetration of 0.03%) for 0.3-μ particles. However, for a HEPA vacuum to work properly, the vacuum must be totally sealed to channel all airflow through the HEPA filter without any leaks. Industrial data shows that 99% of vacuums with HEPA filters fail to do so. HEPA filters have been used as a marketing tool, instead of a reliable technical standard.
Q: Who are maid technicians?
A: Maid Technicians are typically female, highly-motivated house cleaning professionals who have passed a series of criminal background checks and drug tests and have trained extensively with green cleaning techniques using the latest cleaning technology.
Q: What is a Mutagen?
A: A mutagen is any agent that causes a permanent genetic change in a cell.
Q: What is Non-Toxic House Cleaning?
A: Non-Toxic House Cleaning is a form of green house cleaning with emphasis not only on environmental impact, but also on health impact. Non-toxic house cleaning method screens cleaning materials based on strict criteria to ensure no toxic chemicals are left in surface or in the air. Fresh Tech Maid Service trademarked STAR House Cleaning System™, using the latest technology to develop a non-toxic cleaning system. See Non-Toxic House Cleaning section on this site for details
Q: What are PBTs?
A: Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxins (PBTs) are compounds that once introduced “persist” in the environment. A bioaccumulative substance is one that over time increases in concentration in living organisms. They can cause serious long-term health problems and even permanently alter our genetic makeup.
Q: What is the TRUST House Cleaning System™?
A: TRUST House Cleaning System™ is a registered Trade Mark by Fresh Tech Maid Services. The system revolutionizes the residential cleaning to maximize service quality. See Non-Toxic House Cleaning section on this site.
Q: How do you define Toxic Chemicals?
A: Toxic chemicals are substances that can cause severe illness, poisoning, birth defects, disease, or death when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed by living organisms.
Q: What are Teratogens?
A: Teratogens are substances that interfere with fetal development, causing malformation or serious deviation from normal development of embryos and fetuses. Some glass cleaners, all-purpose cleaners, and spay starches all might contain teratogens.
Q: What are VOCs?
A: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are carbon-based chemicals that can form vapors at room temperature. Like solvents (most of them can be classified as VOCs), they are easily evaporated into our homes’ air and come from two predominant sources: the release of toxic gases from synthetic materials like foams and plastics and the use of toxic cleaning products and other household chemicals.
)
