FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Answers about services, estimates, scheduling, and service areas.

What cleaning services do you offer? add

Recurring home cleaning, deep cleaning, move-in and move-out cleaning, detail dusting and blinds, commercial and office cleaning, and fully custom cleaning plans.

Do you offer recurring cleaning? add

Yes. Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, and custom cadences are available; recommended frequency depends on your space and needs.

How often should I schedule recurring cleaning? add

Most Charlotte households land on bi-weekly. Weekly suits homes with pets, young children, or heavy use; monthly works well if you keep things tidy day to day and mainly want the deeper surfaces handled. We will suggest a frequency during your estimate based on your actual home rather than a formula.

How does the estimate process work? add

Tell us about your space and priorities through the estimate request. We review the details and follow up with a customized estimate.

Do I need a deep clean before starting a recurring plan? add

Often, but not always. If the home has not been professionally cleaned recently, a one-time deep clean resets the baseline so recurring visits are about upkeep instead of catching up. If your home is already in good condition we will tell you that and skip it.

Will the same team come each visit? add

We aim for consistency because a team that knows your home works faster and misses less. Illness and holidays occasionally require a change; when that happens the written plan from your estimate travels with the visit so your priorities are still followed.

Do I need to be home during the cleaning? add

That is up to you. You can provide secure access instructions through your account, and they are only shared with the assigned team when needed.

Can I request specific priorities? add

Yes. You can flag priority rooms, add-on requests, and special instructions with your estimate or in your portal.

Can I skip or reschedule a visit? add

Yes. Let us know as early as you can and we will move it. Plans change, and we would rather reschedule than have you pay for a visit that does not suit.

What areas do you serve? add

Charlotte, North Carolina and approved surrounding areas. Enter your ZIP code on the service areas page to check eligibility.

Can I change what gets cleaned later on? add

Yes. Tell us and we revise the written plan. Rooms change use, families grow, and priorities shift — the plan is meant to be updated rather than re-explained every visit.

What is the difference between a deep clean and a regular clean? add

A regular clean maintains what is already clean. A deep clean removes what has built up — grease films, soap scum, grout discolouration, and dust on baseboards, fixtures, and vents. It takes considerably longer and reaches surfaces that are not part of a routine rotation.

How long does a deep clean take? add

It depends heavily on square footage and current condition, so we scope it during the estimate rather than quoting a fixed time. Deep cleans routinely take several times longer than a maintenance visit for the same home.

Do you clean inside the oven and refrigerator? add

Yes, on request. These are commonly added to a deep clean and we list them as separate line items on your estimate so you can decide rather than being charged for them by default.

How often should a home have a deep clean? add

Many households do one or two a year alongside recurring visits — commonly spring and before the holidays. Homes without a recurring plan tend to need them more frequently.

Can a deep clean remove existing stains or damage? add

Sometimes. Hard-water marks, long-set grout staining, and finish damage do not always fully respond to cleaning. We will tell you honestly what we expect to improve and what is likely permanent rather than promising a result we cannot deliver.

When should the move-in clean happen? add

Ideally after you have keys but before the movers arrive. An empty home cleans faster, costs less, and gets a noticeably better result because we can reach inside cabinets, closets, and the floor space furniture is about to occupy.

The listing said it was already cleaned. Do I still need this? add

Turnovers are often quick and surface-level. A move-in clean concentrates on the interiors you are about to use daily — inside cabinets and drawers, appliance interiors, and closets — which a fast turnover pass usually does not reach.

Do you clean inside cabinets and closets? add

Yes. On a move-in clean that is the core of the work, because it is the one opportunity to do it before everything is unpacked.

What if my move date changes? add

Tell us as early as you can and we will reschedule. Closing and handover dates slip regularly and we plan for it.

Can you clean if some furniture is already in place? add

Yes, we work around what is there. We will be upfront about anything we cannot reach so there are no surprises afterward.

Will this guarantee I get my deposit back? add

No, and we would be cautious of anyone who promises that. Deposit decisions rest with your landlord or agent and often cover wear, damage, and paperwork beyond cleaning. What we can do is make sure cleanliness is not the reason it is withheld.

Should the property be empty first? add

Yes, ideally. An empty property cleans faster and more thoroughly. If you are on a same-day handover, tell us and we will plan the visit around your timeline.

What do landlords and agents usually check? add

In our experience: inside the oven and refrigerator, showers and tubs, inside cabinets and drawers, baseboards, and marks revealed once furniture is gone. Those areas get the most attention on a move-out clean.

Do you handle carpet cleaning or repairs? add

Standard vacuuming is included. Carpet shampooing, paint touch-ups, and repairs are separate trades — we will flag anything we notice so you can arrange it before handover.

Can you clean after the final walkthrough is booked? add

Usually, if there is a window between move-out and inspection. Contact us with your dates and we will tell you honestly whether we can fit it.

How do you clean blinds? add

Slat by slat by hand, which is the only way to genuinely remove built-up dust rather than move it around. That is why it is a distinct service — it takes time a standard visit does not allow.

Can this be added to another cleaning service? add

Yes, and it is usually more economical that way. Many clients add detail dusting to a deep clean, or schedule it periodically on top of a recurring plan.

Do you clean high ceiling fans and light fixtures? add

We clean fixtures and fans that are safely reachable with standard equipment. Very high or unusually mounted fixtures may need a specialist, and we will say so rather than attempt something unsafe.

Does this help with allergies? add

Reducing settled dust on blinds, vents, fans, and baseboards removes a common source of airborne dust when disturbed. We can describe what we clean, but we are not able to make medical or air-quality claims.

What about fabric or specialty blinds? add

Tell us the material during your estimate. Fabric, wood, and delicate finishes are handled differently, and some need a specialist rather than general cleaning.

When do you clean commercial spaces? add

Most clients choose evenings, early mornings, or weekends so cleaning never interrupts work. The window is agreed during your walkthrough and we hold to it.

How is a commercial quote calculated? add

From a walkthrough, not square footage alone. Floor types, restroom count, traffic levels, and access requirements all change the work involved, so we scope the space in person.

Do you supply consumables like paper and soap? add

We restock from supplies you provide as part of the standard scope. If you would prefer us to source consumables, raise it during the walkthrough and we will include it in the plan.

How do you handle keys, alarms, and access? add

Access arrangements are documented up front — keys, codes, alarm procedures, or on-site check-in — so nothing depends on someone remembering on the night.

Can we adjust the scope after we start? add

Yes. Commercial needs change with headcount and use of the space. Tell us and we revise the written scope rather than leaving it to informal requests.

What counts as a custom plan? add

Anything the standard services do not fit cleanly: only certain rooms, different frequencies per area, specialty surfaces, short-term rental turnovers, specific product requirements, or rooms that stay off-limits.

Can I have different frequencies for different rooms? add

Yes. A common arrangement is kitchen and bathrooms weekly with the rest of the home monthly. The plan records the frequency per area.

Can you use specific products for allergies or sensitivities? add

Tell us your requirements during the estimate and we record them in the plan. If a particular product is essential, note it and we will confirm whether we can work with it.

Do you handle short-term rental turnovers? add

Yes. Turnover cleaning between guests works well as a custom plan because the calendar is irregular and the scope is repeatable. Share your booking pattern and we will build around it.

How do I change the plan later? add

Contact us and we revise the written plan. Because it is documented room by room, changes are recorded rather than depending on a verbal note that gets lost between visits.

Still have a question? Contact ILS Cleaning →