Portland Cleaning Service FAQ

  • All of our clients have cleaning times that vary widely, and our cleaners are on the clock during and between jobs. Our schedule requires us to be able to travel directly between jobs with no wait time. If you require an exact arrival time, our first appointment of the day starts at 9am. All other appointments can be provided an arrival window of 2-3 hours.

  • We typically work in teams of 2 or 3 people. We are not able to accommodate requests for a specific number of people.

  • If budget is a concern for you, there are several things you can do. Our team leaders can work with you to develop a plan to meet your needs while staying within your budget. When we work with a specific budget, we work down your list of rooms in order of priority until we reach the budgeted amount. We work efficiently, but we will not rush through cleanings in order to finish everything in a specified amount of time. We may not always get to your lowest priorities within your budget, but we will alway do an excellent job.

    Here are some things you can do to save time and therefore money:

    • Have your dishes washed when we arrive. We are always happy to wash dishes, but this is a time consuming task.

    • Clear surfaces as much as possible. We clean surfaces and everything on them. Cluttered surfaces can take up a lot of time.

    • Have us skip rooms that are not used often.

    • Have us clean only the floors in non-kitchen/bath rooms. This can make a huge difference in how clean your space feels while taking minimal time.

  • Download our new client PDF here that goes over this information in detail.

  • Here is a list of services we are frequently asked about, but are not able to provide. See the link below for some recommended providers:

    • Carpet/upholstery shampooing
    • Exterior windows/pressure washing
    • In-depth organization
    • Trash/junk hauling
    • Packing

    We have a list of recommended partners on our Client Resources page.


    We are not able to clean the following items/in the following conditions for safety purposes:

    • Pet or human waste outside of a toilet or litter box.
    • Excessive mold.
    • Broken glass.
    • Anything requiring lifting or moving more than 50lbs. We clean underneath furniture to the extent that our equipment will allow.
    • Spaces that are excessively hot or cold.
    • Spaces infested with rodents or insects, including rodent waste.
    • Spaces with aggressive pets.
    • Spaces without running water and/or electricity.
    • Out of reach surfaces. We leave it to the discretion of our staff to commit to cleaning high up spaces that require a ladder. Our staff reserve the right to decline providing this service.

  • This is up to you! If possible we recommend greeting your team in person for the first cleaning so you can discuss the details and any additional questions. If you won’t be home upon our arrival, you can provide a method of entry by calling or emailing our office before the day of your appointment.

    If you will be home during the cleaning, we recommend staying in a room we won’t be cleaning, or staying on one floor while we’re working on another. It can take us more time if we have to work around people in the home.

  • We do not provide onsite estimates, as we charge by the hour for all work, regardless of the quoted amount. Our quotes are based on the average amount of time it takes to clean a space the first time, and then subsequent maintenance cleanings.

    Depending on the condition of your space, a full cleaning could take more or less time than the amount quoted. The team lead will communicate during the cleaning as to how much has been completed and how much is left to do, so that you’ll have an idea of cost, and can choose to skip low priority rooms if needed to keep the total cost down.

  • We have custom developed and branded our own biodegradable, eco friendly, non-toxic cleaning product line. The majority of the products we use in your home are our own products, which are available for purchase in our store.

    We use commercial grade equipment including high-end HEPA filtered vacuums.

    For excess build up we may need to use a bleach product, but we will only do so as needed and with your approval. If you do not want bleach used in your home, we may not be able to fully clean certain surfaces, or it may take longer.

Here are the types of cleaning visits we offer.

  • initial or one time cleaning

    Whether you are seeking a one time cleaning, a move in or out cleaning or are setting up recurring maintenance cleanings, we will most likely need to provide an initial deep cleaning in your space first. This will require more time and LOVE. In this first cleaning, if you have dirt that has been sitting for a long period of time, it will take more time and elbow grease. We may need to use deeper cleaning methods.

    During this first cleaning, we are cleaning the same surfaces (with the exception of any add ons of interior surfaces) that we would during recurring cleanings. If your space has been cleaned on a regular basis prior to our visit, or you have a newly constructed space, your cleaning may take less time. Once your space has been thoroughly cleaned, we can move forward with maintaining your home with our efficient cleaning methods.

  • move in or move out cleaning

    A move in or out cleaning is very similar to an initial or one time cleaning. Most clients choose to add on interior surfaces, such as the inside of the fridge, oven and cupboards for this type of cleaning. Other add-ons include but are not limited to scrubbing of blinds and reachable interior windows. Please send a note to our office, to include add-ons in advance, so we can schedule the extra time for your job, to complete these areas.

    We work with new clients, existing clients, and realtors to help make you more efficient with your move.

  • recurring cleanings

    Recurring cleanings are our most popular service. We build long term relationships with most of our clientele. We get to know our clients, their home and their preferences. We build out a customer profile customized to fit our clients needs and the specificities of a home.

    we have options for:

    • weekly
    • bi-weekly
    • monthly

    After your initial deep cleaning, email talk@thetidypeople.com and we’ll send you our availability.

  • periodic cleanings

    After we’ve completed your initial deep cleaning, you have the option of hiring us on a periodic basis.

    Depending on how much time has passed in between cleaning visits and the level of use in your space, we may need to practice deeper cleaning methods. If it’s been 3 months or longer between visits, expect to schedule more time for an initial deep cleaning.

  • add-on tasks

    Your cleanings are customizable. We have a series of tasks that we do upon request, for your convenience. We highly recommend that you book add-on services separately from your initial deep cleaning, as the initial deep cleaning is more labor intensive. Add-on cleaning services are typically requested by our clients who have a recurring or periodic appointment scheduled with us.

    Once you fill out our add-on cleaning request form, our office will follow up with you to provide you with a price quote. All work is billed at our hourly rate.