The Maids

Amazing, worst cleaning service I’ve ever tried to use…“Tried-but it didn’t work.”
They arrived 35 minutes late, cleaning lady called me, but she barely could speak English and she hung up on me before I finished talking… then they arrived later… They were wiping down w/​microfiber cloths and a vacuum sucking machine… spraying their cloths with what looked and smelled like «water.» They said it was a environmental solution-​but I couldn’t tell… as I checked it and it looked and felt on my hands like water… maybe they watered it down so much that it seems like just water. I had requested they «wash walls and wash floors after construction at my home… there was powder inside my home everywhere from construction plaster and dirt from previous owner. However, as they attempted to start cleaning… I could see they were not «cleaning.» It looked like they just were wiping the surface and leaving the «deep dirt.» Only one of the crew of 3 could speak English-barely…and mostly she couldn’t understand me. The others tried talking to me in Spanish which I told them I couldn’t comprehend… but they did it anyway. I tried talking to the owner, who originally promised to «have the crew wash walls/​floors.» The owner now explained to me that «it was a misunderstanding… they only spray the cloth and wipe and vacuum. she said they don’t ever wash floors… they don’t mop… they don’t wash walls… then she said she’d come by immediately.» I told her that it was ok for them to clean their way… so I expected they’d start cleaning finally when I hung up the phone after talking to her. But instead, when I hung up, the cleaning people-​who had been there for 30 minutes-​had done very little. started a few corners cleaning… the crew went outside and took a break. I said to the crew… they shouldn’t be taking a break… they needed to do more cleaning first. (Can’t believe they were taking a break after 30 min. of almost no cleaning.) They all stood outside refusing to work at all. So I asked them to let me talk to the owner… since they were «Not understanding my English and refusing to work…» but they wouldn’t give me the phone to call their owner. They just couldn’t understand «English and didn’t want to cooperate.» Finally, the manager showed up and she told me that they «were going to quit and leave… because they told me that they thought it was my fault… then my son heard them «laughing in front of the home.» Obviously, they didn’t want to clean up after construction or clean at all… I’m sure“wiping w/​a water solution on a cloth lightly» is a lot easier than any real deep cleaning up of construction. I started cleaning before the manager arrived as I was so frustrated to have all the dust everywhere and have them «not cleaning.» After the manager quit and left… blaming me for her crew not working… my daughter and I cleaned the whole home «with cleaners.» There is «no way» they could have cleaned the deep dirt and plaster dust off the walls and floor without a little scrubbing and effective cleaners. Their «green cleaners,» are probably so watered down they don’t work. I’ve used «green cleaners» before and I could smell that they were cleaners and I sprayed them on the surface so they could be more effective. Looks like they are conserving cleaners by only spraying their cloths-​but how do they expect to ever get anything «really clean.» I think their service is only good for a light dusting service-​very light cleaning if your home is already clean. Why they think they can do «construction clean up,» is beyond me… because they «can’t!!!»
And they wanted me to pay them $ 225 for 2 hours work… I am so glad they quit… my home is almost clean from me doing it myself thoroughly and their price is way too high-​miles beyond any service they provide. I would never recommend them to clean for anyone… ever! Good luck… try another service. I’ve used many cleaning services before-​they are all better than «The Maids.»

This is the most shady company I have had to deal with in some time.
I was having my girlfriends house cleaned. I was told on the phone that they were going to go to the house and check it out to determine how much time would be needed to complete the job. I informed them very clearly that despite that they would be talking to her at the house, that I was responsible for the billing, and wanted them to call me once they had the estimate ready.
Instead, they talked to her and cleaned the house — all without a call to me.
In the end, the bill was over $ 700! Who the hell charges that much for cleaning?
When I called them to discuss it, I was told that since they talked to my girlfriend and she said «it was okay», that that superceded my request to be contacted about the quote.
There is no way I would have said yes to that amount. And they clearly knew it. And for them to already have taken my credit card information, hiding the quote amount from me, and then billing me without a single attempt at communication — is the equivalent of a bait and switch.
The woman I dealt with in the office trying to resolve it was rude, dismissive and talked over me and cut me off the whole time.
And oh by the way, they only did a half-​ass job on the cleaning overall. So much for the 100% guarantee.

I will never use this company again. After giving them business over and over again, they continue to disappoint. Not only did 2 different woman in billing argue with me, (whatever happened to the costumer is always right) but they have had to come back to my home after charging me $ 200 because their cleaning was not acceptable. Not worth it!!!

The 1 star is for the great job they did «finding another Sucker»!!! Can’t believe that I didn’t check out Unilocal straight away. :(not a company I can recommend to the worst of friends.

Please know that my 1 star rating is for the person who answers the phones and does the billing, NOT the actual maids. The women who came to our home over a several month period did an excellent job cleaning our house.
And here is the crux of my annoyance: I received a phone call last year saying we had a $ 200 credit. I declined the offer of a cleaning and instead asked that the money be refunded to my husband’s credit card. They wanted the updated expiry date in order to refund the credit. I didn’t have the credit card information and hoped they would just send a check like any other honorable establishment.
I let this go until recently when it finally popped up on my ‘to do’ list to find out what happened to the money. I phoned them this past week and was told my account had a zero balance. I asked if they would look into the credit and phone me back. I have yet to receive a phone call. My husband has checked his credit card statement and there is no sign of a refund.
I don’t know if the person was in error last year when they called to say our account had a credit, if a check was mailed and was inadvertently recycled OR if they are simply dishonorable. Either way I will never do business with this company again.

I’ve had the Maids clean my house for 4 months now on a regular basis and I’ve been extremely happy with my cleans. I had service with another company for about 3 years before hiring the Maids and the Maids did a much better and more thorough job than the previous company. I would highly recommend them.

I am so unhappy with their last cleaning. The first reviewer was right, DO NOT HIRE THEM. I paid too much money (and I paid cash!) and when I came home, the big thing I asked them to do (tackle the mold in my shower) was untouched! That’s why I hired them! I“m chemically sensitive so I need to have a cleaning service do stuff with the cleaners. But for 2 hours of cleaning they didn’t do the thing I called asking them to do?
Also, my sink was all grey and grimy. Basically I just had to scour it out with baking soda when I got home to bring it back to sparkling whiteness — But WTH, that’s their job and why did I pay them so much money for them to ignore the most basic thing, my kitchen sink? I will never hire them again. 225 to vacuum and blow the dust around? What a ripoff. I am so disappointed.

If you want the short version in a review: Do NOT hire this company. You will waste your time, money, & will end up cleaning the place yourself. If you want the long detailed explanation in my experience with this company, read below.
I needed a moving out deep clean. We usually do this ourselves but moving long distance; I hired them.
I had first went to the website
& read under Learn More to gather information. It says there is a team of 4, have Move In/​Move Out service, use environmentally friendly products, & are backed by a 100% guaranteed satisfaction. There is also a free no obligation quote. Sounds good; right?
I talked with the owner, John, & he said all would be cleaned, quoted me a price based on sq footage, & I had already cleaned the fridge & cupboards. We set a date & time. I received a confirmation call a couple days later from Chelsea stating my arranged time was an hour later than I had set for a cleaning. I put the time in for 1:30 — 2:30pm. She said the cleaners were coming at 2:30 — 3:30 pm. I brought up my set time to her & she said she had me down for the latter. I told her I am coming from out of town & would like a more definite time. She said she has me appointed for them being at my place at 2:45pm. Fine. I called on the day of the cleaning before I left to drive into town to confirm my time. Chelsea confirmed 2:30 — 3:30pm. As I was driving into town, I received 2 calls. I couldn’t stop to answer as I was on Hwy 26 in the mountain range. When I got into town, I called back the number & I was told the maids were waiting at my house. It was 2 pm! The women were waiting there for 20 minutes!
Frustrated, I quickly drove to the old place & there they were sitting on my little porch. I apologized emphatically since I don’t like my time wasted either. There were 3 people not the advertised team of four. One woman spoke ESL & wasn’t the one to speak to as a lead.
I left them to clean while I did in-​town errands. I drove back to the old place to take a look & I was livid. It looked like the place wasn’t touched including a little urine on the toilet that I didn’t put there! I called & left a message.
I got a call the next day & I explained the garage/​laundry room hadn’t been touched. There were cobwebs on the ceiling & dirt was still on the window sills, baseboards, registers, etc. The second bedroom had a nail on the floor from when we took down pictures the month before.
I had to drive back into town, about a 2 hour drive each way, & met with the same crew again. They were quick to go to the areas, but didn’t understand the concept meant ALL the same types of areas need to be clean, i.e. ALL the baseboards, not just the one I point out. The cleaners are not equipped with brooms & scrubs. One person has a back strap vacuum while the others have microfiber towels & a squirt bottle of something that made my eyes water & nose burn which tells me it is a harsh solution, NOT environmentally friendly. They don’t hand scrub the floors as the site & owner would have you believe. They hand WIPE them! Who deep cleans with only a microfiber towel?!
When I said to the woman who spoke better English, the garage & laundry room needed to be cleaned, I was handed the phone to talk to Pearl, the manager. Our laundry room floor had the most in concentrated live-​in dirt because it was adjacent to the back door. We took our appliances with us so all they had to do was clean the vinyl floor & vacuum the cobwebs. Pearl told me they could NOT clean the garage & laundry room because they are not licensed to clean up toxic chemicals. I told them I don’t use toxic chemicals & I was told by the owner it would be clean. I asked to speak with him but he was conveniently out of town. Finally it was said they don’t have the tools to clean the areas. I asked, «You don’t have the tools to clean a vinyl floor & cobwebs?!» I told her I brought my own stuff including an environmentally friendly biodegradable degreaser. I ended up cleaning along side with the women. They used my mop to clean the laundry floor. I ended up cleaning under the hood above the stove.
They said time was up & I thanked them. I couldn’t be mad at them. They were not given the tools nor the training to do their job. I called Pearl & thanked her. The place looked better. I went back into the apartment & cleaned what they missed. I just needed to be out & ready to hand over the keys & not deal anymore. Here is the clincher: I just noticed they took out of my bank account $ 30 more than what was quoted! I called them last night & I am waiting for the owner, John, to call me back. He has today to call me & then I’m calling again.
Update Sept. 14, 2011: I needed to file a complaint to BBB about them today.
I still have pictures of the place before they cleaned. I should have simply handed the landlord the keys. There was no mold or mildew to warrant bleach.