What questions should you ask a cleaning company to avoid unexpected charges?
Have you ever looked at an invoice and wondered, “Wait, where did that number come from?” You’re not by yourself. Asking the right questions before a mop even touches the floor is the simplest way to avoid cleaning service hidden fees and unstated cleaning costs—particularly if you’re using commercial cleaning services in Baltimore, where winter salt, parking, and old buildings can all find their way onto your bill.
Here’s how I’d walk through it if we were sitting at your desk together.
“For this price, what precisely are you cleaning?”
Don’t allow them to claim that it’s “standard cleaning.” There are a lot of gaps in that phrase.
Request that they explain it in simple terms:
- Which spaces and rooms are covered?
- What occurs during each visit as opposed to once a week or once a month?
- Are restrooms “tidied” or completely cleaned?
- Are high-touch areas like railings, switches, and door handles included in the work?
Then ask this one, word for word:
“What isn’t included that people often assume is included?”
This is where a lot of unexpected cleaning costs start. If a commercial cleaning company can answer that clearly, that’s a good sign.
“How do you handle extras and ‘little favors’?”
This is the stuff that sounds small in the moment and ugly on the invoice.
Things like:
- “Could you do a deep clean of the break room this week?”
- “We had a spill in the warehouse. Can your team handle it?”
- “Can you clean the inside of the fridge and microwave?”
Ask them:
- How do you price one-off jobs?
- Do we need a separate quote each time?
- Is there a minimum charge for add-ons?
If you’re dealing with commercial cleaners who know Baltimore, ask how they charge for seasonal messes too—winter salt on floors, extra mat cleaning after storms, or post-event cleanup if your building hosts tenants’ parties.
“How do you bill, and when can the price change?”
Money talk. It’s awkward, but it’s where you avoid 90% of surprises.
Get clear on:
- Flat monthly rate or hourly billing?
- Are cleaning supplies included in that rate?
- Are paper goods (toilet paper, towels, soap) included or separate?
- How often do you review the price?
Then ask:
“In what situations would our price go up, and how much notice do we get?”
A solid commercial cleaning company won’t dodge that. If they mumble and change the subject, that’s a red flag.
“What fees might appear on our invoice that aren’t obvious?”
Ask this as bluntly as you like. You’re not being rude; you’re protecting your budget.
Things to ask about:
- After-hours or weekend fees
- Lock-out fees if your staff forgets to leave keys or access cards
- Emergency call-out charges
- Extra charges for heavy soil, bodily fluids, or construction dust
- Parking or travel fees, especially downtown Baltimore
Tell them you’re trying to avoid cleaning service hidden fees, not argue every month.
“How do we keep our costs steady over time?”
This is where you shift from “interrogation” to “teamwork.”
Ask:
- What can our staff do to keep the job within the agreed time?
- How often should we review the scope so the price still makes sense?
- Can we set a simple rule like: “No extra work over $X without written approval”?
If you’re comparing commercial cleaning services in Baltimore, bring this list to each walk-through. Ask out loud, take notes, and make sure the final proposal actually matches what was said.
That’s how you keep commercial cleaners honest, avoid unexpected cleaning costs, and stop those “how did it get this high?” invoices from showing up in your inbox.
Clear Pricing with Baltimore’s Trusted Cleaning Service
If you would prefer not to participate in the guessing games at all, our team takes a slightly different approach. No mystery fees, no unanticipated add-ons, and no pressuring you for “extra” services that you never requested are all included in our written pricing. As a reputable cleaning service in Baltimore, we let you know what’s included before we even arrive, and if something unforeseen comes up, you’ll receive a clear number and a brief message before we handle it. In this manner, we can concentrate on completing the work correctly rather than arguing over invoices later, and you can plan your cleaning budget.
