Get Quotes from Top Cleaning Services in Fort Worth, TX
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Cleaner in Fort Worth
Maintaining proper hygiene by properly cleaning and disinfecting your homes and facilities is an effective method of mitigating the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Over 230,000 COVID-19 infection cases and 2,300 COVID-19 deaths have been recorded in Fort Worth since the virus outbreak. However, you need to hire a professional and well-equipped cleaning contractor to ensure quality cleaning services. Also, hiring professional cleaning contractors guarantees that all cleaning and disinfection services carried out in your home or commercial building will be done according to city recommendations.
To be sure your intended cleaning contractor in Fort Worth is qualified and suitable for your specific cleaning services, you can follow the tips provided in this article:
- Are You Licensed to Practice as a Cleaning Service in Fort Worth?
- How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Cleaning Services in Fort Worth?
- What Type of Cleaning Cleaning Services Do You Offer?
- Do You Comply with Fort Worth's COVID-19 Regulations?
- Do You Provide Commercial Cleaning Services for Non-Residential Locations in Fort Worth?
- Do You Engage Unionized Cleaners for Non-Residential Buildings in Fort Worth?
- Do You Offer COVID-19 Disinfecting Services in Fort Worth?
- What Cleaning Supplies Do You Use?
- Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Cleaners in Fort Worth?
- How to File a Complaint Against a Bad Cleaner in Fort Worth
Are You Licensed to Practice as a Cleaning Service in Fort Worth?
Before hiring your intended cleaning contractor, you must confirm they have complied with all regulations and requirements that make it legal to offer cleaning services in Fort Worth. There is no specific general business license or professional license for cleaning contractors to operate in the city. Nonetheless, cleaning businesses in Fort Worth must carry out certain requirements before offering cleaning services to residents, like registering their preferred business entity with the Texas Secretary of State (SOS).
Cleaning companies in Fort Worth carrying on business as sole proprietorships have to file a Doing Business As (DBA) Certificate application online or send all relevant documents to the county clerk's office via mail to:
Tarrant County Clerk's OfficeAssumed Names
200 Taylor Street, Suite 301
Fort Worth, Texas 76196
Alternatively, you can visit the county clerk's office to submit in person at the physical location at:
Tarrant County Clerk's Office100 W. Weatherford,
Room 130,
Fort Worth 76196
Phone: (817) 884-1195
Hours: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Meanwhile, cleaning companies registered as a limited partnership, limited liability partnership, or corporation must file a DBA certificate in the county where their principal office is registered. Note that cleaning companies in this category may also be required to file an additional DBA certificate with the Texas Secretary of State. You can confirm if your intended cleaning business has been duly registered by utilizing the SOSDirect platform provided by the state's Secretary of State. You can also direct your queries regarding the registration of cleaning businesses in Fort Worth to SOS by contacting (512) 463-5555.
Cleaning businesses are required to identify their business with an Employer Identification Number issued by the Internal Revenue Services. In addition, cleaning businesses must submit relevant state-issued sales and use tax permits to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Office online via its eSystems platform. Applicants will need to create a user profile to complete an application on this platform. For more information regarding the Texas sales and use tax permit requirements and procedures, you can contact the Internal Revenue Services and the state's Comptroller of Public Accounts Office at (800) 829-1040 and (800) 252-5555, respectively.
How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Cleaning Services in Fort Worth?
Before hiring your intended cleaning contractor in Fort Worth, it is advisable to find how much their service will cost you and if it fits your budget. Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, cleaning contractors in the city earn an hourly wage of about $15. However, how much a cleaning contractor will charge for their cleaning services will typically be influenced by the following factors, which include:
- The nature and scope of the cleaning job
- The cleaning supplies and cost of the cleaning supplies required for the job
- The size of the space to be cleaned
- The state of the area that needs cleaning services.
- The cleaning contractor's level of expertise
This is why it is best to get and compare quotes from at least three cleaning contractors before settling for the one that suits your required cleaning services. Also, comparing costs helps you filter out any fraudulent cleaning contractor that intends to overcharge you for the cleaning services.
Cleaning Contractors in Fort Worth earn an average wage of $31,570 annually. A comparison of workers' average hourly wages in Fort Worth's building and grounds cleaning and maintenance industry against workers in the rest of Texas and five other major cities in the country is provided below:
What Type of Cleaning Cleaning Services Do You Offer?
Making sure you hire a cleaning contractor or cleaning business that will effectively carry out quality cleaning services is an important step that you must take. Cleaning contractors in Fort Worth offer several general and specialized cleaning services to city residents. These include green cleaning, housekeeping, maid services, move-in/move-out cleaning, apartment cleaning, office cleaning, enhanced cleaning, and disinfection services. This is why you must always confirm if your intended cleaning contractor has the expertise to handle your proposed cleaning job. In addition, you should confirm if the cleaning contractor has the right cleaning supplies and equipment to provide quality services before you sign the work contract.
You also need to confirm how much the cleaning contractor will charge you for the cleaning services. The list below provides cost estimates for cleaning services commonly offered by professional cleaning contractors in Fort Worth:
Do You Comply with Fort Worth's COVID-19 Regulations?
According to data published by the Tarrant County Department of Public Health, about 56 percent of the county residents have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Meanwhile, 64 percent have taken at least one dose of the vaccine. As of March 2022, the number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Fort Worth stood at 397 per 100,000.
Considering how high the numbers are, it is of great importance if your home and facilities are duly cleaned and disinfected by a cleaning contractor who complies with the Tarrant County Department of Public Health COVID-19 Recommendations. These recommendations serve as guidelines for protecting the health and well-being of business owners, employees, and customers in Fort Worth and reducing the spread of COVID-19 in the city. The recommendation also provides preventive measures like cleaning, disinfecting, and handling a potential coronavirus-infected individual.
It is always good to confirm if your intended cleaning contractor is conversant with these COVID-19 recommendations and if they intend to adhere. You can direct your queries to the Tarrant County Department of Public Health at (817) 884-1111 or visit the physical location at Dr. Marion. Brooks Building at 1101 S Main Street in Fort Worth, Texas.
Do You Provide Commercial Cleaning Services for Non-Residential Locations in Fort Worth?
There are no specific licensing requirements for cleaning contractors who offer commercial cleaning services in Fort Worth. When looking for a cleaning contractor to clean your commercial space, you have to bear in mind that they are different from a residential cleaning contractor. While a residential cleaning contractor focuses on cleaning homes and residential dwellings, commercial cleaning contractors specialize in cleaning commercial spaces like medical and healthcare facilities, schools and universities, offices, and workspaces.
This is why you must make sure you verify if the cleaning company you are hiring for your proposed commercial cleaning services has the proper training, cleaning supplies, and equipment to work effectively in a commercial building. Also, if your commercial cleaning contractor is disposing of solid waste, like medical and hazardous waste, make sure they possess a waste service provider permit issued by the Solid Waste Services Division of the Fort Worth Department of Code Compliance. If you have questions concerning the application process for a waste service provider permit, you can contact the city's Solid Waste Services Division at (817) 392-1234 from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday and at 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays.
Do You Engage Unionized Cleaners for Non-Residential Buildings in Fort Worth?
Most cleaners operating in Fort Worth belong to unions like SEIU Texas and the Texas AFL CIO due to associated membership benefits. These benefits include better wages, better working standards, a fair economy that works for all members, access to better insurance, health care, and pension options. Typically, many commercial property owners prefer hiring union cleaning services because they have low employee turnover, which means there are higher chances of working with the same cleaners who are already familiar with the building and the specific cleaning supplies required. Also, most union cleaners have regular training and certification and an active insurance policy.
However, it is important to note that some of these unions have garnered employment methods like picketing to get commercial property owners to hire only union cleaners or even cancel an existing work contract with a non-union cleaning contractor. These lines of action may sometimes lead to the disruption of your commercial services. Whether you hire a union cleaning company to clean your commercial building depends on your preference.
Do You Offer COVID-19 Disinfecting Services in Fort Worth?
Once a COVID-19 infection case is confirmed, you must take the necessary steps to mitigate its spread among your household or facility. This involves hiring a professional cleaning company to clean and disinfect your home or facility. However, when looking for a cleaning company to hire, you must make sure the company offers specialized cleaning services. You can confirm by inquiring if they can provide such a service and the cleaning product they intend to use.
Note that cleaning products to be used must correspond with the EPA-registered and approved products. In addition, the cleaning and disinfection process must be in accordance with local recommendations and CDC recommendations. Some of the key recommendations that your cleaning contractor must follow:
- Using personal protective equipment like masks, gloves, and other necessary equipment when cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting.
- Ensuring there is enough ventilation and use of fans and HVAC to increase air circulation
- Using lined bags to trash all disposable items used during the job
- Using only EPA-registered and approved cleaning products for the job.
- Focusing on high-touch surfaces, light switches, doorknobs and door handles, tables, and phones. This should also include items that have been used by the individual who tested positive for coronavirus.
- Disposing of all used face masks, gloves, and contaminated PPE in sealed containers.
It is best to request a list of the cleaning products to be used for cleaning, sanitization, and disinfection to enable you to strike out anyone that contains an allergen, which may cause a reaction in any of the home's occupants.
What Cleaning Supplies Do You Use?
The cleaning contractor must use the right cleaning products to get an effective and satisfactory cleaning job. Common cleaning supplies used by cleaning contractors in Fort Worth include dustpans, scrubbing brushes, vacuums, mops, disposable rags, and brooms. Also, cleaning services require the use of products like cleaning agents, sanitizers, and disinfectants. The most common cleaning products used are cleaning agents that remove stains and dirt. These cleaning agents are categorized into four groups which are:
- Abrasives: these products are used to remove stains or dirt from hard surfaces like the floor. Note that this product is not suitable for surfaces that can easily scratch.
- Acids: acids are the most potent of all the four cleaning agents and must at all times be handled with care because of their corrosive nature. These products are used for removing mineral deposits from surfaces.
- Degreasers: Degreasers are typically used to remove grease, fats, and other types of organic stains and can be used for various surfaces.
- Detergents: Detergents are the most commonly used cleaning agents and are suitable for residential and commercial buildings. Detergents can be powder, gel, or liquid and must be mixed with water for effective use.
Another cleaning product used to prevent cross-contamination and reduce microorganisms is sanitizers. Meanwhile, disinfectants are used to eliminate microorganisms causing infections and are primarily used in cleaning services for hospitals, healthcare facilities, and isolation centers. Before completing the work contract, ensure you find the cleaning supplies and products that the cleaning contractor intends to use for the job to enable you to confirm they are suitable.
Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Cleaners in Fort Worth?
All occupations, including cleaning contractors, are susceptible to work-related injuries, with more than 20 work-related fatalities recorded amongst building cleaning workers across Texas in 2020. Hiring a cleaning contractor with an active general liability insurance policy shields you from financial hardship after an unexpected work-related injury occurs during a cleaning service. The insurance also shields you from incurring lost wages and legal liability that usually comes with the cleaning contractor getting injured and not working.
When hiring a cleaning contractor, always make sure that they are insured by requesting a certificate of insurance. Also, make sure you authenticate that the insurance policy is active by contacting the issuing insurance carrier. Note that Texas law requires all cleaning contractors with at least one employee to carry worker's compensation insurance. For more information, contact the Texas Division of Workers' Compensation at (800) 252-7031.
How to File a Complaint Against a Bad Cleaner in Fort Worth
Deceptive cleaning contractors are always looking for a way to defraud unsuspecting homeowners and property managers in Fort Worth who require cleaning services. In December 2019, a contractor was sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay $854,000 in restitution, having pleaded guilty to property theft of more than $300,000 meant for remodeling projects of more than a dozen victims. These fraudulent individuals use different tactics to obtain money from innocent homeowners deceptively. Some of the tactics used by these individuals include:
- The cleaning contractor calls you to advertise their business to you or do door-to-door solicitation.
- They offer to use leftover cleaning supplies from a previous job.
- They prefer advance payment.
- They refuse to provide a business registration certificate.
As such, it is best to always be on the lookout for these fraudulent contractors when you are planning a cleaning service. You can use the following tips when looking to retain the services of a professional cleaning contractor in Fort Worth:
- Get referrals of professional and experienced cleaning contractors in the city from trusted sources like friends, relatives, or online resources like the Better Business Bureau.
- Be wary of cleaning contractors doing work solicitation, especially after a disaster.
- Get bids and estimates from multiple cleaning contractors for your intended cleaning job.
- Request for references from your intended cleaning contractor. Ensure you contact the reference to confirm they are verifiable sources and inquire about the cleaning contractors' professionalism and quality of work. You can also look up reviews on the contractor online via third-party websites like Yelp, Google Review, and the Better Business Bureau.
- Execute a written contract. Ensure all the contract terms are clear; do not sign it if you do not understand. Also, the contract must state the start date, cleaning supplies to be used and how much they cost, and the expected completion date of the cleaning job.
- Avoid paying a down payment; if you have to, do not pay more than 10 percent of the total cost of the cleaning job.
- Avoid paying in cash. Paying in cash makes it hard for you to keep a record of transactions. Also, be wary of contractors insistent on this transaction mode.
- Confirm that your cleaning contractor working with other cleaners for your cleaning services has vetted these other cleaners. Also, confirm your intended cleaning contractor is maintaining employee worker compensation insurance.
You can file reports on cleaning scams that occur in Fort Worth with the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office by calling (817) 884-1400. Alternatively, you can visit the physical location of the office at
Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center401 West Belknap
Fort Worth, Texas 76196
Hours: Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The Texas Attorney General's Office can also handle consumer complaints filed when you complete an online consumer complaint form. You can also call the consumer protection hotline at (800) 621-0508 or submit a complaint form via mail to the address indicated at the bottom of the application form. Lastly, you can also file a civil action at the relevant District Court against the deceptive contractor. It is advisable to seek proper legal advice from a lawyer, and you can find lawyers near you by utilizing the TCBA lawyer referral and information service platform provided by the Tarrant County Bar Association.
Table of Contents
- Are You Licensed to Practice as a Cleaning Service in Fort Worth?
- How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Cleaning Services in Fort Worth?
- What Type of Cleaning Cleaning Services Do You Offer?
- Do You Comply with Fort Worth's COVID-19 Regulations?
- Do You Provide Commercial Cleaning Services for Non-Residential Locations in Fort Worth?
- Do You Engage Unionized Cleaners for Non-Residential Buildings in Fort Worth?
- Do You Offer COVID-19 Disinfecting Services in Fort Worth?
- What Cleaning Supplies Do You Use?
- Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Cleaners in Fort Worth?
- How to File a Complaint Against a Bad Cleaner in Fort Worth