My Cleaning Hunt in Georgetown

So last Tuesday, my apartment looked like a tornado hit it. Laundry piled up, kitchen floor sticky, bathroom? Don't even ask. That's when I finally cracked and decided to find a cleaning service here in Georgetown. Grabbed my phone and started Googling like crazy.

The Price Shock Phase

First quote made my eyes pop out - $180 for a one-bedroom! Thought that was ridiculous, so I called five more companies. Turns out prices swing like crazy. Some wanted hourly rates ($35-$55/hour), others flat fees. One dude insisted I NEEDED premium eco-products for an extra $40. Said nah, ain't falling for that.

• Basic dusting/mopping: $120-$200
• Deep cleaning with fridge/oven: $250-$330
• Extra fee for pet hair removal: $25-$50 (got cats so this mattered)

How I Found Affordable Options

Changed tactics after wasting two hours. Posted in our neighborhood Facebook group asking for real recommendations. Best move ever! Got three replies in 20 minutes. One lady named Maria with her own small business charged $110 for same service the $180 company offered.

Pro tip: Always ask EXACTLY what's included. Found out some "basic cleanings" skip baseboards or inside microwaves. Made a comparison chart on a napkin - seriously - because these prices ain't simple. Also learned booking on weekdays saves 10-15% compared to weekends.

My Final Decision

Chose Maria's team. They showed up Thursday with their own supplies (thank god). Took ‘em three hours for my disaster zone. Final damage? $125 flat fee including those cat hair tumbleweeds under my sofa. Place smells like lemons now and honestly? Worth every penny.

Biggest lesson? Forget those fancy websites with perfect photos. Local operators mostly charge fair prices if you actually talk to humans. Oh, and tip your cleaners - I gave ‘em extra $20 because they scrubbed my shower tiles like it offended their ancestors.