What Can an Hourly Maid Service Do? Complete List of Tasks

What Can an Hourly Maid Service Do? Complete List of Tasks

We know the feeling of coming back to a messy home after facing the Federal Highway traffic or a long day at the office. Hiring an hourly maid service gives you the flexibility to address specific needs in your home without the commitment of a full-time live-in helper.

This guide covers exactly what tasks our hourly maids can handle to help you reclaim your weekends.

Standard Cleaning Tasks

Our standard service focuses on maintenance cleaning to keep your home hygienic and tidy on a regular basis.

Living Areas & Common Spaces

• Surface Dusting: We wipe down all reachable surfaces, including TV consoles, shelves, and coffee tables.
• Floor Care: Vacuuming carpets and rugs, followed by mopping hard floors (we are careful with parquet and marble common in Malaysian homes).
• Ceiling Fans: Dusting fan blades is essential in our climate, as they accumulate thick dust quickly (reachable height only).
• Glass Work: Cleaning sliding glass doors (interior) and mirrors to remove fingerprints and smudges.
• General Tidy: Straightening cushions, stacking magazines, and removing cobwebs from corners.

Bedrooms

• Bed Making: We make beds to hotel standards and can change linens if fresh sheets are laid out.
• Furniture Dusting: Wiping down nightstands, wardrobes, and dressing tables.
• Floors: Thorough vacuuming under beds (if accessible) and mopping.
• Trash Removal: Emptying bins and replacing liners.

Bathrooms

• Sanitization: Scrubbing and disinfecting the toilet bowl, seat, and lid.
• Shower & Tub: Scrubbing tiles and glass screens to remove soap scum and mild mildew.
• Vanity Area: Wiping down sinks, faucets, and counters.
• Finishing Touches: Polishing mirrors and wiping down fixtures.

Kitchen (Wet & Dry)

• Dishwashing: Washing, drying, and putting away daily dishes.
• Countertops: Disinfecting surfaces and wiping down backsplashes.
• Stovetop: Removing light grease splatters from cooking (essential for wet kitchens).
• Appliances: Wiping the exterior of the fridge, oven, and microwave.
• **Sink:**Scrubbing the basin and polishing the tap.

Deep Cleaning vs. Standard Cleaning

Standard cleaning maintains a home, while deep cleaning restores it. This comparison helps you decide which booking fits your current situation.

Feature	Standard Cleaning	Deep Cleaning (Extended Time)
Primary Goal	Maintenance & Hygiene	Restoration & Detail
Kitchen	Exterior wipe-downs & dishes	Inside oven, fridge & cabinets
Bathroom	Surface scrubbing	Grout scrubbing & tile scaling
Dusting	Eye-level surfaces	High dusting, baseboards & vents
Best For	Weekly/Bi-weekly upkeep	Move-in, Post-Reno, or Pre-Festive

Specific Deep Clean Inclusions:

• Inside Appliances: Thorough cleaning of the refrigerator interior and oven grease removal.
• Grout & Tiles: Intensive scrubbing to brighten tile grout in bathrooms.
• Window Tracks: Vacuuming and wiping dust from sliding door tracks.
• Cabinet Interiors: Wiping inside cupboards and drawers (must be empty).

Laundry & Organizing Services

Many clients in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor use our service specifically to manage the weekly laundry pile.

Laundry Tasks We Handle:

• Washing: Loading and operating the washing machine.
• Drying: Hanging clothes on balcony racks (common in condos) or transferring to the dryer.
• Folding: Neatly folding dried clothes and organizing them by family member.
• Ironing: We can iron work shirts and uniforms if requested, though this is time-consuming (approx. 5-7 mins per shirt).

Light Organizing:

• Toy Management: Gathering scattered toys into designated bins.
• Pantry Tidy: Straightening rows of jars and cans.
• Wardrobe Sorting: Basic folding and stacking of clothes on shelves.

What Hourly Maids Do NOT Do

Professional boundaries ensure safety and efficiency.

Safety & Scope Exclusions:

• High Windows: We do not clean exterior windows in high-rise condos due to safety risks.
• Heavy Lifting: Cleaners cannot move heavy furniture (sofas, wardrobes) or lift items over 15kg.
• Specialized Stains: We do not offer deep carpet shampooing or upholstery extraction (this requires industrial machines).
• Biohazards: We cannot clean animal waste, pest infestations, or mold remediation sites.
• Personal Care: Our staff are cleaners, not nannies or carers for the elderly.

Recommended Booking Duration

Estimating the right number of hours ensures your priority tasks get finished. Use this guide based on typical Malaysian property sizes.

Property Type	Size (Approx.)	Recommended Hours
Studio / SoHo	500 - 700 sqft	2 Hours (Maintenance)
Condominium (3BR)	1,000 - 1,200 sqft	4 Hours (Full Clean)
Terrace House	1,500+ sqft	4 - 6 Hours (Often requires 2 cleaners)
Task Focus	Specific Room	2 - 3 Hours (e.g., Kitchen & Bath only)

Pro Tip: For a first-time service, add 1 extra hour to the recommended time, as there is usually more dust accumulation to clear.

How to Prioritize Your Session

Getting the most value starts with a clear plan.

Step 1: Identify “Pain Points” Walk through your house and note what bothers you most. Is it the sticky kitchen floor? The dusty fans?

Step 2: Create a Priority List Write down your “Must-Dos” vs. “Nice-to-Dos.”

• Must-Do: Scrub guest bathroom, mop living room, change master bedsheets.
• Nice-to-Do: Dust guest room blinds, wipe fridge interior.

Step 3: Communicate Clearly Provide these instructions upon arrival.

• “Please start with the master bathroom.”
• “Don’t worry about the guest room today, it’s not being used.”
• “Please use this specific cleaner for the marble floor.”

Common Booking Scenarios

The Busy Professional

• Booking: 3 hours weekly.
• Focus: Floors, bathroom scrubbing, and ironing 5 work shirts.
• Result: A clean base for the work week without spending Sunday cleaning.

The Young Family

• Booking: 4 hours twice a week.
• Focus: Laundry folding, toy sanitization, kitchen deep clean, and mopping.
• Result: Keeping chaos at bay and maintaining hygiene for little ones.

The “Balik Kampung” Prep

• Booking: 4-5 hours one-off.
• Focus: Fridge clear-out, throwing away trash, thorough vacuuming to prevent pests while away.
• Result: Coming home to a fresh house after the holidays.

Conclusion

Hourly maid services provide the specific help you need, exactly when you need it. Whether you require a weekly hand with chores or a deep clean before Hari Raya, having a reliable team makes all the difference.

At 22 Cleaning, our hourly rate is RM25/hour per cleaner, and unlike many competitors, all cleaning supplies are included in this price. Contact us to book your hourly maid service session today and let us handle the hard work while you enjoy your free time.