Frequently Asked Questions
-
Elm & Oak Cleaning Co. offers four distinct residential cleaning services to meet your needs:
~Refresh: Regular maintenance cleaning, weekly, biweekly, or monthly to keep your space consistently reset and polished.
~Resolve: The initial deep clean or whenever your home needs a more intensive reset. Everything included in the Refresh, plus more.
~Restore: Move-in/Move-out cleaning that details every part of a home between residents. Everything included from the Resolve plus more.
~Ritual: Bespoke Concierge (à la carte): Encompasses aspects of Refresh and Resolve but extends beyond cleaning to address specific household needs. Think shopping, laundry, light meal prep, room rearrangement, organizing rooms and pantries. Pet, plant care and home stewardship.
Investment determined after consultation with Amy.
Elm & Oak Cleaning Co. offers Commercial Cleaning for small local office spaces in and around Barrhaven and Manotick.
-
Elm & Oak is an owner-operated cleaning and concierge studio built on a philosophy rooted in intention. Founded by Amy Jane, we combine an eye for detail with over a decade of hands-on cleaning experience.
We believe a well-kept home should feel calm, organized, and thoughtfully cared for. Our focus is not simply cleaning, but creating spaces that feel refreshed, functional, and supportive of everyday life.
As a fully insured and police background-checked business, we provide personalized service with consistency, discretion, and attention to detail. Our reliable and punctual team show up together, on time, and prepared to work with our own equipment and supplies.
-
Choosing a cleaning company that is local, insured, background checked, highly reviewed and transparent about pricing is key. At Elm and Oak Cleaning Co, the owner is present and working on most jobs. We are police background checked and have comprehensive liability insurance through Zensurance. Our service values clear consise communication via fast, easy text messaging so we can send and receive pertinent information in real time. When choosing a reliable cleaning service, you must look for a small local company that values your time, has integrity and is committed to consistant high quality service.
-
Please reach out through our Contact Form. Share your name, area of town and what services you are requesting. Once we gather your contact information, we will be in touch within one business day to schedule a phone or in-person consultation to discuss your needs.
-
We prioritize eco-conscious products that are safe for people, pets, plants and the environment. If you have specific product preferences for your pets, children or environmental sensitivities, we will be happy to accommodate your needs. Brands we frequently use are Attitude, Method, Mrs. Myers and EcoVert.
-
Yes. Many of our clients prefer to be away during their cleaning appointment and enjoy returning to a freshly reset home. We work quietly and respectfully, follow secure entry procedures, and complete a final safety check before leaving, ensuring pets are secure and the home is left exactly as it should be.
-
At Elm & Oak, we care deeply about our work. With every visit you are getting dedicated attention to detail and a globalized approach to cleaning. We have specific methodologies in place to ensure that nothing gets missed.
We use a customized, detailed checklist tailored to your specific needs, ensuring that every cleaning session covers exactly what was promised to you.
We value honest coomunication and we welcome constructive feedback at all times. If we do miss something, please do let us know, and we will be sure to include it going forward.
-
What is your deposit and cancellation policy?
To secure your preferred date and time, we require a 50% deposit at the time of booking. Because we block out this time exclusively for your home and guarantee wages for our staff, this deposit is subject to the following terms:
Cancellations & Rescheduling: We require a minimum of 48 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule your appointment. If a service is cancelled or rescheduled with less than 48 hours' notice, the 50% deposit is non-refundable.
Property Condition Misrepresentation: As outlined in our health and safety policy, if our team arrives and must cancel the service due to undisclosed biohazards, safety risks, or extreme conditions, the job will be terminated immediately, and the full deposit will be retained to cover our immediate operational costs and staff wages.
Final Payment: The remaining 50% balance of your quote is due immediately upon the completion of the cleaning service on the day of your appointment. We accept cash or e-transfer.
-
Health, Safety, & Service Exclusions
How do you ensure health and safety during a service?
Safety is a two-way street, and the well-being of both our clients and our cleaning team is our absolute priority. We want to ensure your home is treated with care while keeping everyone safe. To maintain a secure environment, we adhere to the following strict guidelines:
Client & Staff Safety: We ask that clients, children, and pets remain clear of active cleaning zones to prevent accidental slips, trips, or chemical exposure. If you or anyone in your home is actively ill with a contagious virus, please notify us 48 hours in advance so we can safely reschedule.
Height, Lifting, & Area Limits: For the physical safety of our team, our staff do not climb higher than a standard 2-step step stool. We cannot lift or move furniture heavier than 25lbs (11 kg). Additionally, our services do not cover garages, crawl spaces, or unfinished basements, as these areas often present safety hazards like poor air quality, exposed insulation, or structural risks.
Biohazard & Unsafe Environments: In compliance with Ontario Occupational Health and Safety standards, our team has the right to refuse work in environments that pose immediate biological or respiratory risks. This includes undisclosed human/animal waste, heavy active mould, hoarding conditions, or pest infestations.
Right to Cancel: If a job must be cancelled upon arrival due to undisclosed hazardous conditions or safety risks, the service will be terminated immediately, and the deposit will be retained to cover our vehicle travel, materials, and guaranteed staff wages.