I adore Cherie, my house cleaner. She started with me three years ago when I moved to my new place. It took a while to get used to her presence in my home, but now she knows precisely what I need. I swear she can read my mind. She's a true gem, and I couldn't do without her.

It was such a bummer when we went into lockdown. Cherie called to say that she wouldn't be able to come over for a while. So I haven't deep-cleaned the house in months. You can just imagine. (Actually, please don't. It's bad enough that I have to think about this disaster.)

It's gotten to the point lately where there's so much clutter and dust that it's affecting my remote work life. So I went searching for a solution. A good old fashioned cleaning person? Or perhaps a cleaning service?

One of the neighbors uses Handy to book cleaning services, so I thought I'd check it out and see how it stacks up against hiring a classic cleaner the traditional way.

Key Similarities

• Both cleaners are local to your area
• Both can be booked for recurring cleanings
• Both can perform deep cleanings and extra services such as cleaning inside fridges, inside stoves, interior windows, and even laundry upon request
• Both can be provided special directions and procedures

Key Differences

• Vetting - Pros booked through Handy are vetted and background checked
• Communication - Remain in contact with Handy's awesome app & 24/7 Customer Support
• Reputation - Classic Cleaners rely on good word-of-mouth - Pros booked through Handy have exceptional Customer Reviews on their site.
• Flexible - Classic Cleaners often run into scheduling snags - With Handy, you can adjust bookings, or change the frequency of scheduled cleanings
• Price - With a Classic Cleaner, prices might fluctuate - Handy offers a variety of affordable plans with immediate upfront pricing before you book

Classic Cleaner Overview

A housecleaning should lighten your mood and release trapped energy - at least that's how I feel when it goes right. But it doesn't always go right.

Classic house cleaners can vary widely. One time, Cherie was on vacation and recommended a substitute who totally went AWOL - just never showed up! The house didn't get cleaned and I had to group chat all my besties and move our book club night from my place to a restaurant.

Scheduling with a classic cleaner can be difficult. Sometimes an 11am cleaning doesn't get into full swing until 12:30pm.

Your classic cleaner may not be equipped with the right supplies. And - the biggest sticking point for me - is the work quality. Your kitchen may be gleaming, but then you discover a horde of dust bunnies under your bed.

And worst of all, just when you've found an exceptional, reliable cleaner, they move away. Or switch careers. Or both. And you're back to where you started.

Handy Overview

If you're wary of having someone you don't know in your home, don't worry. Handy connects you to experienced cleaning professionals in your area - notice the word professional. Pros booked through Handy go throughbackground screenings that utilize the latest credential verification technology, so you can be sure they're the most reliable cleaners out there.

Simply sign up for a monthly, bi-weekly, or weekly plan. Handy's site is so convenient - you can look at reviews and request the Pro you want to work with, and give them instructions before they arrive.

Their savvy app allows you to tweak your schedule and even track a cleaning's progress while the Handy Pro works their magic. Handy's plans are completely flexible - adjust or pause your plan at any time!

Finally, Handy knows health and safety are top of mind and they have taken steps to foster a safe environment and better serve their communities. They prioritize the health and safety of the professionals and customers who use their platform by implementing the Handy Safety Standard.

Not only have face coverings been provided to professionals to wear during bookings, Handy also requires professionals to complete a daily in-app checkup confirming that they are not experiencing symptoms before they can claim jobs. In addition to this, Handy's communicating CDC health and safety guidelines and best practices to both customers and professionals to practice before, during, and after booking appointments.

It's clear to me that the Pros available through Handy have the training and experience to turn my nightmare of a house into a dream palace.

Final Notes

What more is there to say? Handy is straight-up transparent and, overall, a super experience. Compared to a traditional cleaner they knock it clean out of the ballpark - and I do mean clean.

Update: The folks at Handy are extending a Special offer to our readers.For a limited time follow this link to get a special offer on a cleaning plan!