CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM Petra Rofoli, above, owns Evergreen Cleaning Service, and has clientele ranging from people who rent apartments to those who own homes in exclusive neighborhoods, such as this one in Kahala.

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By Ruby Mata-Viti
rmataviti@starbulletin.com

Those "I'd rather be sailing ... surfing ... riding a mule on Molokai" bumper stickers may well have been thought up by someone who had floor scrubbing to do one sunny Saturday and, with millions made from sticker sales, now hires out for the chore.

But you don't have to be a millionaire to afford a cleaning service, according to such companies large and small. With most schools back in session, and quality moments with the kids or for yourself reduced to weekend pockets, it's perhaps time to consider hiring one.

"It's not such an uppity, just-for-the-rich-and-famous thing anymore," said Petra Rofoli, who owns Evergreen Cleaning Service with her husband, Bernie. "We have clients from all walks of life, from those who live in one-bedroom apartments to mansions." People are busy, she said, and as they realize how valuable their time is, they don't want to spend it cleaning.

"Actually, the very wealthiest have live-ins or domestic help who cook, do laundry and spend the whole day upkeeping the home," said Joe Marquez, manager of The Maids, a company that has been in business here for more than 21 years. Marquez said The Maids conducted surveys that found people were spending an average of seven hours a week cleaning.

The way he sees it, all it takes is about $3 a day to buy back those seven hours, a good day of sailing right there. That's something to ponder as you hoist your first $2.50 pau hana beer later today.

Having someone else do the chores also un-clutters your mind, said Colin Miyabara, who owns the local franchise of Maid Brigade, a national chain.

"The worst thing about not cleaning is not having a dirty home, but feeling guilty about not doing it," he said. People tell themselves maybe they shouldn't go shopping or see the kids' soccer game because, whether they do it or not, they need to clean. Once the decision is made to hire a service, Miyabara said, it frees the mind to actually do those fun things, and you know the chores will get done.

"It's hard to put a price tag on peace of mind."

Rates seem comparable, although none of the companies would give specifics. Prices depend on size of the home and condition. Marquez says condition is assessed by asking such things as whether there's soap scum in the shower and when's the last time baseboards were cleaned.

"If the client asks, 'What's a baseboard?' we have a general idea what we're in for."

All these services use their own equipment and supplies. A standard job might involve tackling bathrooms, kitchen, vacuuming, regular dusting. Tasks such as windows and screens usually cost extra.

In general, a one-time cleaning costs more per hour. A job with follow-up weekly or biweekly maintenance has lower rates.

For instance, the Maids charges about $144 per hour for one-time service of a three-bedroom, two-bath home in average condition. A team of four "maids," each assigned a particular task, can get the home sparkling in about two hours. Maintenance flat rates range from $69 to $99 per visit.

"If the client wants only certain things done" -- for example, only the bathroom, or just kitchen and floors -- "they're better off with an individual (cleaning person or smaller company), because we do everything."

If the home is already clean, their team takes it to the next level, he said, and will give it their routine service, disinfecting and degreasing, the same as with a home not as clean.

Rani Bhogal of Dana's Referral Service contracts with individual cleaning vendors. Fees are about $100 per hour for a first-time cleaning, with maintenance rates of about $75 per hour. They'll even do dishes and laundry, "whatever the client wants." Dana's offers same-day service, but you need to call early in the day.

Rofoli said that after an initial cleaning, Evergreen's follow-up maintenance rate is $25 an hour. A cleaning usually takes about two hours, if not less, depending on the home.

Miyabara was hesitant to give an average rate for Maid Brigade. "Each home is different, but we'll work with the client's budget and their priority list." He added that many of his clients are former Hawaii residents whose elderly parents still live here. "It eases the mind to know their parents have help with housecleaning. They worry less about them falling off a cleaning stool or straining their backs."

Once a person decides to hire a cleaning service, factors besides costs weigh in, such as whether to go with a big or small company.

The plus side of bigger companies, said Marquez, is that they are bonded and insured. "Some individuals get paid under the table, don't file taxes and are not bonded or insured, which means that if they get hurt on your property, you are liable."

Reliability is another factor. "We don't call in sick," he said. "If we're expected every Tuesday, we'll be there."

Miyabara added that if anything is broken on the job, the client is protected.

An advantage of a smaller company such as Evergreen is that the client knows who they're dealing with, Rofoli said. "It's just me and my husband. There's a sense of security and trust. You don't have to feel like you need to hide your jewelry come cleaning day."

Rofoli is insured, but said "it's expensive to be bonded. I can see with a bigger company the need to be bonded, but I just never saw the need for it." A bonding company ensures that a service not performed satisfactorily by the person promising to deliver will be completed by someone else.

Her customers, including many who own units at the Discovery Bay Towers in Waikiki, hear about her company through word of mouth, she said. Most of her clients are residential, but she does a lot of move-in/move-out jobs.

With businesses these days cutting back, and people weeding out unnecessaries to stretch their budgets, cleaning services might seem the first thing scratched off the luxury list.

None of these companies has experienced a major drop in business. If anything, "it was just a blip," said Rofoli, who has actually seen an increase because of the upswing in the real estate market. "People are selling homes, moving in and out, so that side of it for me has improved."

Marquez said, "Housecleaning is not a luxury anymore. It's a necessity, and time for things you enjoy is more valued.

"No matter what the economy," he added, "the house still needs to get cleaned."

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