What's the practical difference between bonded and insured?

Insurance generally covers accidental damage; bonding generally covers theft or dishonesty by an employee. They protect against different risks.

Should I ask for proof of insurance before booking?

It's a completely reasonable request — a legitimate company should be able to provide it or answer coverage questions clearly.

Do background checks happen once or on an ongoing basis?

Practices vary by company; ask specifically whether checks happen only at hiring or on a recurring basis for staff with ongoing home access.

Bonded and Insured Cleaners: Why It Matters

These terms get used almost interchangeably in marketing, but they cover two genuinely different kinds of protection — and understanding the difference helps you ask better questions before booking.

What "insured" actually covers

General liability insurance protects you if something is accidentally damaged or broken during a cleaning visit — a dropped vase, a scratched floor, a spilled product on carpet. A properly insured company can file a claim to cover the cost of repair or replacement, rather than the homeowner absorbing the loss or fighting for reimbursement out of pocket.

What "bonded" actually covers

A bond is a different kind of protection, typically covering situations involving employee theft or dishonesty. It provides a financial backstop if something is stolen from your home during a visit — something general liability insurance doesn't necessarily cover.

Why both matter, not just one

A company with insurance but no bonding is protected against accidents, but a homeowner has less recourse in a theft scenario. A company with neither leaves the homeowner exposed on both fronts, with essentially no path to reimbursement beyond a private legal claim.

Questions worth asking before you book

"Is your company insured, and can you confirm coverage details if something's damaged?"
"Are your cleaners bonded?"
"Do you run background checks before a cleaner's first visit?"

A legitimate company should answer these clearly and without hesitation. Vague or evasive answers are worth treating as a real red flag, not a minor detail.

Background checks: a related but separate issue

Bonding and insurance are financial protections; background checks are a screening step that happens before someone's even hired. All three matter, but they're not interchangeable — a company could technically be insured while still not background-checking every cleaner who enters client homes. Ask about all three specifically.

Why this matters more for recurring service

A one-time cleaning is a single point of exposure; a recurring relationship means the same or rotating cleaners are in your home repeatedly, often with access instructions, sometimes while you're not present. That ongoing access is exactly why vetting, bonding, and insurance matter more here than for almost any other home service you might hire occasionally.

What we do

Every cleaner working under the Michigan Cleaning Experts name goes through a background check before their first client visit, and our operations are covered by general liability insurance. If you have specific coverage questions, we're glad to answer them directly before you book — that transparency is exactly what this kind of trust should be built on.