Как выбрать надёжную клининговую компанию в Лугано — 5 критериев

How to tell whether a cleaning company is actually any good

There are over 200 cleaning companies operating in Lugano and across Canton Ticino. The difference between a real professional outfit and a thrown-together one is visible in half an hour — no "gut feel" required. Five things you can check before you even sign a quote.

1. The commercial registry

The fastest check is also the most revealing. Go to uid.admin.ch, enter the company name or the IDE number (format CHE-XXX.XXX.XXX) and read the entry. You're looking for three things: that the status is active (not "in liquidation" or "suspended"), that the registered address is a real office and not a P.O. box, and that the company has been around long enough to have a track record. A firm registered less than a year ago isn't automatically disqualified, but it deserves a few extra questions.

If the IDE doesn't appear at all, the conversation ends there. No registration, no company.

2. The on-site visit and the fixed-price quote

Serious companies always offer a free on-site visit in Lugano and the surrounding area, usually within 48 hours. The reason is simple: without seeing the space, no one can tell you honestly what the work will cost.

What you receive afterwards should be a written quote — email or PDF, not a number tossed out over the phone — with a fixed price, itemised by room or by type of intervention, and a clear validity date (typically two to four weeks). You know exactly what you'll pay and what's included.

3. Reviews — and how to spot the real ones

On Google Reviews, Trustpilot or RecensiTi.ch, the total count matters less than you'd think. What matters is distribution over time: thirty reviews spread across the last twelve months are worth far more than two hundred clustered into a single quarter three years ago.

Even excellent companies have the occasional three- or four-star review. A profile with nothing but five stars is statistically suspicious. More importantly, read how the company replies to negative reviews. A thoughtful response that acknowledges the problem and explains the fix is one of the most reliable signals of professionalism. Aggressive, generic or absent replies say the opposite.

Finally, watch the wording: similar text across reviews posted close together is often fake. Detailed reviews with concrete references to the actual service are authentic.

4. Guarantees in writing

Companies that believe in their own work are willing to put it on paper. The quote should include at least one of these guarantees: acceptance of end-of-tenancy cleaning (if the property manager contests anything, the company comes back free of charge); a "satisfied or we come back" clause within 24 to 48 hours for other services; a staff-replacement clause if your usual cleaner is sick or on leave; and for offices and Airbnbs, a late-arrival penalty on scheduled cleans.

A written guarantee isn't legal theatre — it's proof the company is willing to absorb the cost of its own mistakes instead of pushing them onto you.

5. Products and equipment

The "eco-friendly" pitch is often pure marketing. To find out whether there's substance behind it, ask one direct question: "What certifications do your products carry?" A professional answer names specific labels — EU Ecolabel, Nordic Swan, Bluewin Care — not vague phrases like "natural products" or "100% biodegradable".

The other useful question is about vacuums: HEPA-filter machines are the standard for households with allergies, small children, or any healthcare setting. They aren't required everywhere, but being able to name them is a good sign of competence.

Five red flags

How Angolli does it

The right questions to ask

If you want a fast test over the phone or during the on-site visit, these seven questions work well: How long have you been operating and how many staff do you have? What certifications do your products carry? Is there an acceptance guarantee (for end-of-tenancy) or a free re-visit guarantee (for other services)? Can I speak to two or three reference clients? What happens if my usual cleaner is sick? Will you send the quote in writing, with a fixed price and validity date? And the most revealing of all: what's one thing you don't do well, or that you'd recommend hiring someone else for?

Quick, precise answers to these questions are the most effective filter between a professional company and an improvised one.