Cleaning Business Safety: A Guide to Using ZenMaid’s SOS Alert

Brought to you by expert maid service owners

Tips and advice shared here, have helped us grow our own maid services. With eight current and former cleaning business owners in our team, including our CEO and founder Amar, we know the maid service industry inside and out.

We partner with amazing leaders in the cleaning industry like Debbie Sardone, Angela Brown, Courtney Wisely and Chris Schwab and more, to provide you with the latest industry insights.

We’ve built the easiest-to-use scheduling software, built specifically for maid service owners! Check out ZenMaid

We need to talk about something more openly in this industry: cleaning business safety. And no, I’m not talking about PPC gear or wearing gloves. I’m talking about the uncomfortable situations our cleaners — especially women — can face when cleaning alone in clients’ homes.

While most clients are wonderful, we all know those moments when something just feels… off. Maybe it’s inappropriate comments. Maybe it’s a client’s unexpected guest who is hovering a bit too close. Maybe it’s a situation that doesn’t warrant calling 911, but still leaves your cleaner feeling unsure or uneasy.

That’s exactly why we created the ZenMaid SOS Alert — a silent, one-tap system that lets your cleaners discreetly alert your office when they need your help. And in this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to implement it in your cleaning business.

The Uncomfortable Reality of Cleaning Business Safety (And Why We Should Always Believe Our Staff)

When a cleaner reports feeling uncomfortable, believe them immediately. Full stop. Some warning signs your cleaners might report include:

• Clients making comments about appearance (even seemingly innocent “compliments”)
• Unexpected people present during cleanings
• Clients hovering or watching cleaners work
• Any behavior that makes your cleaner uneasy

“When a cleaner says they feel uncomfortable, that’s all you need to know. Their safety is worth more than any single client—no matter how much they pay.” Stephanie Pipkin

This unwavering support for your team isn’t just about being a good boss — it’s about recognizing that cleaners often pick up on subtle cues that something isn’t right long before a situation becomes obviously dangerous. Their intuition is your first line of defense.

Every safety measure we’ll discuss in this guide starts with this foundation: trust your cleaners, believe their concerns, and make their wellbeing your absolute priority. No client relationship, no matter how profitable, is worth putting your team at risk. Which is exactly why ZenMaid created the SOS Alert.

What Is the ZenMaid SOS Alert?

The ZenMaid SOS Alert is a simple but powerful feature built right into the mobile app. Here’s how it works:

One silent tap in ZenMaid’s mobile app sends your cleaner’s location and appointment details straight to your office. No awkward situations, no escalation — just quiet, professional backup when it’s needed.

We’ve included this in EVERY ZenMaid plan at no extra cost. Because your team deserves to feel supported, even in those uncomfortable situations that don’t warrant emergency services but still need addressing.

Creating Your SOS Alert Response Plan

Before you train your cleaners on using the SOS Alert, you need a solid plan for how your office will respond. I reached out to Stephanie from Serene Clean, who shared her approach:

“When we receive an SOS Alert, our first action is to call the cleaner and say, ‘Hey, we have an immediate schedule change and need to pull you from the job.’ This way, if someone is within earshot, we’re not alerting them to the situation.”

It’s like asking for an “angel shot” at a bar — a code phrase that signals you need help without alerting others around you. If the cleaner is alone or the situation allows, they can then explain what’s really happening.

Here’s a simple response plan you can adapt for your business:

1. Immediate contact: Call the cleaner using your code phrase about a “schedule change” or something similarly neutral.
2. If they don’t answer: Text them the same code message and ask them to call you back.
3. Client contact: While waiting, call the client with a neutral question like “We’re having trouble reaching our cleaner at your location. Is everything okay there?”
4. Emergency escalation: If you can’t reach either party within 5-10 minutes, consider calling local authorities for a welfare check.

Stephanie also shared this insight:

“This made me think of something I want our cleaners to do going forward. Leave notes in client files about who is typically home during cleanings. If someone different is there when they arrive, they should notify us. If we see a note about someone unexpected AND they hit the SOS button, that gives us immediate, necessary information.”

Training Your Cleaning Team to Use the SOS Alert

Once your response plan is in place, it’s time to train your team. Schedule a dedicated training session and cover these essential points:

When to Use the SOS Alert

Be crystal clear about when the SOS button is appropriate:

• Feeling uncomfortable with a client’s behavior
• Encountering unexpected people at the cleaning location
• Any situation where something feels “off” but doesn’t warrant calling 911
• Situations where making a phone call might escalate tensions

Equally important, clarify when it’s not appropriate:

• True emergencies requiring immediate 911 response
• Routine questions or minor issues
• Regular communication with the office

How to Access and Use the SOS Alert in ZenMaid

Walk your team through these steps:

1. Open the ZenMaid mobile app and navigate to the current appointment
2. Look for the blue shield icon in the appointment details
3. Slide the alert button to activate it
4. Keep your phone accessible while waiting for office response

Make sure everyone understands that the alert is silent — the client won’t be notified when it’s activated.

Role-Playing Practice

In a crisis, we never know how we’re going to act. That’s why it’s important to practice your safety protocols. Don’t just tell your team about the SOS Alert — have them practice using it in realistic scenarios during your team meetings.

Scenario 1: The Uncomfortable Comments

Setup: One team member plays a client who starts making subtle but increasingly inappropriate comments about appearance.

Practice:

• Have your cleaner continue working while looking for an opportunity to step into another room
• Practice accessing the ZenMaid app and activating the SOS Alert without being obvious
• When the office calls, practice responding naturally: “Yes, I understand we need to reschedule. How soon do you need me at the other location?”
• Practice gathering essential cleaning tools quickly while maintaining professionalism

Real-world example: A ZenMaid customer shared how their cleaner faced a client who kept “complimenting” her and asking personal questions about her relationship status. The cleaner excused herself to get supplies from another room, activated the SOS Alert, and was able to leave when the office called with a “schedule change.”

Scenario 2: The Unexpected Visitor

Setup: During the cleaning, someone unexpected arrives claiming to be “the homeowner’s friend” or “just stopping by.”

Practice:

• Role-play maintaining a professional distance (at least 6 feet)
• Practice politely explaining: “I’m sorry, we have a policy that only authorized individuals can be present during cleanings. Let me contact my office to verify.”
• Practice moving to a different area of the home while activating the SOS Alert
• When the office calls, practice the conversation: “I understand. Yes, I’ll pack up right away.”

An example of what this could look like: A cleaning team member was alone in a home when an unexpected man arrived claiming to be “checking on the house for the owner.” The cleaner moved to another room, activated the SOS Alert, and when the office called, she was able to say, “Yes, I understand. I’ll leave right away for that urgent appointment,” while the stranger could hear.

Scenario 3: The Challenging Exit

Setup: Practice what to do when you need to leave but feel uncomfortable or unsafe doing so.

Practice:

• Role-play gathering essential belongings efficiently (leave cleaning supplies if necessary)
• Practice phrases like: “My office needs me at another location immediately. I’ll need to reschedule the remainder of this cleaning.”
• Practice walking confidently to your vehicle with phone in hand
• Have the office stay on the line until the cleaner is safely in their vehicle

An example of what this could look like: A cleaner felt increasingly uncomfortable with a client who kept finding reasons to enter the rooms she was cleaning. After activating the SOS Alert, she practiced saying, “I just received an urgent call from my office. I need to leave immediately for an emergency. Someone will contact you to reschedule.” She left the remaining supplies and walked directly to her car while on the phone with the office.

The more your team practices these scenarios, the more naturally they’ll respond in real situations. During practice, remind your team that their safety is always the priority. It’s better to appear slightly unprofessional in the moment than to remain in an unsafe situation.

Scripts You Can Use With Your Cleaning Team

A great way to prepare is to have ready-to-use scripts that give clear signals when something is up. Here are examples of how these conversations might flow:

When Responding to an SOS Alert:

Manager: “Hi Amy, we need to make an immediate schedule change and pull you from your current job. Is that going to work for you?”

Cleaner (if unsafe to speak freely): “Oh, I see. Yes, that’s fine. When do you need me to leave?”

Manager: “Now. Please stay on the phone, grab your supplies, and leave.”

When the Cleaner Can Speak Freely:

Cleaner: “Actually, I’m having an issue here. The client’s brother showed up unexpectedly and is making comments that make me uncomfortable.”

Manager: “I understand. Stay in a common area of the home. I’ll call the client right away and ask him to leave. Or, you can walk out right now if you need to. You do not need to complete this job if you’re uncomfortable.”

When Contacting the Client:

Manager: “Hello Ms. Johnson, this is Alex from [Your Company]. We’re just checking in because we’re having trouble reaching our cleaner at your location. We wanted to make sure everything is going okay with today’s service.”

This approach keeps things professional while you gather information.

Making Cleaning Business Safety Part of Your Company Culture

Cleaner safety isn’t a one-time conversation that happens at orientation — it needs to be reinforced regularly and communicated to clients to become part of your company culture.

Consider creating a printed safety sheet that cleaners can keep in their caddies that covers cleaner safety tips like:

Stay alert to surroundings: No wearing both earbuds while cleaning or walking to/from vehicles

Lock yourself in: When possible, lock doors while cleaning to prevent unexpected visitors  

Never answer the door: Unless specifically informed about scheduled visitors

Trust your instincts: If something feels off, it probably is

Make it clear to your team that they will never face negative consequences for prioritizing their safety, even if it means leaving a job unfinished.

More Cleaning Business Safety Measures to Consider

The SOS Alert works best as part of a comprehensive safety approach. Consider implementing these additional practices:

Check-In/Check-Out System

Have cleaners message when arriving at and leaving each location. Set up alerts if a cleaner doesn’t check out within the expected timeframe.

Client Documentation

Take Stephanie’s advice and document who is typically present during cleanings. Any deviation should be noted and potentially reported to the office.

Regular Safety Discussions

Make safety a regular topic in team meetings. Share anonymized stories about situations that arose and how they were handled. This keeps safety top-of-mind and helps cleaners learn from each other’s experiences.

Head here for more cleaner safety tips every owner needs to implement in their cleaning business. 

Ready to Implement the SOS Alert in ZenMaid?

If you’re already a ZenMaid customer, getting started is easy:

1. Update your ZenMaid mobile app
2. Set up Alert notifications for your office
3. Create your response protocol
4. Train your team

Not a ZenMaid customer yet? Today’s a great day to start your free trial and give your team this extra layer of protection.

⚠️ Important note: This feature is not designed to replace a phone call to 911. It is silent support for cleaners to notify you and/or your manager while on the job. Please ensure your entire team understands how to use this feature appropriately.

We’re Here to Help

Have questions about implementing the SOS Alert in your business? Our support team is ready to assist at support@zenmaid.com.

The cleaning industry has needed this solution for far too long. I’m proud that ZenMaid can offer this feature to every one of our customers at no additional cost, because your team’s safety isn’t optional — it’s essential.

What safety measures have you implemented in your cleaning business? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below or in our ZenMaid Facebook community.

Stay safe out there!

QUICK TIP FROM THE AUTHOR

Simplify and enjoy your scheduling with a scheduling software made for maid services

• Have a beautiful calendar that's full but never stressful.
• Make your cleaners happy and provide all the information they need at their fingertips.
• Convert more website visitors into leads and get new cleanings in your inbox with high-converting booking forms.
• Become part of a community of 8000+ cheering maid service owners just like you.

Start your FREE ZenMaid trial today and discover the freedom and clarity that ZenMaid can bring to your maid service! Start your FREE trial today