Line up written proposals row by row so that you can see what each one covers, what it leaves out and which answers are still missing, without ranking providers or comparing totals that cover different work.
How to use this sheet
- Print the table or copy it onto paper. Use one column per proposal and write the business name and date at the top of each column.
- Fill in each row from the written proposal first. Add spoken answers separately and mark them as spoken.
- For work steps and add-ons, write included, extra, excluded or not stated, then add the detail given. For the other rows, copy the relevant name, unit, product information or written terms.
- If an answer is missing, write 'not stated' and copy the question to the last row. A gap means a question to ask. It does not show poor work.
- Compare totals only when the rows above them describe the same work. If they differ, ask for the proposals to be revised to a common scope first.
- Keep the completed table together with each proposal and any care instructions you hold for the carpet or furniture.
Blank comparison table
Copy one column per proposal. The rows are suggested purchasing fields, not legal requirements and not an industry standard.
On a small screen, scroll the table horizontally. Use the PDF for handwritten notes.
| What to compare | Proposal A | Proposal B | Proposal C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business name, date, and whether the answers were written or spoken | ____ | ____ | ____ |
| Textile(s) and how each was identified (carpet, rug, upholstery; label or document seen, or unknown) | ____ | ____ | ____ |
| Items listed (rooms, stairs and landings, rugs, each furniture piece) | ____ | ____ | ____ |
| Units and measurements (unit used; carpeted area or room size; space under furniture counted or not) | ____ | ____ | ____ |
| Included work (each step named; which furniture is moved and by whom) | ____ | ____ | ____ |
| Exclusions (items, areas or steps stated as not covered) | ____ | ____ | ____ |
| Add-ons and extras (what each is; included or optional; whether your approval is asked before it is done) | ____ | ____ | ____ |
| Method proposed for each area, and the reason given for that textile | ____ | ____ | ____ |
| Product information (product names; label and safety information shown; whether the textile maker permits it; whether any products would be combined) | ____ | ____ | ____ |
| Existing marks or problems recorded before work, and what happens if an area does not respond | ____ | ____ | ____ |
| Drying and return-to-use (conditions, access, aftercare, and whether these are written down) | ____ | ____ | ____ |
| Written terms (offer conditions, any guarantee or warranty wording, how accidental damage is reported) | ____ | ____ | ____ |
| Total as written, only if the rows above match across proposals | ____ | ____ | ____ |
| Questions still open (what you will ask, of whom, and the date you asked) | ____ | ____ | ____ |
Worked example (hypothetical, no prices)
The households, proposals and statements below are invented to show how to read the table. They are not real quotes and do not rank any method or business. Suppose a household asks two businesses about a living-room carpet, a staircase and one upholstered armchair. The chair has a readable care label. Nobody can find the carpet maker's name.
On a small screen, scroll the table horizontally. Use the PDF for handwritten notes.
| Row | Proposal A (hypothetical) | Proposal B (hypothetical) | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Items | Living room, staircase and armchair listed on separate lines | One combined line described as 'whole job' | Ask B to itemise before comparing anything else |
| Units | Carpeted area given, with the unit named | Says 'large room'; no unit or area | Ask B for the area, the unit, and whether it is carpeted area or room size |
| Textile identified | Asks to see the chair's label; notes the carpet is unidentified and says how that affects the work | Says its standard method is used on all carpets | Ask B how the carpet will be identified and which maker instructions it checked |
| Product information | Label supplied for the one product named | 'Standard solution'; no label offered | Product name and label still open for B. Textile-maker permission still open for both |
| Existing problems | Marks listed by location; states it will call before trying anything further | Not mentioned | Ask B what happens if a mark does not respond |
| Drying and return-to-use | Written instructions provided | Described by phone only | Record B's answer as spoken and ask for it in writing |
| Total | Stated for the listed scope | Not yet stated | Not comparable until B's scope matches A's |
Keep reviews and certification claims in their own place
Do not put review impressions into the table. A review describes someone else's job, so it does not show how a proposed method suits your textile. If a business mentions a certification, ask which program it comes from and what it covers (a product, equipment or the business), then check that claim with the program named. See reading cleaner reviews and testimonials for more on what reviews can and cannot tell you.
A set of rows with more answers filled in means more information is on paper. It is not evidence that one business will clean better. For help itemising rooms, stairs, rugs and furniture before you ask for proposals, see comparing cleaning quotes and package scopes.
Product rows
Cleaning and disinfecting are different operations. Ask which one a proposed product is for. Choose a product suitable for the actual surface and follow its label, and do not mix cleaning products or chemicals. Following a product's label does not replace the textile maker's own instructions. Ask separately whether the carpet or furniture maker permits the product, and write down both answers.
Questions about using this sheet
Can I compare the totals if the proposals cover different work?
Not as a like-for-like price comparison. First check whether the proposals cover the same items, units, steps and add-ons. If they differ, ask for a common scope or record the differences before comparing the totals.
A business has not answered some rows. What should I write?
Write 'not stated' in the cell and move the item to the open-questions row. Ask for the answer in writing and keep the reply with the proposal. A blank is an open item and does not show poor work. The table is a reading aid and does not rank anyone.
Sources and scope
The fields are suggested purchasing questions, not legal requirements or an industry standard.
This worksheet gives no prices, offers, certifications or benchmarks and does not rate or recommend any business.
The worked example is hypothetical and does not show how any method performs.
The CDC reference is US public-health guidance and does not approve any product for any textile.
This is a personal paper worksheet. It collects no data, takes no bookings and does not provide cleaning, inspection or advice on health.