Most of us are way too busy for a springtime scrub-fest. The solution: Hire someone to help.

To find out which service to call, the Good Housekeeping Research Institute evaluated the three largest nationwide maid services -- Merry Maids, Molly Maid and The Maids.

		Wendy Wahman / P-I

Nine volunteers (three each in three parts of the country) each hired one of the services for a one-time cleaning, without mentioning Good Housekeeping's involvement.

For all services, a "one-time cleaning" covered the entire house and included a variety of jobs: vacuuming; dusting; scrubbing sinks, floors, countertops and range hoods; and other basics. Major tasks such as washing windows and walls weren't on the lineup.

Based on panelists' responses and follow-up interviews, the Institute calculated an average score for each service. Each service had pros and cons. Here are the results:

The winner

Merry Maids (average cost: $212 for a one-time cleaning of a typical home with kids and/or pets)

Pros: Merry Maids won by a narrow margin. The cleaning team conducted a free home visit for two testers to estimate time and cost; the other services gave an estimate or hourly rate via the telephone. Merry Maids finished within the expected time frame, and the workers were professional and prompt.

Cons: The cleaning products emitted a particularly strong smell. In one test, the Merry Maids team neglected to dust picture frames and knickknacks.

Best value

Molly Maid (average cost: $193)

Pros: The company charged less than its competitors, and its staff got more done than the others' staffs did in the same amount of time -- 32 out of the 45 tasks listed as possibilities on the questionnaire.

Cons: Making an appointment was difficult. No tester was able to set up a date on her first phone call. Molly Maid scored lowest for cleaning bare floors.

Best at bathrooms

The Maids (average full-house cost: $371)

Pros: If scummy tub tiles are your biggest concern, check out The Maids. This company also cleaned kitchen tables and chairs and dusted furniture better than its competitors.

Cons: One team arrived 40 minutes late and took 45 minutes longer than they'd estimated (when the volunteer complained, she was issued a $15 refund). That same group entered the panelist's home without knocking.

Get best results

Good Housekeeping offers these tips when hiring a cleaning service:

Ask the company for references before you make an appointment.

Make any special cleaning requests upfront, so workers will be prepared.

Monitor the cleaners to make sure their progress is on track.

Contacts

Merry Maids -- merrymaids.com; 800-798-8000

Molly Maid -- mollymaid.com; 800-665-5962

The Maids -- maids.com; 877-244-5771