Today I am taking a look at number 5 on the list of "13 Things Your Housecleaner Won't Tell You". As stated in my previous articles, this list was put together by Readers Digest & Good Morning America. For those of you who have not seen the link to the article, well here it is!
http://gma.yahoo.com/13-things-housecleaner-wont-tell-022929190--abc-news.html
Number 5 on the list is; Even though I smile and act interested, don't use me as your therapist, gossip buddy or friend. Frankly, most of us have a lot less than you, and we can't fathom why you're complaining. Plus, you slow me down.
I'm going to start by saying, whoever said this is probably not in business anymore. House cleaning is a customer service business and the customer and their needs are at the forefront of your success. I understand we are house cleaners not therapist. However, when you enter someones home and you build a relationship with them, if they are comfortable, then they will share certain things about their lives with you. I don't understand why them speaking to you about their lives would be an issue.
I also do not understand this idea that most of us have a lot less then you do, and we can't fathrom why you are complaining. How much someone has or makes is not a guideline for how much or little stress someone has in their life. While having money or material items can enhance ones life, it certainly does not remove them from day to day stress or family issues or health concerns/problems.
Taking a few minutes when you arrive at a clients home to ask them how things were with their last cleaning and to speak to them as a human being goes a long way towards building a relationship. Lets face it, this business is 100% about relationships and if you don't want to spend time building them, then this industry is not for you. I'm not saying you need a new friend every time you have a client, but taking a few minutes makes the difference.
This idea that if someone speaks to you, they are slowing you down is also silly. If you are so focused that you can't spend 5-10 minutes upon arriving with the client, then that is just wrong. Also if you are rushing to get done, then it probably speaks to the level of service you are providing.
I think the Total Cleaning Plus vision explains exactly how we feel on this issue. Our vision clearly states; We strive to build life long relationships with our clients resulting in a better quality of life. That means spending time talking and getting to know our clients and not just treating them as client number 125. They are human beings and deserve to be treated as such.
Check back soon to look at number 6 on the list of "13 Things Your Housecleaner Won't Tell You". Number 6 is; Want to save money on high-priced maid services? Instead of booking a regular appointment, ask to be on our on-call list to fill last-minute slots at a discount. Or see if you can be a "training home" for new cleaners.
If you have any cleaning related questions, blog ideas or anything else you'd like to ask us, just click below.
Photo Credit: Flickr Joseph Robertson
Over my last 3 blogs, I have gone over numbers 1-3 on the list of "13 Things Your Housecleaner Won't Tell You". This list was put together by Readers Digest & Good Morning America. Today I am going to take a look at number 4 which is, many cleaning companies do not run any sort of background check or even check references. I answered an ad, I was on time and presentable, and I was willing to take the job. That is all most companies care about. If you have not seen a link to the article, here it is;
http://gma.yahoo.com/13-things-housecleaner-wont-tell-022929190--abc-news.html
This particular statement while alarming, is true! I don't think most house cleaning companies who have employees working for them are doing background screens. I am certain the reason most companies do not do background screens is due to the amount of turnover the job has and also the cost associated with doing them. The good news for companies, is there are affordable options out there for background screens. By doing a background screen prior to hiring someone you can save yourself a whole lot of potential problems before you even get going.
As far as checking references goes, this is a whole different story. While I think every attempt should be made to check an employee's job history, this is becoming an extremely difficult task. I know when I am doing reference checks I usually will only find someone in an HR department who will verify dates of employment. I think people are afraid to be sued over a bad reference, so they don't give them. This is to bad because if another employer can help save me from hiring a bad employee, then that is extremely helpful.
The last piece about hiring someone just becuase they were on time and presentable depends on the company you are dealing with. At Total Cleaning Plus for example, being on time and presentable is only the beginning. We have a long list of questions we ask during our interviews to gauge the level of comfort that we will have during a working relationship. We also ask questions that are going to show us how comfortable our client base will be working with potential employees. If the answers given are not what we are looking for, then it is a no go for us. We take hiring very serious.
The key is to make sure that you are doing your due diligence when hiring. Don't just assume someone is good if they show up on time eager to work. It is important to find out about their past jobs, what they liked and didn't like. Just by asking a few simple questions, you can quickly determine if someone is going to be able to handle this job. It is not an easy job for sure, but hiring the right people is one of if not the biggest keys to success in the cleaning industry. So take it serious and take your time. Your company is only as good as the people on the front lines!
Please check back soon when I will go over number 5 on the list. Number 5 is; Even though I smile and act interested, don't use me as your therapist, gossip buddy or friend. Frankly, most of us have a lot less than you, and we can't fathom why you're complaining. Plus, you slow me down.
Also if you have any questions for Total Cleaning Plus, just ask by clicking below.
This article takes us to number three on the list of "13 Things Your Housecleaner Won't Tell You". This list was put together by Readers Digest and Good Morning America and you can find the link here.
http://gma.yahoo.com/13-things-housecleaner-wont-tell-022929190--abc-news.html
Number three on that list is, after I leave, check the base of the toilet and the top of the fridge. If they're clean, you know I'm thorough.
I could not agree with that statement more! I think the sign of a quality cleaning company clearly lies in the attention to detail. When a client is hiring a house cleaning service to do the job, they are most often hiring them to pay attention to detail. They are not hiring them to do a surface cleaning or just the "main traffic areas". They want to know the things they don't have time to do will be done. Things like special attention to corners and edges or dusting.
I actually believe there are a few other places that someone should check when determining the quality of a cleaner. Not only should someone check the top of the fridge, but they should be checking the vent that is on the bottom of the fridge too. The cleaning that should be being done in a clients home is from the top to the bottom. Not from the top to sort of the middle and sometimes to the bottom.
Another thing to check are ceiling fans. If you are working with a good company, they should be dusting those celling fans atleast once per month. This time of year ceiling fans are collecting a lot of dust. They are collecting dust because they are not being used. It is not pleasant to turn it on for the first time after a long winter of no dusting and have all the dust falling all over your house. Also breathing in all that dust can't be good for you.
There are many other places I could share with you to check, but the simple fact of the matter is if you are working with a good company, there should be few areas you need to worry about. Don't mistake this for, you should expect perfection, because you shouldn't. However you should come home to a house that is clean and where you can tell, there has been special attention paid to the details.
Lookout for my next article which will cover number four on the list. Number four is many cleaning companies do not run any sort of background check or even check references. I answered an ad, I was on time and presentable, and I was willing to take the job. That is all most companies care about.
If you have any cleaning related questions or blog suggestions, please fee free to ask them by clicking below!
Photo Credit: Flickr Hub
According to Readers Digest and Good Morning America, there are 13 Things Your Housecleaner Won't Tell You. For those of you who missed the video and article, here is the link.
http://gma.yahoo.com/13-things-housecleaner-wont-tell-022929190--abc-news.html
In this blog I am focusing on number two on that list. Number two on the list is,
I wish you wouldn't insist on bleach and other harsh cleaners. For almost every situation, there's an eco-friendly option that's just as effective.
This particular topic is certainly a hot topic in the house cleaning industry. I will say that it is very rare that our clients are suggesting harsh chemicals for us to get the job done. For the most part, our clients are trusting the products we use and basing the effectiveness of the products on the end result.
If the client is suggesting products for us to use most often it is due to a chemical sensitivity (which is completely understandable) or simply they have a "special" product for a "special" surface they have in their home. Maybe they have a certain type of wood floor cleaner that they'd prefer us to use or something special to clean the granite counter tops. When we have a special request for a product we make sure to do research to make sure it is safe for both the surface it is to be used on, as well as safe for our employees to be using.
There are certainly products that we have replaced over the years due to the harshness of the chemicals in these products. There are times where heavier duty products need to be used. If this is the case, we make sure to educate both the home owner and our employee on the steps they should take when being used.
When it comes to products, the key is to finding the right combination between having enough "chemical" to get the job done while also keeping health and safety in mind. The best way to do this is through research and continued education. I think as a company it is important to deliver on what the client is looking for, while also not being afraid to educate your clients. As the cleaning industry and all of its products evolve, just make sure you stay ahead of the curve and research, research, research!
Please check back soon to see my next article. I will be covering Number 3 on the list of "13 Things Your Housecleaner Won't Tell You". Number 3 is,
After I leave, check the base of the toilet and the top of the fridge. If they're clean, you know I'm thorough.
If you have any cleaning questions or would like to suggest a blog idea for me, please click below.
Photo Credit: flickr nimbu
Last week I shared a link to a segment that was being done with Readers Digest and Good Morning America. The segment was called "13 Things Your Housecleaner Won't Tell You". I decided I would share the link and then post my comments about each one of those 13 things. For those of you who didn't see the link, here it is.
http://gma.yahoo.com/13-things-housecleaner-wont-tell-022929190--abc-news.html
According to the article, the number one thing housecleaners won't tell you is, my best clients are people who work for their money, like teachers, bartenders and cops. Rich people think they're doing you a favor by allowing you to scrub their toilets. Working people understand you are doing them a service by making their lives easier.
I find this statement to be absolutley insulting. I don't think there is an exact type of client that is a "best" client. I think there are many different types of clients and each has their own very specific need. Just because someone does not work for their money, does not mean they do not appreciate the value that our service is adding to their life. Forgive me for saying, but to me it is close minded to think that someones career choice or economic status make them more or less appreciative.
Whether or not someone is appreciative has to do with the level of service you are providing. Simply put, are you giving the client what they expect. In the 15 years we've been in business I can't recall a house cleaning client that has not been appreciative when we deliver on our promise.
I can't believe someone in our industry actually made a statement like this. First of all it is down right rude and second if you have this view based on your clients, then a service business is not for you. Yes there can be difficult clients, but to use these types of factors as a guideline for who is a "best" client is just plain silly. It's possible if you have a "best" type of client guideline, then maybe what you are delivering is the problem. Take a look at providing a great quality service and then tell me people are not appreciative.
Please check back tomorrow when I go over number two on the list which is; I wish you wouldn't insist on bleach and other harsh cleaners. For almost every situation, there's an eco-friendly option that's just as effective.
In the meantime if you have any other cleaning related questions, please feel free to contact us.
I was reading through one of my industry forums this morning on Linkedin and I came across a piece that Good Morning America and Readers Digest are doing together. The Title is 13 Things Your House Cleaner Won't Tell You. After watching both the videos and reading the printed text I decided this was a great opportunity to share this information with prospective clients.
I will say that I absolutely do not agree with some of what is being said here within the articles and video. I first want to provide the link to the text and video for everyone to see. I will then follow up over the next several days and post my thoughts on each of the 13 things. I think some of the information is perfectly stated while other information given in the article is not true and will really depend upon each individual cleaning company, maid service or individual.
So here is the link:
http://gma.yahoo.com/13-things-housecleaner-wont-tell-022929190--abc-news.html
I would love to get feedback on this piece! Please feel free to provide feedback below this article, on our facebook page www.facebook.com/totalcleaningplus or by clicking the link below.
After getting some feedback on facebook, I decided that I would write my next few blog's on the house cleaning task that most of us despise. While I'm sure cleaning any room in your house is not fun, the bathroom is the least favorite of them all.
I thought instead of just giving you a routine to use what I would do is go over the specifics of the room and offer tips, tricks and products that you can use to attack each of the tasks. Once you know the products to use for each task and a few helpful tricks of the trade, you'll be all set for the routine which well save you even more time.
For today's blog I thought I'd start with the bathtub and or shower. I think it is very important to note that keeping a clean bathtub/shower has as much to do with the right products as it does being consistent in cleaning your bathtub/shower at least once a week. From time to time I'm sure a week will go by where you just don't have enough time, but never let the bathroom cleaning go more then a few weeks. If you do, all your doing is making your job that much more difficult. More then a week or two of soap scum build up is not going to be fun.
So here are the products you'll need to help make sure your shower/bathtub is cleaned well.
- Scrubbing Bubbles
- Shower Brush
- Magic Eraser
- A Rinse Cup
- Cleaning Towel
The First thing you want to do is determine if your bathtub/shower is really hairy. If it is, DO NOT START THE WET CLEANING! You can vacuum out the bathtub/shower first in order to remove the hair. Trust me once you get hair wet, it is extreemly difficult to get rid of. Every time you think you've found the last piece of hair a new one will show up. You'll find yourself so frustrated at this point, you might even walk way all together.
Once you have the hair situation all figured out, then you want to spray the tub with Scrubbing Bubbles. We use Scrubbing Bubbles,becauseit is the right combination of not to harsh on the nose as well as being strong enough to handle the soap scum and other things that can be found in bathtubs/showers. Depending on how often you clean the tub, will really dictate how much product your going to need. After you have finished spraying the walls, fixtures, shower doors, door tracks and the base of the tub, you'll need your shower brush.
Once you have your shower brush you'll want to use it in a circular motion covering all of the areas that you sprayed with Scrubbing Bubbles. These brushes are soft bristle brushes and can be used on virtually any shower or tub surface, but please check with the installer of your shower to make sure. I will say we have never in our 15 years in business run into a shower that has been scratched with one of the shower brushes.
Once you scrub all the surfaces and fixtures, you'll want to make sure to use your rinse cup and rinse the shower with warm water. Once all done with rinsing you want to dry all of your fixtures to apply a nice shine to them. There really is no reason to dry the entire shower, because it will air dry on its own.
If you have let your bathtub/shower go for a while, then you may need to bring in some additional products or equipment that will help. Here are a few other things you may want to use and how to use them.
A razor blade: This can be used when you have seriously neglected the bathtub/shower and you have a large amount of build up on the bathtub/shower walls. You will want to make sure the surface is always extremely wet and that you never use to harsh an angle with your razor or for sure you will scratch it. If you are not comfortable using a razor blade, then try some of the other ideas.
Magic Eraser: We have found that the Magic Eraser is a great product for getting soap scum out of bathtubs/showers. Simply wet the Magic Eraser (the generic brands work good also) add a little elbow grease, scrub the surface and then rinse. Once that is done, you should find that most inf not all of your soap scum is gone.
Glass Shower Doors: Glass shower doors can be a real pain to get clean from time to time. You can use the methods above to get them clean and then the key is to make sure to rinse with cold water. There is no need to dry them with a towel. They should dry streak and water spot free.
If you have any tough to get stains or cleaning related questions, click below to get them answered right away!
Photo Credit: Cindy Andrie
If you've ever looked inside your toilet bowl, then you know that from time to time there is a mysterious black ring that appears. No matter what product you use, most of them will leave you staring into the black hole! Fortunate for you, there is a way to remove this black hole and give you that nice sparkling toilet you want.
The black ring that is left for you to conquer during your house cleaning is a caused by calcium, lime or excessive iron deposits. The magic house cleaning tool that you should use to remove this ring is called a pumice stone.
The pumice stone can be purchased online, at a pool supply store, drugstore, hardware store or even a supermarket. The nice thing about the pumice stone is they can usually be purchased for just a few dollars. While at the store you'll probably want to purchase a pair of good rubber gloves. This is one job where your hands will be in the bowl and if the stain is deep enough, you'll even have your hands in the water.
After putting on your rubber gloves, you'll want to wet your pumice stone. You want to remember to keep the pumice stone wet for the entire time you are using it to remove the stain.
Next you'll want to flush the toilet and start scrubbing where you see the black ring. You may need to flush the toilet a few times while cleaning so you can see the entire stain. Be aware that once you start to use the wet pumice stone on the toilet it will make a terrible scratching sound. It will remind you of the hated nails on a chalkboard. The good news is, it is not scratching the toilet as long as you have the pumice stone wet.
Once you have removed the stain, you may have leftover particles from the pumice stone. Just use a piece of toilet paper to remove any particles left behind & flush the toilet paper away. Say goodbye to the mysterious black hole and hello the the shiny white toilet!
Do you have a stubborn stain you can't get rid of or even a cleaning task that you don't have an answer to? Don't wait another second! All you have to do is click below and we'll provide an answer right away!
The question of how much does house cleaning cost, seems to be a pretty simple one. However, there are many factors that go into how a price is determined. There are also different ways companies go about completing the actual estimate to determine a house cleaning price.
So what are the major factors that go into determining a price. They are as follows:
- How big is the home
- How many people live there
- How often will the house be cleaned
- Are there any pets or children
- How much "stuff" is there to work around
Those are the major factors that help determine a proper price. There are however, a few different ways a company or individual goes about actually completing the estimate.
One of the ways it is done, is over the phone based on square footage. This to me is not the best way complete an estimate because it is for the most part based on guess work. The company figures out the square footage of the home and bases its price on how many square feet an "average" cleaning person can clean per hour. Then they take their per hour price and multiply it by the time it should take. The problem is, it doesn't allow someone to see the makeup of the home. What surfaces are in the home, what sort of items need to be worked around or require special attention? Not being able to see the actual scope of work, can lead to your estimate actually being much higher then what it should be. That is simply because companies who do not see the scope of work, have to naturally increase the price so that they don't get burned.
That is why the second way of completing estimates seems to make the most sense to me. The second way estimates are given is by a company actually coming out to do an in home estimate. With most companies it is free, but always double check before having someone come out. The in home estimate allows the potential customer to see who they might be working with. If you don't get a good feel about the person doing the estimate, then the chances you will have a good working relationship seem to diminish. It also allows the cleaning company an opportunity to see surfaces, and potential issues or concerns prior to even getting started. When a company does an in home estimate, there should be no questions or worries that the price will need to be adjusted. Other then yearly price increases, the price should be the price. The company has seen the home, spoken to you directly about your wants and needs and also gone over with you the information that is specific to their company. This truly leaves out the gray areas and it makes the relationship black and white.
So you can see there are a few different ways that estimates are done and that there are a few major factors that go into determining a price. The big question left to answer is, how much does it cost and can you afford it? Suprisingly most people feel as if having a house cleaner is something that is a luxury. However, house cleaning for the most part can be extreemly cost effective. I certainly suggest getting 2-3 estimates to see the differences in price. Make sure you are also getting a complete understanding in what is included in the price. These things can vary from company to company and from company to private individual. Working with a company who can custom tailor a program to meet your needs, wants and budget is the way to go. Do your research and most importantly enjoy getting your weekends back!
If you liked this article and want to find out more information about how to choose the best house cleaner for you:
What type of relationship do you want to have with your house cleaner? On the surface that seems to be a simple question to answer. You want a relationship that is built on honesty, trust and integrity. However, the relationship you have with your house cleaner is actually much more complex then that.
Why would someone want to hire a private individual? Two of the big reasons are price and control. Clearly with a private individual someone can save a great deal of money vs. working with a house cleaning company. They are not paying payroll taxes, generally don't carry the needed insurance and bonds and are only making money for themselves. It becomes much easier to charge less per hour for all of the reasons just listed.
As far as control, there is an idea that you can get more from a private individual then you can from a house cleaning company. Is this true? In most cases house cleaning companies offer customizable cleanings tailored to each individual clients needs. There are certain things due to insurance restrictions that an individual might be able to do that a cleaning company can't, but overall, what the client is looking for can be done by both an individual and a house cleaning company.
So other then the flaws we've looked at previously (lack of insurance, lack of bond, needing to pay the IRS taxes for hiring a household employee) what are the problems with a potential relationship with a private individual?
One of the things that might seem strange is the relationship you build with the private individual might actually be closer to a friendship then a business relationship. I'm sure someone reading this is saying, how is that a problem? No matter how much you try, when you have a relationship with someone, not everything can or will go well all the time. There is bound to be bumps in the road. What happens when something is broken, damaged or the cleaning is not done well? How do you approach your private individual who you are so close with, you now feel like they are your friend? It is really hard to criticize someone, because you end up feeling bad or don't want to hurt their feelings. So what do you do? You actually say nothing, let the sub par cleaning continue and then are paying for something and not getting what you are paying for. All because it is hard to approach this person, because you won't want to hurt their feelings.
How does this relationship differ with a cleaning company? It is important for potential clients to build a high level of comfort with both the employee doing the cleaning, but also the company they work with. You can actually build a similar type of "friendship" that you have with a private individual with the employee of the cleaning company, but you have the backing of the company which provides additional safety, security, knowledge and support. You don't actually have to go to the employee themselves you can go to a company that can make sure you are receiving what your paying for.
In the case of a bad cleaning, you make a call to the office, let them know the cleaning is not being done well enough. If you are working with a good company, they come out, supervise the cleaning and fix the problems. You get what you're paying for and still maintain the relationship with the person cleaning hour house. You don't have to feel bad about calling the office. It is no longer and issue of you vs the cleaner, it is as simple as the cleaner not meeting company standards.
Another area that people overlook in this situation is in most cases, clients having their homes cleaned are put into a set schedule and really look forward to the day they are going to have their home cleaned. What happens if your private individual gets sick, has a long term medical emergency, decides cleaning is not for him/her or just doesn't feel like going to work? While house cleaning companies have employees who have those same sort of life issues, they have additional employees available to fill in and make sure your house cleaning does not have to be pushed off. Invariably these types of situations happen when you are having that all important dinner party and you need someone most.
These are just a few of the many potential pitfalls that can come into play when working with a private individual vs. a house cleaning company. If you found these articles helpful and are looking for more just like them, please visit our website at www.totalcleaningplus.com.
Photo Credit: Flickr: Aidan Jones