Ask a House Cleaner

What is an Airbnb superhost? And if I'm doing Airbnb cleaning or VRBO, STR (short-term rentals) what do I need to do to meet Airbnb cleaning expectations? Once we learn "what is an Airbnb superhost?" we can learn how to provide hospitality to Airbnb guests and hosts. Angela Brown says "What is an Airbnb superhost?" It's a house cleaning FAQ as caretakers and partners accept jobs for booking and sh...

What do you do when customers try to get a free cleaning? I'm trying to grow my cleaning company, and I get complaints - and I have a satisfaction guarantee. I can't tell if this is a scam - clients try to get a free cleaning or if it's legitimate. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says some customers try to get a free cleaning and its theft of services. How you market your cleaning business w...

Should you join associations to market your cleaning business? Networking to build industry partners is one reason to join associations like BNI or The Chamber of Commerce. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says join associations to find clients as well. There are lots of VRBO, STR (short-term rental) and Airbnb hosts who need turnover service. Many of them are members of community groups. Tod...

"The best advice I ever got I used for my cleaning business. The counsel was accidental and the wisdom rare. The best advice I ever got came from a new car salesman whose questions got me thinking about my options and choices." Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru shares a story about the best advice for buying a car, became a question she uses daily. "I'll always have my gut instinct, but if I'm...

What are the best spray bottles for your cleaning solutions? As a house cleaner or maid, the best spray bottles are the ones that have a colored spray bottle trigger for speed cleaning. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says the best spray bottles to use are the 'any angle' spray bottle. They allow you to spray on flat surfaces like floors or down near baseboards without standing the spray bot...

How to list your business on HouseCleaning360.com so you can get more leads. The chance to list your business on HouseCleaning360.com is free. There are also paid listings that have advertising and SEO attached. But if you're a home service provider, it's wise to list your business on HouseCleaning360.com. We're talking house cleaners, landscapers, carpet cleaners and window washers. HC360 is for...

Should employees know what you charge house cleaning clients? It's a house cleaning FAQ that all cleaning employees have. Should employees know how you get paid, and the cost to run a cleaning business? And should employees know how the company makes money? Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says communication with your cleaning techs is key. You want to market your cleaning business and they a...

KEYWORDS FOR THIS EPISODE: Set Your Rates for Hoarding Cleanup How to set your rates for hoarding cleanup, house cleaners wonder. Do you have a cleaning business that caters to hoarders or families with obsessive-compulsive freeitis?  If you set your rates for hoarding cleanup right, you can help any family throw away, donate and organize used, aged, free and old stuff.  Angela Brown gives tips to...

What is the difference between a maintenance clean vs. a turnover clean? We are talking routine cleaning for single-family homes vs. an Airbnb or VRBO, short-term rentals flip. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says "A maintenance clean vs. a turnover clean is as different as monochrome is to vibrant color." Short stay and Airbnb expectations for cleanliness call for a full-time caretaker with...

Mouse infestation is a nightmare for any home, Airbnb, VRBO or short-term rental. A mouse infestation starts with a hungry mouse looking for food and ends with a pack of mice living in your house. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says you can curb a mouse infestation with hardware cloth. You can use mouse traps, airtight food containers, and rodent repellent sound devices. Prevention is the b...

Your customer insists you use their cleaning supplies. They could be discount cleaning supplies or organic cleaning supplies. Or they could be from an MLM (Multi-level marketing) company. What do you do when your customer insists? Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says when a customer insists you use their cleaning supplies, ask why. All cleaning supplies don't work as advertised. You have you...

"Wet cloths and sponges. What are you supposed to do with wet cloths and sponges in 100-degree heat in your car while you're cleaning the next client's house? Can the rags catch fire? What are the best practices and proper handling techniques for wet cloths and sponges?" Angela Brown gives cleaning advice for storage of cleaning supplies in your hot car. Today's Ask a House Cleaner sponsors are Sa...

"We may have to fire an employee. But how to know when to fire an employee is the question. She's great at cleaning but she's hijacking the company with her antics." Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says before you terminate or fire an employee stop. A fired, axed, canned maid is of no use to you or anybody else. Communication is the key to firing before giving a pink slip. Today's Ask a Hous...

Industrial cleaning supplies. Should a solo house cleaner just starting out worry about industrial cleaning supplies and buying in bulk? Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru recommends the Professional House Cleaners Facebook group. Industrial cleaning supplies are different around the world. While sponges and equipment are available to everyone, chemicals are not shipped to all areas. You can al...

How to track your business expenses for your cleaning company. It's all about simple tips that organize your stack of bills. If you do your own bookkeeping or payroll you need to know how to track your business expenses. Angela Brown shares ideas on how to track your business expenses with a banker's box. She uses Quicken and Turbo tax to automate the receipts, reimbursements, bills, and PayPal pa...

"The house cleaner has no class!" Don't ever tell Angela Brown a house cleaner has no class. This sent her on a rant about entitled, mean, stuck up, snarky, bratty house cleaners. If a house cleaner has no class "fire them on the spot."  "The house cleaner has no class!" Don't ever tell Angela Brown a house cleaner has no class. This sent her on a rant about entitled, mean, stuck up, snarky, bratt...

This is how hoarding and clutter habits start. "But it's Free" are words that trigger compulsive behavior and a disease we call Freeitis. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says the words "but it's free" should make you pause and think "junk." Free stuff can lead to a messy house, weird habits, and hoarders. You don't have to be a clean freak. But if your family is living in a home of filth, it...

Airbnb host or house cleaner who is in charge of the cleaning? And is it the Airbnb host or house cleaner who choose what's on the daily checklist? I get that Airbnb cleaning is daily and sporadic because Airbnb guests come at will. But if you have a short-term rental do you hire a maid? Does the Airbnb Host or House Cleaner provide the cleaning supplies? Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says...

"Help! There's family competition in the cleaning business. I am trying to grow my cleaning company and family competition is messing things up. She didn't ask to come clean my space or clean with me or anything. Should I be a mentor or give cleaning advice or let her figure it out on her own?" Angela Brown gives expert cleaning tips for this house cleaning FAQ. Should family competition be the re...

How do you advertise a cleaning business with no money? Did you know you can't advertise a cleaning business with no money? But you can start your own house cleaning company and grow it with free marketing. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says it costs money to advertise a cleaning business. And marketing costs time. Use free marketing tips to get noticed and find more cleaning leads. Today'...

Shower cleaning safety is a must for all maids, house cleaners and housekeepers. Shower cleaning safety begins with awareness with bathroom cleaning. It's easy to zone out when cleaning houses for a living. And housework errors create common shower scares. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru shares DIY shower cleaning safety tips, and talks shower shoes. Today's Ask a House Cleaner sponsors are...

Do you need a housekeeper? How about a house cleaner or a maid? Are you nervous about asking the question do you need a housekeeper? Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says you don't have to go door to door asking people "Do you need a housekeeper?" But you to have to be top of mind and you need a killer sales pitch and daily marketing. If you want to get more clients and close more deals you n...

Who does the daily chores? Does the maid do any daily chores or only weekly chores, bi-weekly chores and monthly chores? And what are those daily chores? We Ask a House Cleaner about daily cleaning habits and a daily cleaning routine. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says a daily cleaning schedule and a daily job chart are for homeowners. Here are some house cleaning tips to maintain the hous...

SDS (Safety Data Sheets) are great for house cleaners to understand the cleaning chemicals they use. Part of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) maids can see the chemical breakdown for every detergent with SDS. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru reminds us that SDS used to known as MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets.) And they are part of house cleaner education. If not available to your clean...

Recycling gifts to prevent clutter is a great way to pass on trinkets and knick-knacks you don't need, don't want and can't use. Recycling gifts do have an etiquette to it. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says there's a system to recycling gifts or regifting Christmas presents. Especially if keeping them means they take up space and collect dust. Be gracious. Write a thank you note to the gi...