Ask a House Cleaner

"That stinks." Do you have cleaning supplies that smell bad? Do your customers hate the horrible smelling cleaning detergents you're using? Are you using vinegar for cleaning? Because that stinks. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says "I hate the smell of vinegar, but I use it because it's non-toxic and does a great job to clean my space. If a customer says "That stinks." Then it does to them...

"None ya business" is an answer that can make any house cleaning job interview go sour. "But if I'm trying to grow my cleaning company and in the hiring process and a new hire answers a question with "none ya business" what do you do?"   "None ya business" is a flippant attitude that repels everyone. And you don't want that employee mingling with your customers." Says Angela Brown, The House Clean...

"Do I clean or paint first on this move out clean? I'm trying to clean my space in the most efficient way and I need cleaning advice. The painters want the maid service to vacuum. But should they clean or paint first? There will be more cleaning on this end of tenant clean after the painter's finish." We Ask a House Cleaner whether to clean or paint first and move out cleaning tips. Angela Brown,...

"How long does it take to clean a house? How long for deep cleaning? How long for speed cleaning, spring cleaning or maintenance cleaning?" "LOL. How long does it take to clean a house? If I had a dollar for every time I get asked these two questions: How much does it cost to clean a house? And How long does it take to clean a house? I'd be rich." says Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru. There...

"Can a customer suspend house cleaning service for no reason? I'm trying to grow my cleaning company. But I've gotten a few calls "I want to suspend house cleaning service until further notice." What does it mean when a customer says I want to suspend house cleaning service? Can they break a cleaning contract like that?" Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says anybody can cancel service at any...

"Should you put your face on printed ads as part of a creative advertising campaign? I'm trying to grow my cleaning company and we've done cleaning videos and wonder if you should put your face on printed ads?" Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says your face on printed ads is different from social media. We Ask a House Cleaner about creative advertising and other ways to market your cleaning...

Do you need a car for house cleaning? Yes, you do and today on Ask a House Cleaner we look at reliable transportation solutions. Do you need a car if you're not the one driving from job to job and can you take a lyft or an Uber? Maybe the metro or even grab a bus pass? Or do you need a car if a house cleaner is willing to give you a free ride to work each morning? Angela Brown, The House Cleaning...

"Who collects the money for house cleaning? Should my employees accept payment? And what if the maid or house cleaner sees how much the client is paying for house cleaning? I'm trying to grow my cleaning company but losing employees because they think they're doing all the work. And they should be making all the money." Who collects the money is a great question and Angela Brown, The House Cleanin...

"I have a two-hour minimum for house cleaning. And I'm trying to grow my cleaning company but a customer is like 'can you clean my space? I can only afford one hour of cleaning' and that's not worth the money. Should I have a two-hour minimum? Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru digs into two-hour minimum policies. Even with speed cleaning, you're not going to make a dent in one hour of cleaning...

"Airbnb cleaning fee - how much should I charge? I'm trying to grow my cleaning company and wonder if being an Airbnb housekeeper is a good idea. The Airbnb cleaning fee would have to cover the days they don't need me." Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru discusses the Airbnb cleaning fee along with Airbnb guest prep. Every Airbnb needs speed cleaning between checkout and check-in and your basic...

Permanent stains are driving me crazy. I want to know how to get rid of permanent stains on sinks and vanities. I'm trying to clean my space but the discoloration and tint in the toilets and showers won't budge. We Ask a House Cleaner pro cleaning tips for permanent stains. What to do about a blemish or burn mark, and when to walk away. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru gives expert cleaning t...

Domestic dispute? Errgh! Please stop fighting with coworkers while cleaning. Your customers hate to see house cleaners arguing or maids screaming. And it's not their job to resolve your domestic dispute. If you've got maids yelling at you some other sort of domestic dispute, separate. One of you upstairs, one of you downstairs. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says an irritable coworker or ni...

How is a credit score important to a house cleaner? We Ask a House Cleaner if you accept cash payments will it affect your credit score? Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says even if you pay your bills on time, cash is hard to trace. Your credit score is a financial resume that shows your creditworthiness. Your Fico score tells the banks about money choices you've made. This includes bills, p...

Auditions for house cleaning are not a new thing. Turns out that all cleanings are auditions. A customer wants to know "When you come clean my space should I mention I'm holding auditions?" Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru in today's Ask a House Cleaner says even your job estimate is a showcase. Always put forth your best effort and do your best work. Don't audition for the job and once get i...

Introducing Savvy Perks Employee Discount Program. It's employee benefits for small business owners. And came about by you asking for loyalty rewards for your house cleaners and maids. Savvy Perks is a division of Savvy Cleaner owned by Angela Brown and host of Ask a House Cleaner. You asked for an employee rewards program for your team and here it is. Savvy Perks just partnered with America's lar...

Obsessive-Compulsive Cleaners are among us. They clean our homes with OCD counting rituals and approval addiction. But are obsessive-compulsive cleaners able to do the same job as regular maids? On this cleaning channel, we Ask a House Cleaner about obsessive-compulsive cleaners. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru gives expert cleaning tips for OCD housekeepers. Your worksheets allow you to kee...

What are the qualifications for house cleaning? I want to grow my cleaning company but am told I need a business license and insurance. Is it speed cleaning that makes you qualified as a house cleaner or do you have other pro cleaning tips and qualifications? Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru on today's Ask a House Cleaner says the skilled maid has qualifications. ...and a satisfaction guarant...

"Obnoxious customers on the loose. Help! I just want to clean my space alone without an annoying customer looming. And it ain't speed cleaning if I have to re-clean after obnoxious customers mess stuff up. What pro cleaning tips do you have?" Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru on today's Ask a House Cleaner gives tips on that obnoxious customers. Your maid service stays in business because of y...

Social media presence for house cleaners, is that the same as social media profile? And if I want to grow my cleaning company do I need a social media presence on all the platforms or can I just do Facebook? Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru on today's Ask a House Cleaner tips the maid in the direction of social media presence. Social media marketing for house cleaners is about being social, i...

"How to end startup struggles in house cleaning? I'm trying to start a cleaning business but the startup struggles are killing me. And I want to grow my cleaning company but don't know where to find customers. What small business pro cleaning tips can you give me?" Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru on Today's Ask a House Cleaner digs into startup struggles. "Come clean with me the easy way. Le...

"What? No male house cleaners? As in no men cleaning house or male maids? How am I supposed to grow my cleaning company if I can't include a male house cleaner?" Today on Ask a House Cleaner we look at the politically incorrect request "no male house cleaners." Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says male house cleaners are aces at speed cleaning. They have excellent cleaning skills and many ca...

Stuff breaks. But who pays when stuff breaks on a house cleaning job? Do you pay as the cleaning employer or does the maid pay? And what if your independent contractor breaks stuff?  "I had a house cleaner come clean my space and he was doing speed cleaning... and he broke a mirror. I get it, stuff breaks. But who pays when the maid breaks stuff?" A common question we ask a house cleaner today.  A...

"Do you have a sample contract for house cleaning? I'm trying to grow my cleaning business and wonder what my contract should say. Any cleaning advice on company policies or rules and regulations in a sample contract would be helpful." Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru in today's Ask a House Cleaner gives you a sample contract. Along with pro cleaning tips on your letter of agreement and tips...

How do you upsell to party hosting from house cleaning? I've got a client who wants me to do party hosting for their Passover party and I don't know how to price hosting. I'm trying to grow my cleaning company and a job like this (if we can get the terms of agreement right) would be a gift. What pro cleaning tips would you give to a maid upselling party hosting from a clean? Angela Brown, The Hous...

Religious stereotypes are nothing to keep you from house cleaning. When a customer says "Clean my space and respect my religious stereotypes." It's usually because their religion and beliefs honor the tradition of a clean house. Angela Brown, the House Cleaning Guru in today's Ask a House Cleaner digs into religious stereotypes. Clean with me on today's pro cleaning tips and allow your customers t...