Ask a House Cleaner

Junk in junk out is a business philosophy. Junk in junk out refers to your early days as a house cleaner. If you are too busy to exercise, too busy to eat right. Or too busy to sleep at night, you can't be a savvy cleaner. Junk in junk out is about results. You reap what you sow. Today on Ask a House Cleaner, Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru, has an answer. "Things get better when you get bet...

Stack the deck is an American idiom encouraging you to get the most of your house cleaner. When you stack the deck in your favor it means doing everyday routine tasks. Today on Ask a House Cleaner - you're the savvy cleaner when you stack the deck before your maid arrives. Expect problems, take necessary precautions and help them help you. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says you can stack t...

Close out is an end of day cleaning biz term that means you close out your accounts for the day and get paid for today. Ask a House Cleaner if a close out includes the inventory of cleaning supplies. And do you have a clean uniform for tomorrow? Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says closing out your day covers everything. Close out today. Empty your vacuum. Check your equipment. Make sure you...

Broken vacuum. "Nooooo." What should I do? This question comes from house cleaners with a broken vacuum and half a house left to clean. Today on Ask a House Cleaner we look at options for a broken vacuum. It could be a suction problem, the vacuum is not picking up anything. You have an empty vacuum and you've checked the hose attachment - it's got to go to the shop. Angela Brown, The House Cleanin...

Depression. You know somebody whose house is a mess. They're filled with anxiety, gloom, sadness, misery, worry, and sorrow. The trouble with depression is you want to help, but you can't change someone else. Today on Ask a House Cleaner we dig into compassion and helping vs. enabling. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru covers mild depression to severe depression. "Get clear about your reasons...

Prejudice and bias towards house cleaners? If you are a cleaning service provider you're feeling the pinch from homeowner prejudice. Stuck in an old-fashioned mindset of chauvinism, racism, and bigotry. Maids and housekeepers with tattoos and facial piercings are feeling unwelcome. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru does a deep dive into open mindedness with a plea to home owners. "Hold off on...

Lock out! You can't get in to clean and the customer is not responding when you call or text. And you don't have an alarm code or a hidden key. What do you do? Can you prevent the lock out? As a maid service, a lock out means you're wasting time you could be earning money. Today on Ask a House Cleaner we cover tips you'll find in your maid service training and house cleaner training. Angela Brown,...

Part time expert or hack? A guy owns a business designing websites and moonlights as a house cleaner on the side. Can he bill himself as a part time expert or must he disclose to clients he's got two jobs? Today on Ask a House Cleaner we look at entrepreneurs who wear lots of hats. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says "Yes, be a part time expert. Clients hire you for solutions for a clean ho...

Pet hair removal is a constant struggle for homeowners as they leave the house covered in dog hair and cat fur. So how do you get rid of pet hair on furniture, clothing, and carpets? Today on Ask a House Cleaner we look at pet hair removal tips from cleaning professionals. Want to know what pet hair gadgets they've got in their cleaning caddy? Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru shares 7 of the...

In the moment is different from zoning out. The most important thing you can do when cleaning a house is to be in the moment. Today on Ask a House Cleaner we cover awareness vs. routine. Sequence vs. mental checklist. Being present and asking permission to shift gears when needed. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says being in the moment gives you choices. Be alert, pay attention, be flexible...

Clean countertops - is it even possible? And what is clean? Can you have clean countertops when you have a countertop microwave or a bread box? And what should you keep in your pantry rather than on your countertops? Today on Ask a House Cleaner we look at cleaning advice from The House Cleaning Guru, Angela Brown. She says you can have clean countertops even if you have a dish drainer, or a count...

Odor eliminator request. How do you stop the stink? Whether your odor is a lingering cigarette smell, kitty litter or pet urine, you've got a stinky problem. Today on Ask a House Cleaner we look at non-toxic, natural, chemical-free ways for odor removal in your home. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru talks allergens, bacteria, pollutants, and airborne contaminants. This goes beyond house clean...

Blog, research, and writing. What does a blog have to do with house cleaning? Do I need a blog? Today on Ask a House Cleaner we look at ways to market your cleaning business that boost your authority. Writing a blog can grow your maid service through your expertise and tips you share through blogging. Write tutorials, create a blog and guest post on other authority websites. Being a savvy cleaner...

Cancel on your house cleaner? We've all had to do it once or twice. But before you cancel on your house cleaner listen to Evelyn's story. She is among the single parents relying on income from her cleaning clients. The Housse Cleaning Guru, Angela Brown says when you cancel on your house cleaner, it's like telling them to take the day off without pay. In Evelyn's case, she then has to send the bab...

Dorm room cleaning supplies are on the minds of college students. What do you need to keep your life in order? Today on Ask a House Cleaner we get cleaning advice on the best dorm room cleaning supplies. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru covers vacuum cleaners, and the best mop to use. Common dorm room cleaning supplies will help you clean up roommate messes. You'll learn tips on dish washing...

Video games are a great activity for kids out of school for the summer. But is it rude to play video games while the maid is cleaning? Today on Ask a House Cleaner you'll find out what to do when the maid is trying to clean around a kid playing video games. Whether it's expected for the kid to acknowledge the maid while he or she is cleaning your room. Is your maid interrupting video games at your...

Communication skills are on the top of every house cleaning business owners list. Dynamic communication skills will help you clarify and articulate customers expectations. Reconnect with clients in a way that helps you understand, and be understood. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru gives tips on joining a Toastmaster club. Hone your communication skills with eye contact, vocal variety, hand g...

Volunteer hoarding cleanup is a church members gift. And the cleaning business owner in charge of the project wants to Ask a House Cleaner about the legal issues. Volunteer hoarding cleanup is a lovely gesture if delivered with tough love. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru warns about the comfort zone of the homeowner. Yes, this is a church project. And while you've made commitments, there is...

"Why I fired my house cleaner doesn't matter to anyone but my house cleaner." Today we Ask a House Cleaner, Should I tell my maid why I'm firing her? Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru suggests communication rather than confrontation. This conversation between you and your cleaner can help them know why they were let go or fired. "Why I fired my house cleaner" are issues you can prevent if you...

Organized hoarders are hiding among us. They may even live in our own homes. People with too much stuff. Organized hoarders have private collections of Legos, four sets of dishes, and a few too many books. Today on Ask a House Cleaner we ask The House Cleaning Guru about organized hoarders. Angela Brown says eliminate items you haven't used in a year. Join buy, swap and sell sites to get rid of st...

How to clean hardwood floors? Every house cleaner has this question. Heck, anybody who has hardwood flooring has this question. Today on Ask a House Cleaner we ask what chemicals are safe for hardwood floors? Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru gives us cleaning advice on cleaning hardwood floors. Tips on how to choose a mop for hardwood floors. And even the type of vacuum for hardwood floors. R...

Habits of people with clean homes are obtainable. We all have habits, good or bad. So why not choose habits that help you organize your home?   Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says "come clean with me." She walks you through some organizing and decluttering tips. "Have a place for your paper, get rid of excess stuff, get rid of dust collectors." Basic cleaning advice with a twist of easy.  ...

Employees who love to clean are on the wish list of every cleaning service provider. But where exactly do you find employees who love to clean? We hear it all the time, "I want to grow my cleaning business with joyful employees." Want some cleaning advice? Today on Ask a House Cleaner Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru gives us a mantra of "Show joy. Spark joy. Bring joy." Do this and you will...

KEYWORDS FOR THIS EPISODE: Cleaning Gene Cleaning gene - is it something special only professional house cleaners have? Or does everybody have the cleaning gene? Today on #AskaHouseCleaner we look at what separates the DIY cleaner who hates to clean from maids who love to clean. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru talks about cleaning DNA and the cleaning gene. Why some people clean and can't st...

Back to school cleaning is so much fun. It's a chance to pull everything out and reboot your life. So, before you go back to school shopping, here are 2017's top tips for back to school cleaning. Back to school cleaning first so you can take inventory of your stuff. Then replace, repair, recycle or toss old items. Come clean with me on #AskaHouseCleaner where we list the organization tips of DIY c...