Ask a House Cleaner

Second Chances are for rehabilitated felons who are re-entering the workforce. After getting out of prison these recovering citizens need jobs to make an honest living. But should you hire them as house cleaners and maids? Today on Ask a House Cleaner we look at some of the reasons for incarceration. And we weigh the risks and rewards to small business owners offering second chances. Usually, inno...

Tip the owner of the cleaning company? Some cultures believe in tipping their house cleaners. But not the owners of the cleaning service. Some say you should tip your cleaning specialist no matter who it is. Which is correct? Do you tip your maid even if she owns the house cleaning business? Today on Ask a House Cleaner we dig deep into the psychology of tipping. We look at ways to tip your cleani...

Family? Your house cleaning clients may be friendly but they are not your family. They are not your relatives and you don't owe them anything other than the services for which they pay you. Today on Ask a House Cleaner, we look at the comfort zone between maid and client. And we see what happens when boundaries crumble. The House Cleaning Guru, Angela Brown discusses traps that house cleaners fall...

Too old to clean? Every house cleaner and maid at some point in their career ages and becomes too old to clean. Today on Ask a House Cleaner we look at what the homeowner can do when their maid is elderly and ineffective. "Can I fire my old maid without recourse from age discrimination?" Homeowners want to know how to deal with housecleaners who are over the hill, getting on in years, and flat out...

Exercise, especially core building exercise will strengthen your lower back, abs, and glutes. This will give you the physical support you need for house cleaning. Today on Ask a House Cleaner we discuss ab exercise. Both ab crunches and use of a mini trampoline in a popular activity called rebounding will build core muscles and physical stamina. We also look at easy tips to prevent shoulder pain....

Burnout will hit all House Cleaners and maids at some point during their cleaning career. Recovery from burnout is about recognizing it, respecting it, and rebooting yourself in order to recharge your business. Today on Ask a House Cleaner we look at occupational burnout. What happens when you are depressed, exhausted, fatigued, tired and frustrated. And what you can do to pace yourself for a heal...

Move out cleanings can be a good source of revenue for maids, or they can be a nightmare. Today on Ask a House Cleaner we cover quick tips and house cleaner rules to make the move out process easier for everyone involved. With a move out checklist, the homeowner can make sure they don't disconnect the electricity or the water too soon. We provide you with the move out instructions you can provide...

Gift giving on Mother's Day? House Cleaners and Maids wonder what cool little things they can do to celebrate Mother's Day. Turns out The House Cleaning Guru, Angela Brown has very strong opinions about gift giving, manipulations, expectations, and bribery. Gift giving on Mother's Day, Easter, Christmas and Birthdays set a precedent that is hard to manage as your business grows. Want to give a gif...

Leave or stay when the maid comes to clean? Lots of homeowners wonder how effective their maid or housekeeper will be if they are not hovering. The House Cleaning Guru, Angela Brown busts a myth on productivity for house cleaners and looming bosses. Want to get more from your money spent? Leave the house. Watch your maid from the home security camera if you have to see what's going on. Avoid micro...

Travel time, wear and tear on your car and commute time are hiccups for house cleaners and maids. So how far is too far to travel to clean a house? In today's episode of Ask a House Cleaner, we look at the philosophy behind commuting to work. While franchised maids and house cleaners are limited to a territory, independent house cleaners can choose where the neighborhoods they want to work in. Thi...

Employee to employer – Are you a Maid going on your own to start a cleaning business? The House Cleaning Guru, Angela Brown covers some tips to avoid a lawsuit. Learn ways to prevent competing with your current employer. Avoid breaking a non-compete clause, or employee theft, and leave with your previous employer's blessing. It's easy to want to appropriate clients who know you and treat you like...

Price by the hour or by the job? Every maid who runs a maid service and every house cleaner asks this question. What is a fair price? How much should I charge to clean a house? If you bid by the job you have to do an in-home estimate to determine how much work is involved. If you price your cleaning services by the hour – you simply quote a price and schedule a number of hours. Today on Ask a Hous...

Bidding residential cleaning jobs is not a mystery. Today on Ask a House Cleaner we cover some secrets and tips to prepare you for your initial walkthrough. Learn about the cleaning proposal, cleaning contract, and questions homeowners will have. Arrive with confidence when you deliver your free in-home estimate, and become a Savvy Cleaner because you've landed the deal. Cleaning bids have never b...

Don't feel safe? Should house cleaners and maids follow their gut? It's a concern for new house cleaners entering a client's home. Today on Ask a House Cleaner we discuss common sense solutions for dealing with fear. What is intuition and how does it work? What do you do when the fight or flight response kicks in? Do you stay or do you go? This show was sponsored by Savvy Cleaner - House Cleaner T...

Too Comfortable? When house cleaning clients have known you for a long time, it's easy for them to push boundaries and expect too much. This leads to them taking advantage of you. As a house cleaner or maid, you still have a finite amount of time to clean their house. Today on Ask a House Cleaner we look at setting boundaries to keep your customers' expectations and your customer service in check....

Late. Absent. Running behind schedule. Cleaning customers lament that their house cleaners and maids are unreliable. What ever happened to punctuality, consistency, and dependability? Homeowners have places to go. But if the house cleaner is constantly a no show – why would give them a key and more trust for their homes? In today's episode of Ask a House Cleaner, we look at the cost of being tardy...

Is the Customer always right? 5 Top Rules for House Cleaners In this episode of Ask a House Cleaner, the customer sets some buyer rules. Excellent customer service is about providing the best customer experience. And that's easy once client – customer boundaries exist. Customer satisfaction starts with the homeowner being clear about their expectations. If you're just starting a cleaning business,...

Nagging boss or client? There's nothing inspiring about cleaning for a homeowner who nit-picks or makes complaints about your work. If you're house cleaning but keep getting reminders, digs, and dings from the homeowner, it's time to take pull back the curtain and find out what's wrong. This show was sponsored by Savvy Cleaner - House Cleaner Training and Certification. Complete show notes for thi...

Expectations are a tricky thing in house cleaning and maid service. Our clients hire us to clean their homes, but how do you manage their wishes, hopes and the projects they pay for? The House Cleaning Guru, Angela Brown, takes a look at cleaning client's expectations. Today we learn about upselling without over promising. Learn how to grow your cleaning business, in a way that is easy to duplicat...

Cleaning Lady is coming. What should I do before she gets here? Today we look at secret housekeeper cleaning tips to show you how to get the most from your house cleaner or maid. Want to know how maids clean? Want to know what wastes their time? The House Cleaning Guru, Angela Brown shares strategies to streamline the house cleaning routine. This show was sponsored by Savvy Cleaner - House Cleaner...

What should you wear when bidding cleaning jobs? We know how important first impressions are, but does that mean wearing a suit? While It's important to look your best, it's more important to look the part. The House Cleaning Guru, Angela Brown, discusses cleaning uniforms, and clothing for sales calls. Learn which props will enhance your professional attire. If you're an independent contractor or...

I hate my job. Every house cleaner at some point during their career has felt these emotions. they are triggered by a difficult customer or depression or just stinking thinking. Ask a house cleaner if you should quit your job and go follow your passion? The House Cleaning Guru, Angela Brown, shares tips and strategies to renew your job commitment. Find the key to happiness when you hate work you'r...

Talking while cleaning – it's a concern for everyone. House cleaners and maids need to keep their phones with them for emergencies from the boss and the client. And homeowners don't want to pay somebody who is cleaning while chatting. Where do you draw the line? Should you take incoming calls while on the clock? Or should you route them to voice mail? The House Cleaning Guru, Angela Brown shares s...

"We're not a good fit for each other. Should I jack up the price and hope the prospect hires another house cleaner?" We've all been there. During the interview process when bidding a job, we get that feeling that this is a high maintenance customer. Or we just don't like the customer for some reason we can't put a finger on. And we wonder should we turn down the job because we're a bad fit? The Ho...

Imagine your way to house cleaning success. You can put in years of hard work, sweat, labor and emotions into growing your cleaning business. But if you don't follow the basic rules of positive psychology, you will come up short when it's time to live your dreams. Creative visualization is a daily exercise. The purpose is to train your unconscious mind to recognize and accept the success you attra...