Non-Toxic & Eco-Friendly Housekeeping

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. Most common type of work includes my regular ongoing clients who have been with me for years. This is also a reward for me because I know I must be doing something right. Common types of work include complete dusting vacuuming (I use two vacuums, one for hardwood floors and tiles and the other one for carpets). I also use microfiber cloths in 3 different colors so I do not spread bacteria and germs from one room to another. Yellow towels are just for kitchens, blue are for bathrooms and green are for dusting. I try to get a feel about the client and see what they like the most and brings that to the top. There are ALWAYS ways too improve.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. If I was a potential customer looking for a eco friendly house keeper I would definitely do my homework first and that is RESEARCH. Ask around, ask your friends, family members, co-workers, church peers, search online. Email several providers and see what they have to offer and how they communicate with you. Look for a good pattern, references and listen to your gut.

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. I always give a free estimate. I ask about the kind of floors, number of pets, problems with mold and hard water deposits. I want to know what YOU are looking for so I can get a feel if we are a match.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. My work comes from my passion for a healthier and balanced life ... which starts right in my home. I started Cleandom because I wanted to educate people about a different way of cleaning that would not set off their allergies. I take a great pride in my work and I value each and every client of mine. Furthermore I am happy when I see people recycle, use products that are not toxic or are less toxic).

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. The fact that I can make a positive difference in someone's life even if they use the service once. I also love to be my own boss and set my own schedule, work with people whom I click with.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. My regular ongoing clients always ask me how I am doing ... it is a simple question but if you really wonder about the answer it makes a huge difference and creates good vibes.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. I started for many reasons, I had been wanting to work for myself for a long time, I suffer from allergies and can not be around toxic products, I wanted to set my own schedule, I wanted to be my own boss and I wanted to choose the people I work for. I believe in a good match between me and my clients. I also had and still have plan that I revise regularly. My goal was to build a solid and outstanding small business that would support me in going back to school and work on my passion which is theater, film and psychology. I did not want to take out any loans so this way I can pay for what I need to and by doing baby steps I move forward (there are some backwards steps too, but that is just a fact of life).

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. Initial estimate - free, no charge, I ALWAYS do a free walk through with the client so I know what he/she needs and if I can deliver it. Most importantly I am looking for the close-to-perfect match between a client and me.
Initial cleaning - $30 per hour per person ($60 per two person team)
Weekly service - starting at $85
Biweekly service - starting at $120
On-call service - same price as the initial cleaning

Most popular are weekly and bi-weekly services. My clients have been with me for a long time and I strive for the best. Of course I make mistakes as well and I have 2 unhappy clients in 3 years ... but I learned from that and that's important for me.

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. Persistence, patience and passion. You do not have to be passionate about all aspects of your business but you need to have passion in some areas. I'm passionate about helping people to start using less toxic (or non toxic if possible) products. I'm passionate about the "bigger picture" and of course I am passionate about building a successful small business. I would also encourage not beat yourself up for setbacks. They are a natural process and WILL occur sooner or later. In my opinion it is better if you go through them sooner and learn your lesson(s) and that will help you become a better businessman and most importantly a better man/person.