House Cleaning

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

A. Make sure the person really enjoys what they are doing. Its one thing to just run around with a duster and dust but its different if you see someone walk by and straighten a picture or go back and pick up that last crumb on the floor that shows they really pay attention to deatails and care. make sure the person is willing to listen and care about how you want your house cleaned. Nobody knows your house like you do and how you want it done. Make sure the person takes pride in their work and knows what they are doing. Its very easy to ruin someones marble floor or put scratches on a wood floor or ruin your base boards by banging the vacuum into them.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. I have been cleaning for 26 years and I think a secret I would like to share is make sure you know your home and how to take care of it. For example if you get marble flooring or new kitchen counter tops make sure you know how to take of them right so you can let me know. Also when redoing something in your home or having a house built make sure you think about how hard or easy it would be to clean that certain room or that piece in that room. For example in your bathroom don't let the plumber put the sink to close to the wall or backslash area. Its very hard to get in between the wall and the faucet so you get a mold build up. You never really think about these small items but when they get dirty and you have to clean them then you learn what pain in the neck it is to clean them.

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

A. I have been cleaning for 26 years and take great pride in my work. I really enjoy cleaning. to me its very relaxing and theirs just something about tackling a trashed kids room and being able to when i am done to turn around and take one last look and see it shine. Everything has its place and i like to put things back where they belong. I do my best to pay attention to details like straightening a picture on the wall or looking back on a shiny wood floor and going back and picking up a crumb that was missed. The best feeling is when the owner says they know when I have been there because everything is so clean and it smells nice and clean.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. i love my job because it gives me the freedom to work when I want and how often, but I mostly love the people I work for. Most are very friendly and easy to get along with. I also love the clients animals like they are my own. Cleaning also gives me the time to be by myself and to be able to think and even clear my head. I also find cleaning relaxing and enjoyable while also it can be challenging. The best part is when I finish a room I can look in there and be proud of the job I just did and to hear people say thank you I love coming home to a clean house it always smells so fresh and clean then I know I did a job well done.

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. I have been working at a house in Ellicott City for 26 years. It is my very first house that I started out with. The owners had a yellow lab dog. I loved that dog like he was my own. I would walk him and even stay with him when they would go away. One time they went away for two weeks. The first week they put him in a kennel, well he got sick and the kennel sent him to an area vet to get checked. The owners called and asked me to pick him up. They were so worried they were ready to end their trip and come home early. I went to pick up the dog. He was so happy to see me he almost knocked me over licking me. I laughed and looked at the vet and said is he really sick. The vet just laughed and said he must really like you. I took him home happy as could be and the owners got to spend the rest of the time relaxing.