Some people say to work smart rather than working hard. House cleaning is a physically demanding job. There are smart ways to clean, but when you hire some one it’s usually to do the hard stuff. Kitchens and baths are really hard work. Actually vacuuming can be a big chore. I know it looks easy, but there are no self propelling vacuums. Lastly there is the chemical exposure that makes for a very long day.
Now how many of you like cleaning and find it a great way to relax? If you raised your hand, please call me, we have openings in our cleaning company. For some people it really is a way to spend a Saturday afternoon; to clean the house. There are people who look forward to it all week. There are other people who clean as they go and nothing is out of place. Some people have severe anxiety about having a messy house and they cope well with cleaning.
For the rest of us house cleaning is a chore.
When I talk with people about cleaning, or the price of cleaning, I remind them that cleaning is the cheapest way to maintain a property. When we clean we are keeping grease and grit from harming our finishes. It’s also a warm feeling to come home to a clean house. To get the results, some one has to scrub, some one has to push that vacuum around the house. The next time you are on your knees, or pay some one to be on their knees, cleaning a tub, put it in your mind the labor it takes.
This is just a reminder and in a future post I’ll talk about ways to cut the labor of cleaning with some tricks of the trade.
Since 1968, high school, I have worked on properties for rent and sale. My first company was formed in 1972 with a partner. Over the years the business grew. Last year in 2008 my main company A Spring Cleaning won an award for Cleaning Service by the U.S. Local Business Association.
A Spring Cleaning was my own creation. In the 1980s and 1990s we did many things. Dry rot repair, yard work, paint, pressure washing, hauling, and design. In 2000 we changed to a regularly scheduled house cleaning company with the trade name Seattle House Cleaning.
The transition was gradual. A Spring Cleaning got a boost in 2005 with a mention on a national TV show, then a few interviews in the local media, and business was very good. I was also a licensed Real Estate agent with some project properties.
In 2005 I became concerned about the housing market and concentrated on finishing my projects full time. We sold off properties in 2006 then concentrated on the Seattle House Cleaning business. Three years later the cleaning business is good.
Blogging is a part of my daily routine. Most of the time my focus has been on Real Estate and economics. To go along with that we encourage people to be in business. Our cleaning business has branched off into other cleaning businesses and we consult with other business owners.
This site is an extension of what we already do. By sharing what we have learned about the cleaning business we hope you will see it's more than just a bucket and rags that get you the fresh feeling of a clean home. These are just some tricks of the trade and some of the pit falls we experience.
How is it to clean a new house and how much should a cleaning service charge?
Cleaning new construction is harder than it looks. Builders will always try to convince a newer cleaning company that because it’s all new the cost should be low. These are the people that are the most picky about the results.
It’s true you don’t have the refrigerator, or stove, the bath room is lightly used, and the carpets look new, but they are covered in dust. Dust is the problem. You can start at the beginning, work your way through, and by the time your done you could start again.
Another problem is glue, and grime from construction. You can be stuck in one spot for a long time to make window tracts, in particular, looking new again. Every detail has to be done. You have to reach way back in the cabinets, clean every corner. Thresholds at doorways, the entry, and all floor have to be done. Sweeping decks, and entrances are also required so that the dirt outside doesn’t end inside.
You also need an extended set of products. There are some gentle chemicals for doing all kinds of jobs, and you need them. The right chemical can cut your time. Things like Goof Off, Naphtha, some times Lacquer Thinner, which you really need to be careful with, help cut a lot of construction glues.
The blinds you may need to dust twice, once when you start then again when you finish. Another caution is about the windows. If you are good at doing windows, great, but new construction windows are best done inside, and out, at the same time. Builders some times try to convince new companies that all they need is Windex, and some paper towel to do the inside. The windows have dust, and there is usually glue from the window stickers. When you add in the window tracks, it is a lot of work.
Now about charging for new construction, we have a company we refer this kind of work to. We have found it is way too time consuming. The other company charges about $10 per hour more than we do. They are all men, and have a truck supplied with a shop vac, chemicals, a steam cleaner, and a wide variety of brushes. They also have a small pressure washer for entrances, a floor buffer, and air compressor for blowing out areas.
Yes it is really very hard work to clean the house in an efficient manner. we really have to appoint some cleaners or maid to clean the house professionally.
I’ts only a major chore if you let it get out of hand. Stay on top of cleaning by using a service or doing it often and its no big deal.