Ask a House Cleaner

"Should I stay or should I go?" House cleaner has a confirmed appointment but finds the customer is sleeping. Maid service training doesn't tell you "should I stay or should I go?" Today on Ask a House Cleaner a confused maid asks "should I stay or should I go?" Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru gives tips for emergency situations. You've confirmed in advance. She's expecting you to come clean. She knows you have a cancellation policy.

Oversaturation. "There are too many house cleaners. I want to grow my cleaning business but the house cleaning market is over saturated." Lots of house cleaners and maid services lament that "The market is too competitive." Today on Ask a House Cleaner we look at oversaturation and tips to grow your cleaning business in spite of it. Is oversaturation real? Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says "Oversaturation is a concept, not a curse."

How to defrost a freezer. Today on Ask a House Cleaner we look at DIY hacks as well as those the house cleaner and maid service use. Clean my space and defrost a freezer! Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru's got you covered in this 2017 tutorial. Using coolers, ice chests, stackable bins to defrost a freezer has never been easier. If you're a homeowner looking for tips, look no further than a hair dryer to melt ice in your freezer. Hang on, now you're the savvy cleaner.

"Not that bad" It's a phrase customers use when describing their home. "Come clean my space. It's not that bad." And they want the house cleaner to give them a price quote over the phone. Want some cleaning advice? Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says if you say those words; "My house is not that bad" your price just went up. Today on Ask a House Cleaner we learn that if you want a fair price, you have the let the housekeeper or maid service see your house.

Health or wealth? Which is most important for a house cleaning business owner? If you run a maid service, your health and wealth are paramount to the success of your survival in business. Today on Ask a House Cleaner we look at healthy nutritious food and a good night sleep. And their connection to health and wealth. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru shares shortcuts for the entrepreneur. It's about business skills with a priority on books, podcasts, daily exercise, and endorphins.

Chores - How to get kids to do chores? Parenting skills 101 says parents should teach kids about chores to get them ready for jobs. So how do you determine your kids ability to do the chores? Or how many times should you ask for help around the house? Is a job chart effective? And can you just say "clean my space" or do you need an inspection with consequences? Today on Ask a House Cleaner we look at easy chores for kids and ways to teach kids pride in housework.

Food expiration dates - what do they mean? We see terms like "guaranteed fresh", "sell by". "Expires by", "packed on", "packed dates", "best if used by", and "born date". Are these food expiration dates mandatory? Today on Ask a House Cleaner we learn about food expiration dates. Both those voluntary and those required by law. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru shares best ways to rotate food. Plus tips for cleaning out the fridge, the garage, the pantry and the freezer.

Spider web vs. cobweb - what's the difference? How do you clean a spider web vs. cobweb? Is cleaning a spider web vs. cobweb different for a professional house cleaner than a DIY cleaner? Today on Ask a House Cleaner we look at you guessed it, spiderwebs and cobwebs. Tips from the World Spider Catalog about spider species, how spiders spin a web of silk to catch their prey. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru weighs in on maids clearing out cobwebs. Bonus: best extension pole tips.

The law of attraction is a business secret that will lead a savvy cleaner to success. Once you articulate your goals and identify what you want you can stake your claim. Today on Ask a House Cleaner we cover tips on The Law of Attraction and how it applies to house cleaners. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru affirms the self-help craze of the 80's vision boards. The Law of Attraction is like the suggestions of a Google search.

Photo release? Can't I just take before and after photos of the houses I've cleaned? Or do I need a photo release? Today on Ask a House Cleaner we look at legal ways to market your cleaning business on social media. Before and after pictures need permission, a photo release and/or a creative commons license. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru gives tips on dirty vs. clean, slime vs. shine, and messy vs. organized photos. What you need to know before you take that shot.

Lazy employee can ruin your cleaning business. Today on Ask a House Cleaner we look at complacency. Are your maids or house cleaners stuck in a rut? Are they skipping stuff or do they zone out while cleaning? A lazy employee is a bad example of leadership. If you have a lazy employee, it's time to redo the employee contract. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says: "Counsel your house cleaners to be responsible. Set new rules, and don't allow sloppy work.

Credit Cards. Should I take credit cards if I'm only one-person cleaning houses? Today we #AskaHouseCleaner do I need a merchant account to grow my cleaning business? Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru agrees it's easier for people to pay with credit cards. And you can get your money through PayPal or Square. Keep a credit card on file if your customers trust you. With an app on your smartphone, every day you clean is payday.

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 better." And it comes from taking care of yourself first. You love the things you care for.

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 the deck when you clarify expectations.

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 an 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 your car has gas for tomorrow's cleaning. Make sure you have properly inflated tires.