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The Nitty Gritty Difference between House Cleaning and Deep Cleaning
This question is so common. I hear it all the time. The truth is that, yes, a regular house cleaning is absolutely different from a deep cleaning. While there are many commonalities between them, there are also some major differences.

The primary one? The level of detail. A regular weekly or biweekly cleaning is typically engaged for maintaining cleanliness, while a deep cleaning, typically completed every 6 – 12 months, is more extensive. A deep clean gets into the darkest of corners, on top of all cabinets, and ensures we scrub like there’s no tomorrow!

Let’s break it down even further and get into the nitty-gritty differences between a regular house clean versus a deep, deep, deeeeeep clean.
What is a Regular House Cleaning?

A regular house cleaning involves those items you would consider “weekly cleaning tasks.” These are the chores many kids (myself included) grow up having to complete before being allowed to go out and play. The main purpose of a regular clean is to maintain a certain level of cleanliness, one that meets your personal standards on a day-to-day basis. Most home cleaning companies offer this type of service on a weekly, biweekly or monthly basis.

When the Clean Club Calgary team goes in to complete a regular cleaning the following items are often included.
- Bathrooms – everything here is cleaned and disinfected as this is often the room that holds onto the most germs. I mean…have you ever really looked in your toilet?
- Kitchen – cleaning the outside of appliances, while scrubbing the sinks
- Floors are swept, vacuumed, and mopped
- Carpets and rugs are properly vacuumed
- Mirrors and windows are wiped down and made to shine again
- Surfaces, such as light fixtures, are thoroughly dusted
- Disinfecting/Sanitizing the most-touched surfaces, such as doorknobs and other handles
- Collecting and removing the garbage
- And special request items, such as removing the dog’s nose art from the front windows.
While each customer has their own requirements and special requests, the above are common regular cleaning options completed during a regular clean.
What’s Involved in a Deep Cleaning Package?

As mentioned above, the biggest difference between the regular maintenance cleaning and a deep cleaning is the level of detail in the cleaning (but never the quality. This always remains consistent). The easiest way to explain it is to think of a deep clean much like Spring Cleaning. This involves going from top to bottom, left to right in every room, in every nook and cranny. It is extremely extensive and pays attention to those often neglected and hard-to-reach spots, such as the tops of your kitchen cabinets or behind your oven. While a regular cleaning supports the overall health of your living environment, a deep clean takes it to a whole other level, often including vacuuming the air vents.

We’ll dive into when you should have a deep clean in just a moment. Right now, below are the additional items often involved in a deep clean.
- Appliances (e.g. fridges, ovens, etc.)
  
  Both the inside and outside of appliances are washed
  
  Appliances are pulled out from the wall so we can clean underneath and around. This is especially important if you have animals as their fur tends to get sucked under and can impact how the appliance functions.
- Furniture
  
  All furniture is pulled away from the wall, where we then wash the wall, removing any stains and streaks the furniture may have left
  
  We dust and wash the sides of the furniture
  
  Upholstered furniture is vacuumed
- Window and Blinds
  
  While a regular cleaning may have a wipe down of the windows, a deep clean involves washing them with soap and water, squeegee and a sparkling cloth.
  
  Blinds are dusted, which takes time as we go in between each vane to ensure an intense and proper clean
- Tops of Items
  
  We get on step ladders to wash the tops of kitchen cabinets and dust/wash ceiling fans
- Additional Items
  
  We wash, scrub, and remove all marks from doors, walls, and baseboards.
Deep cleaning is much more labour intensive and can take anywhere from two-three times as much time as a regular cleaning because it is a highly detailed and intense approach.
When Do You Need a Deep Clean?

When starting with a new customer, most cleaning companies have a standard rule to always start with a deep clean. This ensures the quality of clean starts us off on the right foot. From there, we’re able to schedule a regular cleaning, knowing that the weekly/bi-weekly cleaning is doing an excellent job maintaining the quality of the deep clean we started with. After this, we recommend that you have a deep clean completed every 6 – 12 months.

There are a few other situations that we recommend a deep clean for, including:
- When your house needs spring or fall cleaning.
- If you’re hosting an event where you want your home to simply glisten.
- When moving out of an apartment, condo or rental, and you want to get most, if not all of your security deposit back.
- When you’re selling your home and you want to make it attractive to potential buyers.
What’s the Cost for a Regular Clean versus a Deep Clean?

Unsurprisingly, with the additional time involved in a deep clean, the deep clean is more expensive and can range anywhere from $440 to $1300. To give you a better idea of where your cleaning cost may fall, the following breaks it down by sq ft.
A deep clean is typically an all-day event, whereas a regular clean is usually between two-three hours (house size dependent). While you should always receive quality cleaning regardless of the type of clean, it really falls to the reason you need a clean that will determine which type of cleaning makes sense for your needs.

If you are curious as to which type of cleaning makes sense for your next clean, feel free to reach out, book a quote and we’ll be happy to start bringing back some sparkle to your home!
May 12, 2022
How Often Should You Clean Your House?

If I had a nickel for every time I was asked, how often should I clean my house? I would have been able to retire a long time ago. I wouldn’t, because I love what I do, but I could. It’s that frequent of a question.

In a study completed by the American Cleaning Institute, they found that the average American spends six hours cleaning every single week, with a third left wondering if they are cleaning enough or even correctly. After all, there is a proper way to scrub the toilet, remove dust bunnies, and vacuum the rug to ensure we’re not just moving, but actually removing dirt.

Yet, how often you should you clean your house involves many factors, including how many people live there, if you have pets (particularly furry ones), your own preference and definition of what clean is, and so much more. Some may only require a monthly clean, some a biweekly, and still others weekly. The truth is, only you can decide how often you should clean your house.

To help you determine your own frequency, whether monthly, biweekly, or weekly, here are some insights to support you in determining what’s right for you.

1. Biweekly Cleaning

The most common frequency requested at Clean Club Calgary is our biweekly house cleaning service. The reason is that a biweekly cleaning builds confidence in our clients that the main areas of their home are cleaned every two weeks. It’s a beautiful refresh that gives our clients time back in their weeks, so they don’t have to worry about scrubbing the toilet or scrapping food splatters off the stove’s backsplash. This has helped many of our customers take back their Saturdays to spend quality time with their families.

2. Weekly Cleaning

The next most common cleaning frequency requested by families is weekly. It provides assurance that the bathrooms, kitchen, and dusting are all being done, providing relief that the family can simply relax and be together during their downtime rather than worrying about what new dirt friend is growing in the kitchen corner. We also find that people who have furry pets – yes this can be your children – do best with a weekly cleaning so they can stay on top of all the additional fur, especially when it comes to the seasons changing. Sorry – we can’t do anything about your teenager’s mood swings though.

3. Monthly Cleaning

We often recommend monthly cleaning for those who live alone or a couple (without pets) who are generally fairly tidy. These are people who tend to want a deeper clean but won’t take too much additional time because they tidy and clean up after themselves during the month. They typically want to know that the cleaning they missed throughout the month is completed by us. It’s a true team effort!

4. Cleaning Budgets

While we would recommend weekly or biweekly cleaning for busy families and people who have pets, we do recognize that cleaning is a luxury item on a family’s budget, so we need to work with what they can afford. To learn more about the pricing involved and budget for different types and frequencies of cleaning, read this blog here all about how much to budget for a typical residential cleaning [1] .

5. Cleaning Schedule

When we say monthly cleaning, this doesn’t mean that the cleaning will fall on every 1st of the month or every 2nd Wednesday of the month for example. For cleaning companies to maximize their schedules, it is either weekly, every 2nd week or every 4th week. It is extremely hard to offer regular cleanings every 3rd week. In fact, Clean Club Calgary doesn’t book tri-weekly cleans because these are too complex to accommodate our customers’ and our cleaning team members’ schedules.

6. Deep Cleaning vs. Rotational Cleaning Services

Monthly cleaning services typically require more deep cleaning and elbow grease because we’re removing a month’s worth of dirt/dust/etc. buildup. With weekly and biweekly cleanings, we’re able to rotate certain items (e.g., cleaning one room one week, another room the next, and so forth), so there is not as much buildup in between cleanings. This often comes down to the individual preference as to what type and how often the customer wants their space cleaned.

7. Health & Cleaning

Regardless of the frequency, there are items we clean each time to ensure the overall health of your family. This includes cleaning the bathroom (unless otherwise requested) and wiping down door handles, for example. The reason is that these items are often where germs remain and can directly impact the health of your family.

At the end of the day, the type and frequency of cleaning comes down to personal preference and the budget available. If you are someone who prefers to have a superbly clean and tidy house and has the budget, then weekly cleaning is recommended. The ultimate goal is to provide a cleaning service that suits you and your needs.

If you’re ready to take back your time and add regular cleaning to your household, then reach out to share which cleaning frequency best suits your needs. Simply connect here for a custom quote.

April 15, 2022
Deep Cleaning or Move-out Cleaning – What’s the Difference?!
You’re moving! That’s fantastic. Now what? You’ve heard that you need to have your house deeply cleaned prior to the new owners moving into your old residence. Yet, you’re not sure if you merely need a deep clean or a more in-depth move-out clean. Despite their similarities, there are key differences to consider. So, how do you know which cleaning is the one you need for your move out?

Let’s break down the similarities and differences to better support you in moving forward.
The Cleaning Similarities

The easiest place to start is understanding the similarities between deep and move-out cleans.

Typically, the same amount of time for cleaning is involved, often resulting in the same price. Remembering that this is physical labour, we often send two-three cleaning professionals to divide and conquer the dust and grime. The key is to get the cleaning done all in one day. This tends to be better for both you – the customer – and our team. The reason is that it:
- ensures ease in scheduling and coordinating of people (including your family’s schedule)
- reduces the days that cleaning is on your mind
- gives you your space back so you can focus on other things…like MOVING!
Whether a deep or move-out clean, both typically involve cleaning things that are not included in regular cleans, such as washing your doors, baseboards, and walls.

The Cleaning Differences

Now, for the fun part – breaking down the differences between these types of cleanings.
Deep Cleaning

The primary difference between a deep cleaning and a move-out cleaning is that, with a deep clean, you still live in the house. All your furniture and other possessions are still in your home.

While the deep clean details depend on the customer’s needs, it typically involves:
- A top to bottom, left to right thorough cleaning of (almost) everything. When thinking “deep clean,” many people liken this to Spring Cleaning. Learn more about what’s involved in this type of clean here.
- Cleaning behind/under appliances. If these items are not on sliders or wheels, we ask the customer to pull these away from the wall so we do not inadvertently harm the floor. Note that we recommend that you clean behind your appliances at a minimum of once per year, especially if you have pets.
- Detailed blind cleaning. Yep – we clean even the blinds. This is quite time consuming as we have to wash each one separately, getting in between each vane to remove the dust, dirt, and grime that’s accumulated over the year(s). This is an arduous task as the cleaner tends to have their hands above their head the majority of the time. From a time perspective, if there are 10 blinds in a house we have to clean, this takes roughly two-three hours because of the detailed nature of this cleaning.
- Braving the bathroom. This goes beyond the regular bathroom cleaning with items such as washing the walls, vacuuming the vent, and deep cleaning the toilet beyond our regular scrubbing. However, we do not go into cabinets as this is where personal items, such as medications, are stored.
- Closets, closets, closets. Rarely do families think about cleaning the holder of their shoes, jackets, and mittens…which is why they tend to need a deeeeeeeep cleaning at least once a year. Here, we pull everything out and get to work, washing the walls, vacuuming the dirt/stones/grime/hair and other “interesting” things that accumulate over the year. Don’t worry – we always put things back (and in an organized fashion).
- Sofa and other seating fun. Oh, the goodies we find when we lift and clean within cushions and under the couch – money, candies, toys, and ALL the lost socks. If the couch is made of leather, we wipe it down with a cloth, removing any stains or stickiness that may be long forgotten about. If made of fabric, then we get our vacuum out and vacuum away. Here is where those fancy vacuum attachments come into play.
The basic premise for deep cleaning is that anything we can move without damaging property, we move. Anything we can get underneath, we get under.

There are a few specialty items that a deep clean does not include:
- Inside of cabinets. Like the bathroom medicine cabinet, cabinets in the kitchen or laundry room typically still contain your items because you are occupying the property (e.g., dishes, pots, utensils, etc.). Therefore, we don’t clean them.
- China cabinets and other specialty display cases. These tend to contain highly sentimental and breakable items. If a client requires us to clean the items in the cabinet, we ask them to remove them from the cabinet and put these items on the table for us to clean. The customer is responsible for putting the items back in the cabinet itself.
Move-out cleaning

For move-out cleans, the house is now empty. Furniture is all removed, cabinets are empty, and every single corner is cleaned. The biggest misconception surrounding a move-out clean is that because it’s empty, cleaning will go faster. This is not the case. When a house is empty, this is when all dirt and scuffs are exposed. This rarely involves a simple wipe for all to be suddenly clean. Rather, we often have to “wipe” multiple times – with extra arm grease – to remove years of untouched dirt, oil spatters, hidden bugs, and long-forgotten spills. A few items that further separate the move out clean from a deep clean include:
- Kitchen Cleaning!
○      Have you ever looked at the top of your cabinets? This is where alllllll the years of grime collect, taking extra effort to remove.

○      Have you looked in an empty pantry? We have and it sometimes frightens even the toughest of cleaning professionals, particularly if the pantry contains wireframes. Like cleaning the blinds, this is time-consuming as it requires going in between each individual wire, wiping down and removing any spills – often sticky thanks to the bottles that once sat there (e.g., oil, dressings, vanilla, and other common baking/cooking items).

○      Have you ever truly looked behind your stove or fridge? You’d be surprised at what you’ll find…and how much effort it takes to remove the caked-on gunk. Washing the walls and the appliances themselves (often inside and out) is required prior to the new owners taking possession.
- Cabinet cleaning. Unlike deep cleaning, we can now go into the empty cabinets and wash the insides, removing any food bits, soap scum, and other friendly critters (e.g., dead bugs) that may be lingering.
- Walls walls walls. With your furniture completely out of the space, we are able to see where the furniture may have rubbed the wall, leaving a bit of dirt, fingerprints, and more. A thorough and detailed washing is what’s needed.
- Lights and other overhead fixtures. With a move-out clean, we remove light fixtures and wash them with soap/water, often finding dead bugs and dust balls within them.
Ultimately, a move-out clean is a deep cleaning x10! We do everything, top to bottom, corner to corner, until the house sparkles for the new owners.
One thing that reduces a move-out cleaning time is if you require a staging clean to support your house selling efforts. Here, we do the top of the cabinets, wash the outside of the cabinets, and the inside and outside of appliances, particularly since potential buyers often look inside of these. If you invest in a staging clean, then the final move-out clean typically requires a touch-up of the baseboards and a simple dusting. This breaks the cleaning into two parts.

To learn more about the ins and outs of the differences in our deep and our move-out cleaning, download our checklists below.

While a deep clean and a move-out clean are similar, it’s important to know the differences between the types of cleanings so you can book and budget the proper cleaning for you.

If you are looking at booking a cleaning for your home, connect today and book away.

If you have further questions, visit our FAQ page for answers.

DEEP CLEAN CHECKLIST

MOVE-IN/OUT CLEANING CHECKLIST
March 10, 2022
What You Need to Know About Moving Cleaning Services
Oh, the excitement ahead! You’ve sold your house, you’ve packed all your belongings, you’re ready to move and start life in your new home. Then you realize…your old home still has so much of you left there. The dust bunnies that hid under furniture, the stubborn grime that simply doesn’t want to leave the stove, the scuffs, stubs, and scratches that were once part of your decor are now in full view and definitely out of place. And leaving it there is not an option! Saying goodbye to these leftover stains doesn’t have to be hard. That’s why professional moving cleaners exist.

Is a move-out cleaning worth it? We certainly think yes. Below are a few ways to reduce your moving stress by working with a cleaning company to properly deep clean the house you’re saying goodbye to.
Plan for Hiccups

It can be hard to get the timing of your moving cleaners just right. Knowing you need a cleaning when you start your moving process is the first step to reducing stress. Next is knowing that there are always hiccups with every single move, so planning helps avoid unnecessary stress.

If you discover you need a cleaner too late in the process, you may not be able to get the time/date for the cleaning that you need, which will impact all other aspects of your move.

We recommend looking for a cleaning company that can be flexible with your schedule and recognizes that hiccups happen with moves. To support you in minimizing these challenges, ask your potential move-out cleaner the following questions to help you plan accordingly:
1. What happens if the movers don’t show on the date/time planned? What is the process to reschedule with ease?
2. Will the cleaning company bring all their own cleaning supplies, including a vacuum? Remember – all your supplies will be packed up, possibly already at your new home.
3. What sort of quality assurance is guaranteed? For instance, at Clean Club Calgary, we have a 24-hour guarantee so if the new owners move in within the 24-hour mark of us completing a move out clean, and see something we’ve missed, they can call us to come and fix it at no charge.
Understand the Cleaning Process

I know a company that once sent one person to clean a 2,003 sq ft house + basement in eight hours. No process to follow, no guarantees, no accountability checks. This, to me, is a red flag. Clean Club Calgary requires two people for the same duration to clean the same space. The reason is that we have processes and procedures in place to ensure a quality deep clean every time. Moving cleaning is not a regular clean. This requires more detail and often involves removing years of caked-on dirt, dust, and grease. Examples of what’s involved in a move out cleaning include:
- Cleaning inside and outside of all cabinets.
- Cleaning the top of kitchen cabinets. This alone can take an hour or more due to grease and other food that makes its way up there over the years.
- Washing walls and baseboards.
- Deep cleaning the tops of ceiling fans and light fixtures.
- Vacuuming air vents.
- Pulling out and pushing back appliances.
- Adjusting for floor types (e.g., not all hardwood floors are the same. Some are generous and need only one mopping; others love to show all marks, even after being mopped three times.)
A move out clean is a thorough, top to bottom cleaning. Everything from A – Z is thoroughly cleaned, taking time to bring the full sparkle. Make sure the company you work with is there to make the property shine…not merely complete a quick once over.
Look for Partner Services

Not all cleaning companies offer all types of cleaning that are often involved in a move out clean. For instance, carpets typically need to be deep cleaned (not vacuumed) and the outside of windows must be washed. Both are specialized cleaning services.

When you are moving, you are already coordinating enough people and services. Adding more “to-dos” to your list adds unnecessary stress. This is why we suggest connecting with a cleaning company who partners with these specialized service companies for ease in schedule coordination. For instance, Clean Club Calgary partners with Future Now Carpets for carpet cleaning services and Clean Shine for exterior window cleaning. Here, we’re able to coordinate our cleaning team with both the carpet and window cleaning teams for effective scheduling of all our services. This helps to finish the entire move out clean in one day, rather than you having to schedule multiple appointments with multiple companies.

Ultimately, working with a professional move out cleaning company helps to keep your moving plan on track.

Avoid last minute stress and connect to book your move out clean today. Learn more here
February 10, 2022
How to Dust Away the Shame of Hiring a Cleaning Service

It’s time. You know it, your family knows it, even your family’s goldfish knows it. It’s time to hire a professional cleaning service to support you in living the quality of life you want and deserve. One that does not contain doing all the house chores during your “free time.”

Yet, you feel ashamed or guilty about hiring someone to clean your home. “It’s my home. I should be able to stay on top of cleaning it!” floats through your mind every time you think about hiring a cleaner.

Here’s the thing, life is too short to be completing chores on the weekend, to be feeling embarrassed to admit you need help/support, to do something that you truly have zero energy or mind space for. As our lives continue to become ever more “busy,” hiring a professional cleaning service is there to enhance your life so you can simply enjoy it.

What is Shame?

Shame often feels that we are falling short of our own standards. That somehow, we are “less than.” As the Greek philosopher, Plutarch highlighted, shame is “one of the greatest shaking cracks that our soul can receive.”

In my opinion, shame has no place when it comes to hiring a cleaner. Simply put, you did not fail in life because you hired a cleaning service. You are not “less than.” In reality, you are someone who understands our human limitations because we have a finite amount of time in the day and you want to spend it doing things that light you up. If it’s not cleaning…then why are you doing it?

There are a few things to help reduce or even completely remove this feeling so you can happily work with your cleaner and create the home that you get to simply relax in. No shame needed.

You Keep Your Pride

A good residential cleaner will listen to how you want your home cared for. You take pride in your home and have it organized based on what works for you. Cleaners are not there to disrupt this, but to add to your pride in your home. A professional cleaner listens to what you want done, along with how, and that’s what they do. With a little extra sparkle, of course.

You Have Only So Much Energy

One of the most googled phrases in 2021 was, “why do I feel so tired?” There are many reasons as to why you, yourself, are tired. Even if you have the physical capacity to clean, your mind may simply be exhausted and you just cannot motivate yourself to pick up that duster or push that vacuum. After all, Zoom fatigue is very real.

Hiring a cleaning company helps you get through these low energy phases so you can support your mind, body, and yes, your soul. You may be able to handle “everything,” but one day, you won’t. Admitting that you need a bit of support makes you human. It’s okay to admit this. Super humans just don’t exist. To help with conserving your precious energy, read about how to hire a cleaning company here.

You’re Paying for a Service

Finally, remember you are not having someone come into your home and clean it for free. You are paying for a service – just like you do with your hairstylist, your car mechanic, even your carpet cleaner! Do you feel shame after paying them? I’m going out on a limb, but my guess is no. You feel relief, fresh, happy. It’s the same with a cleaning company. Plus – professional cleaners are properly trained on how to clean. It is a professional career, not a fallback.

Of course, knowing your cleaning budget, along with the type of cleaning service you want helps bring clarity to why and how to hire the cleaning company that’s right for you. Plus, if you want your kids to learn how to clean, you can always have them clean their rooms and bathroom. Clean Club Calgary has many clients who hire us, only to say, “please leave our kids’ rooms to them.” It’s their way of teaching responsibility to their children, while giving themselves time in their day to do the things that matter most, such as spending time with their family, cooking dinner, or even focusing on growing their own business (as we work with a number of business owners).

What’s key here is that if the cleaner does not meet your expectations, that’s a business conversation to have. You are paying for a service and deserve to have your service expectations met.

We’ve been taught that we have to complete all “must dos” in order to be a productive and contributing member of society. The truth is, all that we “must do” is know what our strengths and values are. Give yourself the gift of self kindness and time – YOUR TIME – to do the things that truly matter. Work with a cleaning company who cleans so you don’t have to. No shame needed.

Connect to learn more about how a cleaning company can support you in living the quality life you want.

January 21, 2022
Children and Chores – The Gift of Future Success
One of the best things my parents ever did was give me chores growing up. I believe this is what set me up for success later in life.

My chores gave me a routine, taught me accountability and personal responsibility, and ensured I understood how to properly budget. Sure, they initially had to spend time with me, teaching me how to do my chores – from cleaning the toilets to completing the grocery shopping at the markets – but, eventually, I was able to do all of these things by myself, without their supervision.

I personally get excited when a client connects with Clean Club Calgary to schedule a cleaning and they say, “do not clean the kids’ bedrooms or bathroom as this is their responsibility.” The cleaning they book is just for the parents themselves (they’ve already learned responsibility, after all).

All it takes is 10 – 15 minutes a day for the following chores to be checked off and their own personal sense of accomplishment fulfilled!
Seven Kid-Friendly Chores
1. Setting Shoe Stand. This one is simple. Have your kids organize the shoes in entryways to the house (front door, mudroom, etc.) and say goodbye to scattered shoes…and tripping hazards.
2. Tidy-Up Their Room. Encourage them to make their bed each morning. This alone has many benefits – both physical and mental – beyond having a tidy room. Help them understand how to organize their room and get into the habit of putting laundry in the hamper, books on the shelf, and clean clothes in drawers and/or the closet. Chairs are for sitting, not storing a week’s worth of outfits.
3. Clean the Table After Each Meal. While your kids may be too young to tackle the cooking, they are most likely able to clear the table. Have them bring the dishes to the sink, put away any condiments, shake out placemats, and wipe down the table to remove any crumbs that made their way off the plates.
4. Organizing the Book/Movie/Game Stands. Like the shoe stand, simply have them do this weekly to make sure items are in order, books are facing the same way, movies are in their proper cases, and game pieces are all safely stored. While doing this, have them dust the stand itself to keep it looking great while taking away the dust that fills the air.
5. Fold Laundry. Personally, I still do not like this chore, but it’s one that serves me well…and ensures clothes don’t remain in the dryer, only to become cleanly wrinkled. Plus, this reduces the need to iron (and that’s a whole other stressor for many).
6. Organize Their Toys. Toys are great fun, but also have a place once the fun is done – the toy box. Encourage them to put their toys away after playtime is done. This ensures that no one accidentally steps or slips on the toy, removing a potential safety hazard. This goes doubly so for LEGO pieces – these are just painful when we step on them, and no child should hear the words that we say after we step on one of those tiny, sharp corners.
  Another fun thing to do is, once a year, have them go through their toys and donate the ones they no longer play with. Make it a fun thing to do by teaching them about giving back and understanding that toys are meant to be played with. If they’re not playing with them, the toy is not “living” its purpose. Then, sit down with them, and read The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Bianco.
7. Grocery Shopping. This one does take longer than the 10 – 15 minutes as it involves going to the grocery store, shopping, and going home to then put the groceries away. So, make it a fun outing with you! Children can be a huge help while grocery shopping, picking out the right vegetables and fruits, finding the better “deals” on products based on simple math, and so on. For me, this was a significant chore every Saturday when growing up. I had to go to the markets and pick up all the food for the week ahead. What this did was help me understand how to properly budget, how to choose the right ingredients we needed for the week ahead (meal planning and preparation), and then how to even cook the meals later.
Other chores children can get involved with include:
- Vacuuming the carpets and mopping the floors
- Animal care (e.g., emptying the kitty litter box, walking the dog, feeding the gerbil, etc.)
- Washing the dishes after they’ve made it to the counter
- Meal preparation and cooking
- Washing the car on a summer’s day
- Yard care and maintenance
- Collecting – and then taking out – the garbage, recycle, and compost
- Stripping the beds and changing their sheets
- And so much more!
Do not make chores a punishment as they will associate cleaning with something negative. And cleaning is anything but negative because of all the health benefits and life lessons it teaches along the way. If you need to motivate your kids to do their chores, make it fun. Have a chore chart that acquires stickers each time they complete a chore (I always loved getting star stickers for doing a job well done), have a chore wheel that spins and surprises them with which chore they get to do that week, make a game out of the chore, and celebrate once it’s completed.
Beyond having a clean home, this instills a sense of pride over one’s belongings and space. You’re helping them reduce all the unnecessary stimulation and clutter distractions in this overly stimulating world. You’re giving them the tools to care for their own household when they move out (don’t worry – one day they will). Chores are the perfect gift for children as this goes far beyond the clean itself but lasts for years to come. It’s the gift that truly keeps on giving.

Of course – you deserve a gift for yourself, too. If you need some support with your cleaning – or simply want to treat yourself – connect for a quote.

A little hint to keep your cleaning costs down – leave the kids’ rooms for them to clean 😉
December 16, 2021
How Residential Cleaning is as Refreshing as a Brand New Hair Style

Hair – long strands, short whisps, colourful and gray. Every single professional cleaner has had their fair share of hair discoveries while cleaning. From hair tumbleweeds to flying hairballs, hair is everywhere in a cleaner’s world…including on our heads (well…most of us anyway 😉).

So, it’s no surprise that customized cleaning is exactly like getting the perfect haircut. After all, hair from one’s head always ends up in our vacuum!

Even more, hair has a huge place in my heart because of the entrepreneurial family I grew up with in Hungary. When we immigrated to Canada, this entrepreneurial spirit came with us. In fact, it’s what made us grow, connect, and build our lives here. To this day, my mom still owns and runs her own barber and hair styling business (30+ years after we moved here). To say that her entrepreneurial spirit, business knowledge, and hair talent influenced me is an understatement.

It’s her business knowledge (and love of cleaning too) that guides so many lessons at Clean Club Calgary. There are so many parallels between receiving a fresh haircut and walking into a room that has been freshly cleaned.

Even more – I firmly believe that one of the most important relationships in our lives is that with our hairdresser. They have the power to make us feel like a completely new version of ourselves, lifting our spirits and literally cutting away old pieces of ourselves that we’ve outgrown.

That’s what a quality cleaning company does as well – clear away old pieces of the home (AKA: dust, dirt, grime, hairballs, and fur) that no longer belong. Once removed, a whole new home appears.

Let’s see what other fun parallels there are!

There’s a Hairstyle for Everyone

No two haircuts are the same, just as no two homes are the same. Therefore, no two cleanings are the same.

A breakdown of the different types of cleanings aligns beautifully with the types of haircuts I’ve not only watched my mom create, but I have had!

The regular touch-up session: For short hair that needs ongoing maintenance, a touch-up every few weeks does wonders to keep flyaways in place and the shape to frame the face. Similarly, for homes that need an easy-to-maintain, no-fuss household, a short two – three hour cleaning every week/bi-weekly does the trick to keep dust at bay and grime away.

The intense, deep impact session: A full transformation hairstyle – including a cut and colour, or even *gasp* the addition of bangs – a longer session must be booked as there are different stages and products required. This type of transformation I liken to either a deep clean – such as spring or fall cleaning – or a post renovation clean.

Custom style session: Like any client-centric hairdresser, modifying services is also key. For instance, one may want a blowout with a small fringe trim, just as a residential cleaning client may only want to have their bathroom and kitchen cleaned (leaving the rest of the cleaning to their own vices…AKA: their teenagers). Other’s request unique once-a-month cleanings with different requirements each time, much like the individual who wants a different haircut each time.

Relationships are All Important for Growth

My mom never did any marketing. She grew her business the old-fashioned way – through relationships, word of mouth, and high-quality service.

To this day, this is how she continues to keep her repeat (happy) customers, along with gaining new clientele. She doesn’t need fancy Tik Tok posts or special marketing frenzies to attract clients. She merely provides service that is top-notch and leaves her customers feeling relaxed and ready to take on the world.

While Clean Club Calgary is online to share information about how we work and who we are, I look to the type of quality service my mom offers to inform how we attract and retain our clients. It’s all about the quality experience we offer. From clear communication with our clients to supporting our own team members, our customer service is built on personal relationships. This will always be core to this business.

Further, knowing who our clients are – what and who are important to them and why – is crucial for us to provide the quality they deserve. This helps inform who we send to clean and focuses on building a long-lasting relationship with each client.

Professionals All Need Training

Cutting, colouring, and styling someone’s hair requires training. There are details involved that, if not performed correctly, produce an end result that can be disastrous (we all know someone who had severe chunky highlights that did not come out the way they imagined). A colourist MUST understand how to properly colour someone’s hair, otherwise, they run the risk of damaging the individual’s natural hair and scalp.

Just as a hairstylist must understand their craft (types of scissors, hair textures, colouring techniques and chemicals used), professional cleaners must also understand their craft. If someone accidentally uses the wrong chemical on a surface, damage is done. This is why it’s so important that we take the time to properly train our team, not just with processes, but with the science of cleaning as well.

Knowing the right type of training required allows us to pair the right individual with the service requested.

Every Miracle Only Lasts Three Days

Last, but certainly not least, all services are being provided by human beings. Humans who are not perfect. We’ve all had our fair share of bad haircuts along the way – even the most talented of hairdressers have an “oopsie” slip with their scissors. Professional cleaners are no different and sometimes mistakes happen.

When they do, I remind myself of this Hungarian saying – every miracle only lasts three days. Just as our amazing hair days come and go, so do our bad hair days. While we always strive to complete our cleans without any issues, sometimes things happen. What matters is not that it happened, but that we understand why and make sure that we know how to not have it happen again. THIS is how we continue to grow, provide excellent service and experiences, and leave our clients with the freshest of homes that they deserve.

Plus…the hair will always grow again. This is how we are able to step out of the stress of an “oopsie” moment and move forward together.

While Clean Club Calgary can’t help with your own hairstyle, we can absolutely support you removing the hair from your home, in the style of your choosing!

Connect for a quote on your own custom style of cleaning today! It could be the very thing you need to feel refreshed again in your home.

November 20, 2021
The Surprising Health Benefits of Cleaning and You

It was supposed to be a joke when Monica on Friends talked about cleaning as “the thing” she does to relax when stressed. I even had a good chuckle myself because, well, who doesn’t like to chuckle.

The thing is that Monica is actually the one who is having the last laugh at all of us as cleaning really does have health benefits, especially during times of high stress. It’s not just something to do to pass the time. We all know that there are environmental benefits (goodbye dust bunnies and random smells), but did you know that there are physical and mental health benefits as well?

Like it or not – cleaning can actually be a beautiful part of our overall health routine!

Let’s learn why!

Cleaning Gets Physical

Cleaning is physical – there’s no way around it. Even if gently sweeping a broom across the floor, you’re still moving. And all movement is good for your body.

Cleaning and the physical aspects help to get our overly sedentary bodies moving, get the blood flowing, our heart rate up, and a much-needed stretching of our muscles.

Not only that, but when we clean, we create a healthier environment for our house because we minimize dust, remove dirt that carries particles (and even bugs) that impact air quality, and help to limit the spread of any bacteria from surface to surface and person to person. Removing pollen, pet dander, mildew, and other hidden microbes ensures that we’re not inadvertently harming our immune system.

Cleaning is Psychological

Cleaning is such a gift for our mental health. It allows us to feel a sense of accomplishment. It provides our mind time to wander and daydream; time to indirectly sort through our thoughts; and time to just be focused on something else that has a clear beginning and end.

Cleaning allows us to gain a sense of control of our environment – which is so much more important since the spread of COVID-19 due to the lack of control many of us are feeling in this uncertainty. There are also short- and long-term impacts on one’s mood, helping to lower one’s risk for anxiety and depression.

Further – cleaning, particularly deep cleaning, can inspire us to get creative or reconnect with hobbies. So many hidden treasures are found when we clean – old paintbrushes, pictures of travelling, medals from track and field days – that we can be inspired to start these hobbies again. Tapping into things that brought us joy for the sake of joy. And without cleaning, we may not have found these old treasures. Reigniting joy is just good for all our mental health these days.

Cleaning Stops Clutter

Clutter just appears suddenly. I know – I’ve seen it happen. But clutter, no matter how small, has an impact on our ability to focus, be present, and relax within a space.

Even more, clutter impacts our ability to make healthy decisions. A 2013 study highlighted in Psychological Science showed that when people are in a clean, more organized environment, they tend to make healthier choices both in terms of diet and physical activity. Meaning – our clutter isn’t just impacting our mental health…it’s impacting our ability to CHOOSE to make healthy physical choices.

When we take the time to remove clutter, even something as small as organizing the papers on our desk in a nice pile rather than “strategically scattered,” we improve our ability to tune into our body so we can understand what we actually need.

To get the benefits of cleaning, you don’t have to do a top to bottom of everything (like Monica would). Rather, a simple scrubbing of a toilet or vacuuming one single room, heck even emptying the dishwasher or putting those sink dishes into the dishwasher, can be enough to help give you a health boost.

If you already have your health routine in place, though, let us know. Perhaps professional cleaning can take you to a whole other level?

Connect for a custom quote.

October 21, 2021
How to Not Fall Back into Unhealthy Cleaning Routines

Fall is here! Even with the crunchy leaves that find their way into carpets, making vacuuming trickier, this has always been a fun time of year. The time of year where new routines start up, kids go back to school, extracurricular activities are all a tizzy, and the lazy days of summer are but a mere memory.

In all this busy-ness of the season, we at Clean Club Calgary keep hearing that cleaning falls to the end of the family to-do list. Between work, after-school/work activities, grocery shopping, sleeping, and enjoying your “play” time, fitting snippets of cleaning here and there leaves you constantly burnt out, feeling less refreshed than you could be. Worse, there are often hints of shame, guilt, even embarrassment that you are not able to keep up with everything, which includes a “well-cleaned home.”

Phew – that’s okay. That’s what working with a residential cleaning company helps you with. Yes, we do the cleaning but also, we remove those feelings of overwhelm and “never-done” so you can enjoy your day-to-day living.

It’s amazing talking with clients about why they work with us. More specifically, it’s learning what our cleaning does for them. From the feedback we’ve received, cleaning helps in many ways. Here are the five most common ones we’ve heard.

Cleaning allows me to have more mental space for what’s important to me

“I don’t have time or energy to do clean”, “I hate cleaning because I’m not good at it” “I just hate cleaning…period.”

Whatever the reason you’re not cleaning is not important. What’s important is how much space these thoughts of “not cleaning” take up in your mind. Work with a cleaning routine and/or professional cleaner that allows you to forget about the cleaning. All you need to know is when the cleaner will be there.

Cleaning allows me to tap into my inner joy

Mental space opened nice and wide, time is given back, you can now enjoy the things that need to be done rather than worrying about cleaning during your precious time.

No longer do you have to find snippets of time to clean, leaving you always holding the broom in one hand and a cleaning cloth in the other, a professional cleaner can get all the things done in a few hours (or over scheduled sessions, request dependent). Because of this, you get to enjoy those snippets of time you used for cleaning on things that light your heart a bit more. Whether it’s time with the family, getting outdoors, painting, whatever! It’s just not spent with a toilet brush.

Cleaning allows me to make better decisions

So many of our clients are still working from home. I’ve heard over and over again that if it weren’t for the knowledge that we were coming to clean, our clients would not be able to focus on their work.

The odd dust bunny floating by. Knowing the toilet needs to be cleaned. Seeing unmopped floors as you make your way to your “office space.” These are all tiny distractions that sit in your subconscious. When you know all these “little things” will be taken care of, you can bring more focus to your work because you do not have to constantly remind yourself to clean your space. With this, you free your mind up from visual stimuli that pulls your focus, allowing you to turn your attention and take action on the things that truly matter to you.

Cleaning allows me to enjoy my partner more

Cleaning is a pain point for a lot of couples. We hear this all the time. Plus, many of us Clean Club Calgary team members have there ourselves. You both want the cleaning done but expect the other to do it. Investing in a cleaner removes these expectations and has made some happier marriages because cleaning was removed from the equation.

Who knew a vacuum had that much power?

Cleaning allows me to focus on what really matters

There are a lot of misconceptions about having a residential cleaning service out there: they’re expensive, people who use them are “hoity-toity,” using one makes me “less of a homeowner” because I can’t keep it clean, professional cleaning is a luxury item, etc. etc. etc. Yep, a lot of MIS-conceptions.

The truth is – we were never meant to be able to do everything – have a career, raise a family, support a household (chores, healthy meals, perfection), volunteer, do extracurriculars, and all the things we’re “supposed” to be able to do. Yet, humans survive in communities. This means that by recognizing how a cleaning service can support you in doing what really matters to you, you can enjoy working with one. Remove the stigma or belief that you have around a cleaner and discover what it’s like to say yes to Saturday outings just for fun or working without the fear of the ever-growing number of dust bunnies.

As we make our way through fall and into our yearly routine again, take the time to prioritize what’s really important that you do. The rest, free up your mental space. Perhaps a cleaning quote is the first place to start? Connect today to request.

September 16, 2021
Love Your Renovation: Post-Construction Cleaning Tips
It’s that time of year – the time for renovations galore!

Even more so this year as people use their travelling funds for home improvements as we continue through COVID adjustments.

And with each of these renovations comes the dreaded renovation dust! Thick, sticky, heavy dust that lasts and lasts.

The dust that renovation companies often promise to keep to a minimum. To contain. To try and control.

The truth is – no renovation company can truly control the dust that comes with renovations. Yes – some things can be done to contain it. But, there will always be a need for a proper post-renovation deep clean. This helps to ensure the renovation experience won’t fall flat.

So, what are some of the things to consider when looking for a renovation that ends in relaxation…not grumbles over dust floaties?
Minimal Dust is Still Dust

There really should be three things in life that are guaranteed: DUST, death, and taxes. There’s no way around it. Dust will always be a part of your renovation.

To support your overall renovation experience, ask what procedures the construction company has in place for keeping dust to a minimum (e.g.coverand protecting floors/windows, safely blocking vents, etc.). This will help contain the dust from flowing through to the rest of your house. The hazard here is if dust is not contained, it will require deeper cleaning beyond the room(s) where the renovation was completed. Ventilation systems carry this thick dust from room to room. If not accounted for, you could be looking at a hefty cleaning bill just to ensure all the dust is removed and your air quality is decent.

Other items to inquire about are:
- what type of cleaning post-renovation is included in the contracting company’s scope?
- if cleaning is not included in the renovation scope, what is their solution for cleaning?
- do they have a relationship with a cleaning company for this specific reason?
Recognize that even if there is minimal dust that’s all contained, it will still be a frustration if it is not properly taken care of, taking away from the renovation itself.
Renovations have Cleaning Stages

One of the biggest misconceptions is that there are stages in renovation cleanings.

Renovation dust takes time to settle. Even minimal dust.

The clients we support with post renovation/construction cleaning (this includes our renovation partners who coordinate on behalf of their clients) are best supported in stages. An example of what this staged cleaning process looks like includes:
1. Construction Clean. Here, most of the cleaning is done. This clean allows the trades to see what deficiencies there are to fix. (Oh yes – cleaning helps to identify where any knicks are, where things are misaligned, etc.). This clean also collects the majority of the renovation dust. Depending on the renovation itself, we may also complete the inside windows at this point, or leave it to the Final Clean.
2. Final Clean. Here is when we come in and again vacuum and wipe everything down (once trades have finished all final touches). This removes any final dust that settled since the initial construction clean and is to be completed prior to occupation (if possible).
Trade Tools Always Matter

We can vacuum until we’re blue in the face, but if we don’t take care of that vacuum and change the bag, then we are merely spewing these heavy, sticky dust particles right back into the air.

I’m not sure why renovation dust is unlike everyday dust, with its ability to linger long after it’s wanted, but it is. I do know that a simple wipe down is not going to cut it for post-construction cleans in getting rid of this dust. Neither will a simple rag.

An invested post-renovation cleaning company will show up with the following each time:
- A good vacuum that they know how to properly use. Learn more about this here. We highly recommend that the vacuum is HEPA-equipped for proper filtering of the dust particles.
- A scraper. Even the best painters will always have a couple of spots that fly through the air. Our fresh eyes allow us to spot and then remove these mini splatters with ease.
- Quality products. At Clean Club Calgary, we do not use a lot of harsh cleaning agents. Rather, we show up with our dish soap, Tide, Bar Keeper’s Friend, a bit of bleach, and a whole lot of elbow grease. These are the products that we find get the best results.
- Brushes, dusters, and our microfiber cloths. These tools should be able to trap dust and fully remove it rather than merely pushing it around. To learn more about our favourite cleaning tools, click here.
With the right tools (and the proper training), cleaning augments the home renovation, creating a positive overall experience for you, the homeowner! The ultimate reward? You get to simply enjoy the renovation…not any lingering dust.

Right now, the construction industry is in full swing, working all hours to complete the projects so many Calgarians are investing in post-COVID. It’s important to work with a renovation company that understands the importance of the entire experience, beginning to end of a renovation. Someone who recognizes the need for a cleaning relationship that is high quality, can work with a flexible schedule, and collaborate with your construction crew for a coordinated clean.

Remember, you’re renovating for a reason and I’m certain it’s not to sit in a pile of dust at the end of everything.

If you’re in the middle of a renovation and are now thinking about a post-renovation clean, reach on out for a customized quote.

If you are a renovation company yourself and are looking for a cleaning company to support you with this aspect of your customer experience, let’s connect for a deeper chat.
August 19, 2021