Author: admin

How to Properly Vacuum So It Doesn’t Suck
The vacuum cleaner changed the game for cleaning. I personally believe the inventor should get a Nobel prize! I am not exaggerating. After all, the topic of vacuuming and vacuum cleaners appears in a number of my Facebook cleaning groups. Professional cleaners from across the world asking each other for residential vacuum cleaning advice, guidance and feedback – it’s a topic that never has a “right” or “final” answer.

Truthfully, I know more about vacuums and vacuuming than I ever want too. Yet, it’s this information that ensures Clean Club Calgary’s customers receive the right cleaning for their home.

This month, let’s jump in and answer some of those more pressing questions about vacuuming your home!
WHAT TYPE OF VACUUM SHOULD YOU BUY?

From central vacuums to uprights; backpacks to wands; dry vacs to wet vacs; Shark to Kenmore to Jameson and everything in between all the way up to heavy-duty construction vacuums – there is literally a vacuum for every single job.

The problem? There is literally a vacuum for every single job meaning…
- Models are frequently discontinued, making it difficult to say, “this vacuum!”;
- New technology continues to improve, making old tech obsolete; and
- The MANY different powerheads and floor types create challenges for a simple answer to, “what vacuum should I buy?”
Next, a vacuum is an essential tool for cleaning. As such, it is a cleaning accessory one should invest in rather than simply “buy.”

A few considerations to help you decide which vacuum is for you include:
- Floor type: not all vacuums work on all floor materials. Tile, cork, shag carpet, typical showhome carpet grade, hardwood, laminate – each of these requires a different type of vacuum head. It’s also important to know that just because a vacuum is great on carpet, does not mean that it is great on other floorings.
- Powerhead: There are brands that are known for their superior suction power. I do think they are amazing, but only when used on the right material. Many of these high-end, market-leading vacuum cleaners have a powerhead that will actually damage low quality carpet, such as that in a showhome. While the, “best of the best, super suction power” is excellent in many homes, it is crucial that you understand the grade of your carpet before investing in these brands. To calculate the specific suction power you specifically need, read this article: https://easyhomeclean.com/suction-power-your-vacuum-cleaner/
- Frequency: How often will you vacuum? If you live by yourself in a one-bedroom apartment and have no allergies, chances are you’ll vacuum much less than a family of four who all have allergies, have two dogs and live in a 2-bedroom townhome. All these play a factor in your choice of vacuum, including whether or not you choose to go bag or bagless. If you vacuum regularly, it may be more cost-effective to invest in one that does not require bags. You will be replacing the bags more often, adding to the overall cost of your vacuum. If it is a bagless one, you will have to wash the canister, however, you will not have to worry about purchasing additional bags.
- Central vs upright vs canister: Each of these vacuum styles have their pros and cons. To know which works best for you, this involves understanding your home. A few questions for you:
  
  Do you have a lot of stairs? A canister or central vac may be best.
  
  Do you have to vacuum underneath your bed, couch, and other furniture? Again, a canister or central vac may be the solution.
  
  Do you have large, open areas that require a larger container for the dust/dirt? An upright or central vac could work.
  
  Do you have animals to clean up after (dirty teenagers do count!)? Then a central vac is my preferred one OR an upright brand name, such as Shark, so long as your floor material can handle the suction of the powerhead’s strength.
- Accessories to consider: There is no end to the accessories that can come with a vacuum. The soft dust brush heads to use on your walls, the plastic nozzle head to get into the teeny tiny corners, and upholstery attachments for your furniture. These are absolutely great items to use. However, one thing I also recommend that you consider over and above the “super cool – yet helpful – accessories” is where your plugins are. This will impact your decision about the length of power cord you need, as well as the length of hose (for canisters and central vacuums). If you cannot plug your vacuum into a power source, it’s a very ineffective vacuum.
Personally, I believe that the best vacuum cleaner for a residence is a central vacuum. It has the best suction power, provides the deepest clean without harming (most) floors, and is easy to clean. The one reason why most people do not like their central vacuum is that they simply forget – or don’t know how – to clean it. This then hinders its suction ability. To show you how easy it is to clean your central vacuum, watch this, video, courtesy of our friends at A Vacuum Store and Service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64VpUw3U-cA

If you do not have a central vacuum, watch this short video on a few of our personal favourite residential vacuum cleaners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ5c6Lgg9zY.
HOW TO START EFFECTIVELY VACUUMING

Not all vacuum cleanings are effective. There are a couple of tricks to vacuuming which make it effective, ensuring the best clean.

First, do not simply wipe everything off counters onto the ground, thinking it’s easier to vacuum everything up. This inadvertently creates more mess, increasing the likelihood of transferring the dust and dirt to other rooms.

Before you vacuum, pick up items off the floor, such as screws, chunks of fur/hairballs, food, etc. Also, clear cobwebs away with a duster rather than vacuuming them. This will ensure you do not suck up something that can hurt the vacuum, impairing its suctioning ability while shortening its lifespan.

If you have floor rugs, do not just vacuum over the top of them. Floor rugs are ideal environments for dust mites and other germ critters to live in as they have dark, tightly woven spaces to hide. To ensure that your rug remains mite free, vacuum under AND the back of the rug. Simply fold half the rug over, vacuum, and fold back down. Then repeat on the other side.

A note of caution of hand woven floor rugs, particularly those with fringe: strong powerheads will damage these rugs. Be very careful when vacuuming these types of home accent pieces.
DON’T FORGET THESE SPOTS FOR A GREAT CLEAN

There are so many places dirt, hair, dust, and so many other things like to hide in. If you want a truly deep clean thanks to your vacuum, remember the following, easy to forget, spots.
- Air vents: hair, dust, fur – it all gets trapped in the vents. Use the nozzle accessory to easily suck up any floaters.
- Walls: a little trick is to ensure you get your walls super sparkling – clean and then let dry the head of the vacuum cleaner beforehand!
- Hidden spots: tight corners, in behind doors and stairs crooks where dirt gets pushed in and forgotten. Use the nozzle to get into these spaces.
- Underneath: your bed and other furniture as dust and hair tend to settle there.
- Closets: and the sliders they run on, including in behind hampers and in between pairs of shoes.
- Chairs: and other upholstered furniture using the furniture accessory.
And one of my all-time favourite tricks to a great floor clean is this sweet secret: vacuum your dry mop pad! This will remove any extra dirt, lint or hair that clung on while drying.

Vacuuming is a job that always has to be done. Know which vacuum cleaner makes the most sense for your home by understanding your property, your personal habits, and your preference for mobility. Curious about how Clean Club Calgary can support you with your vacuuming needs? Call today. We are here to share our skill and expertise!
October 20, 2020
Cleaning Supplies that Bring the Shine in 2020 and Beyond
“Clean” and “detailed” are not words my family uses to describe me as a child.

Dirty, playful, tomboy, even a corner cutter when it came to doing the dishes. I mean, who had time to wash the back of the plate, anyway? There was playing that had to be done!

So how did I, a disorganized child from Hungary, come to appreciate and even start my own professional cleaning company in Calgary?

One person…my mother.

My mom continually highlighted the importance of the details in cleaning. The desire to take pride in my chores and think methodically about how to clean rather than merely “tackling it.” She was a stickler for doing a job right. She still is to this day in her own barbershop. And her house…it’s immaculate!

And this eventually was passed onto me; the desire to see a job through to completion with a focus on the details for the added sparkle.

I would even go so far as to say that my mother is proud of how her consistency for details rubbed off on me. That, and her own business acumen having run her own business. She is a huge reason why I started Clean Club Calgary. And an even bigger reason as to why we take such pride in our work.

Even more so today since she discovered the original cleaning tool that we still use today on every single cleaning project we do.
THE CLOTH THAT BROUGHT MORE SHINE TO BUSINESS

Fast forward a few years and many hours of detailed cleaning later, I was running my own cleaning business when my mom found the absolute perfect cloth. This cloth did EVERYTHING I needed it too – especially when it came to the extra quality cleaning details that my mom would approve of.

This cloth created the sparkle that my mother taught me to strive for in everything I do – including cleaning the back of the dirty dish.

Initially, I purchased these cloths from Canadian Tire until one day in 2019…they stopped carrying them.

I was SHOCKED, thankful that we had an extra supply to use, but worried about what would happen when we used them all.

Not to mention, my team was worried! They loved this cloth. In fact, it was their most-used cleaning tool that allowed them to see the impact they have on our clients! This cloth was a team member in and of itself as it allowed us to:
- Easily clean across multiple surfaces from stainless steel and glass to cars and grease removal
- Add some extra sparkle by using it with damp soapy water, where many other comparable cloths do not, and
- Leave post-renovation and construction sites with a SHINE that highlighted the reno work, not leftover reno dust.
It came down to knowing that, while we are excellent and industry-trained professional cleaners, we are also only as good as our tools. And this cloth was the tool that helped to make us great.

My first thought about sourcing a new cleaning cloth? “WHAT AM I GOING TO DO NOW?! This is the tool we love to use as it’s the perfect all-purpose cloth that is actually affordable!”
FINDING THE CLEANING CLOTH THAT REALLY SPARKLES

I did what any business owner would do – I figured it out.

Long story short, I sourced the original distributor of the cloth as the product itself was not discontinued. What we also discovered as we shared this “upset” with our customers is that they also wanted cloths for themselves. Something to clean their glasses or polish up their mirrors in between cleanings. So, I decided to make them available for customers and individuals who are looking to keep the sparkle in their daily lives.

It may seem small, but I get really excited when I finish cleaning with this cloth. Suddenly, everything sparkles. This tiny ability and extra step to add a bit more shine to homes and offices is something I can do for others. Add a bit of sparkle back for a moment of satisfaction.

It’s funny how consistent lessons from our childhood can guide our passions in life. That and a patient parent. My mother and her insistence on quality details no matter what I was doing is the reason I’m able to help others add more sparkle to their lives. And that is no small feat in today’s world.

Now you know. Even the dirtiest of tomboys can become a huge advocate for cleaning and passionate about a cloth! Curious about how Clean Club Calgary can provide a quality clean that brings sparkle to your life? Connect today for a chat!

Looking for the cloth of your own that keeps your space shiny? Purchase your own here: https://www.cleanclubcalgary.com/products
September 18, 2020
Consistently Hack the Sparkle Back into Your Everyday Cleaning
Cleaning – quality cleaning – takes time.

Another truth – cleaning is not a one-time job. We must continually put our energy into cleaning our homes. And, depending on how you were raised or what your own definition of clean is, the actual task of cleaning can weigh heavily on your mind until you actually do it.

This combined with the fact that house cleaning is a constant chore to be done (much like weeding), it’s no wonder why we feel a huge sense of relief after we’ve cleaned, sinking into the couch and relaxing in our freshly cleaned home.

Years before I founded my own professional cleaning company, I worked as an Executive Assistant, Monday – Friday, 8 – 5. Every Thursday, I would rush home from work to clean my apartment so I could have my Friday – Sunday completely to myself without having to worry about cleaning during my weekend off.

It was when I started to implement “cleaning hacks” that my Thursday cleaning was completed more quickly…and I could relax into the weekend without any guilt or dirty dust.

What’s more, is that these hacks work for all homes and residences, whether you’re in a multi-story house or a small studio apartment. A bathroom is still a bathroom and takes the same amount of time (size considered and features depending). It’s the effort, time, and consistency that brings the sparkle back into your home.

So, how can you do this and keep your home clean while experiencing that “ahhhhhhh” of freshly cleaned more often?

CREATE HOME-SPECIFIC CLEANING CHECKLISTS

Every home is different and has different definitions of “clean.” Jot dot all the items you like to clean and are important for you and your family to have shine. Build out a checklist to help you tackle each of these with ease.

Unsure of where to start? Check out our internal checklist to give you a better idea of what some of our clients find important. Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.

Are you someone who loves organizing your schedule with apps? Check out Spotless: A Simply Clean Home.

IDENTIFY WHAT YOU ARE OKAY CLEANING YOURSELF

Once you’ve identified what you are okay with cleaning, you can build out a “who does what” list. For instance, if toilet cleaning is not your forte, involve either professional cleaners or delegate it to your family members. You never know who loves doing what.

HAVE – AND THEN USE – THE PROPER CLEANING SUPPLIES

One thing that will cause you more stress while cleaning is using the wrong product on the wrong surface. Always read the labels of your cleaning products and start with the least abrasive products, moving upwards as needed.

One small cleaning tip? Dish soap and water can do amazing things for cleaning. However, if you are looking to sanitize or disinfect, you will need to use a stronger product of sorts.

SET REALISTIC TIME TO CLEAN ASIDE

Some homes are very easy to clean, so cleaning goes quite quickly. Other homes are larger and need a solid 5-6 hours for a simple cleaning. If you break down what you want to be cleaned, involve your family, and set out a checklist schedule, you are reducing the stress in your mind and always providing a realistic timeline for when and what you and your family can clean. For the team at Clean Club Calgary, we break our cleaning times out as follows:
- Dusting
  
  Depending on the size of your home and the details you would like to get into it could take 10 minutes to a few hours. A light removal of dust versus removing layers of thick dust from vents and high up walls require different amounts of time.
- Bathrooms
  One bathroom can take from 10 minutes to an hour depending on how detailed you need to go. If you squeegee your shower every day, then a good wipe down once a week will do. If you have hard water and no water softener, your shower can take up to 30 minutes alone to remove the water stains.
- Kitchen
  Kitchens are the most deceiving room of them all as there is a lot of work that needs to be done with splashes, food stains, and all the fun that comes with kitchen life. If you choose to go all out and wash all cupboards, surfaces, outside of the appliances, backsplash, and so forth, we are talking anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour plus. Again, depending on the size of your kitchen and number of appliances, this could be more or less.
- Vacuuming
  If you only vacuum high traffic areas it can be 10 minutes. But… if you have kids, pets or lots of traffic in your home this could take up to an hour or more.
- Mopping the floors
  If you mop your floors “old-style” using a mop, bucket of water and consistent rinsing, your floors add another 30 minutes to your cleaning.
  
  To help your floor cleaning efficiency, we recommend doing the vacuuming and mopping all at once.
GET INTO THE CLEANING MOOD

There are a few people in this world who get excited about cleaning in and of itself. However, most of us find that good music, an eBook or podcast is a must in the background to keep our minds AND bodies motivated and inspired while cleaning. The following are a couple of my personal favourites:
- Podcast: Imagined Life
- Music: Songs to Listen to while Cleaning
There is nothing as rewarding as breathing in the smell of “freshly cleaned.” It is something that can immediately impact our mind and quality of life. It’s important that we know what’s important to clean in our homes, along with how long the cleaning itself takes.

Of course, if you’re ready to enjoy the freshly cleaned without your personal cleaning effort (you may have noted this when you identified what you are not okay with cleaning), then connect and share with me what you’re looking to add to your life by removing cleaning.
August 18, 2020
The 3 Types of Clean: Cleaned, Sanitized and Disinfected

Cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting – since COVID, these terms have flooded our lives, newsfeeds filling with articles using these words interchangeably and scaring the bejeebus out of readers, including me at times…and I’m a cleaning business owner!

Customers have been asking more and more exactly what the difference is and should people even care. My simple answer is yes. Absolutely, you should care. A properly cleaned home provides a healthy environment. So, for this month’s blog, I wanted to take a moment to break down what each of these terms means and how your residential cleaner uses them to provide you with a higher quality of life.

CLEANING WITH CLARITY

To clean is to remove dirt, debris, dust and other unwanted materials from surfaces. It may or may not involve tidying up (e.g. organizing and putting things in their place) and can include simple cleaning agents, such as soap or detergent. Regular cleaning keeps your place looking and smelling nice while also reducing the germs living on the surface. However, cleaning on its own will not have the same benefits or peace of mind as sanitizing and disinfecting.

To clean, think “simple wiping.”

SANITIZING MADE SIMPLE

Sanitizing is a step up from cleaning. Similar to cleaning with the removal of debris, sanitizing further reduces the germs living on a surface. This act focuses on eliminating these pathogens and microorganisms that can transfer germs, such as COVID or the flu. Sanitizing typically uses a chemical agent of sorts (e.g. bleach or even steam), reducing the germs that come in contact with the agent. Specific touchpoints that require regular sanitization include handles, doorknobs, TV controllers, keyboards, kitchen utensils, and other high touch shared surfaces in your home.

To sanitize, think “wiping with a cleaning agent.”

DISINFECTING DEFINED

Disinfecting is the highest form of germ and debris removal. While sanitizing does an excellent job of reducing pathogens, it is typically done in a quick fashion and does not always kill them. The goal of disinfecting is to kill all microorganisms, leaving a sterile environment behind. This is particularly crucial in hospitals and special care facilities. To disinfect, one must let the cleaning agent sit for a specific amount of time, allowing the agent itself to work. When ready, the cleaner removes the agent, reducing the risk for germ and other pathogen transfer.

To disinfect, think “apply cleaning agent, let it sit and work.”

WHY YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND AND DO ALL THREE FOR YOUR HEALTH

Knowing these differences will help to keep you and your family safe. Understanding these terms guides the type of cleaning products you buy, how you use them, and why you use them. Unfortunately, post-COVID, we are going to be faced with heavy gaslighting from advertisers for cleaning products that are focusing on selling the fear of COVID and not real cleaning solutions. By understanding whether you want a cleaned, sanitized, or disinfected environment, you’ll be able to make smarter choices when it comes to buying cleaning products and when scheduling your professional cleaning services.

I understand that this can be stressful with so many “facts” out there, but it is important to know what your specific risk is and what you can do to protect your own health (e.g. a quick wipe down or full disinfectant cleaning day). Armed with the above definitions, I encourage you to connect with your home cleaning service provider. Ask what cleaning agents they use, along with the Safety Data Sheets for the products they are using. This will give more insight, and hopefully more sleep-filled nights, as you relax knowing how safe your home really is.

Curious as to how you can improve the quality of your life through cleaning sanitizing, or disinfecting?
Connect today and share why dirt is keeping you up at night!

July 16, 2020
10 Minimalist Lifestyle Tips to De-Stress and Save Money

Minimalism can come with various benefits outside of having a sparkling clean apartment. You could declutter your space, your mind, and your budget. As the world’s changing, many of us have started to notice that less really means more.

Instead of sifting through your closet for your favorite shirt amongst those you never wear, have your favorite picks right at your fingertips. If you’re one that has too many junk drawers and spend most of your time trying to find things throughout your space, it may be the right time to start cleaning up.

Even though ditching everything in your home and closet may sound rather daunting, it doesn’t have to be that overwhelming. There may be roadblocks that trip you along this journey. Even feeling guilty for getting rid of sentimental items or remembering to bring your reusable coffee takeaway mug. Keep reading to see Mint’s favorite tips for achieving a stress-free minimalism lifestyle.

July 10, 2020
How to Create Physically and Psychologically Safe Spaces for Employees
Will I be safe going back to work? Can I do my job without fear of getting sick? Can I touch things? Am I just being silly or am I going to be safe?

I’m seeing a huge shift in how businesses view cleaning, particularly as Alberta further reopens. This shift is in how businesses are viewing cleaning as it relates to the overall wellness of their company.

It’s funny as we used to take cleanliness for granted and hope that it would ‘somehow’ happen. But now, because we associate the word ‘clean’ with something that is virus-free, it has become much more than what it used to be.

No longer is commercial cleaning about first impressions and simple cleanliness. It is about reassurance. Reassurance that you and your space are safe, helping to ease anxieties about viruses that may be innocently lurking on every surface.

In conversation with clients, cleaning has now become part of their everyday safety protocols. This ensures their safety beyond the surfaces they touch, including:
- Improving the actual environment for your team’s physical health,
- Building better psychologically safe environments for your team’s mental wellness, and
- Turning cleaning as an expense into an investment to properly support both of the above.
It’s so important that we employers take the time to understand the full impact that COVID-19 had on employees from a mental standpoint, as much as it the physical toll it took.
IMPORTANCE OF PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY

Your team cannot be in your office as you once were able to. The Alberta Government has done a good job of highlighting what you need to do to ensure you properly reopen, however, there is one crucial piece missing. That’s how to support your people with the physical AND the mental impact of COVID on them.

There is plenty of research done on how cleaning can improve your team’s productivity. Specifically, by focusing on sanitization, along with implementing specific rules for sick colleagues (e.g. do not come into work if you have the sniffles), you help your team remain healthy by:
- Minimizing the potential for germs and cross-contamination,
- Improving the overall air quality for your team, and
- Supporting/building a culture of true physical safety.
Where more research is being done today is on how cleaning can improve the overall psychological health of your team, especially as fear and anxieties have been heightened since COVID. Focusing on psychological safety and resilience helps you to:
- Support your team to remove/reduce any fear they may be feeling,
- Build a culture of diversity, inclusion, and open communication, and
- Encourage more creativity, resilience, and efficiencies in your team members.
SMALL DETAILS MAKE HUGE IMPACT

There are big things that you can do to let your team know they are safe such as putting up signs indicating what cleaning/sanitizing will be done and when; clearly marking hand sanitation stations; changing your doors to automatic/motion censored, and so forth.

However, it’s the small details that make a deeper impact on the overall mental health and safety of your team. The small details are what allow us, as individuals, to understand what we can and cannot control. This helps us to bring a sense of order for ourselves. These small details can include:
- Scheduling daily or weekly 1:1 check-ins with your individual team members to encourage them to share where they’re at from a mental standpoint. Sometimes, your team needs to feel seen, be heard, and encouraged to focus on their individual mental wellness; and
- Provide welcome back packages, filled with small items that support both the psychological and physical needs of your team, allowing them to do their work safely.
It’s when you start engaging in these small behaviours that you encourage resiliency, communication, and improved performance because you are demonstrating that you CARE about your team as individual people.
CLEANING IS AN INVESTMENT LINE ITEM

The truth is, your people are not safe if you only have professional commercial cleaning done once or twice a month. There is a reason why hotels are having to revamp their cleaning policies and realities of how much they can do simply because of the increase in sanitization standards. Same with restaurants, grocery stores, yoga studios, chiropractic offices and so many more! It is because proper cleaning and sanitizing are crucial to keeping people safe.

My own conversations with clients have been about shifting their cleaning budget from an expense to a non-negotiable operational line item. The key here in supporting them is to ensure all our professional cleaners have the proper training and certification to follow the guidelines as set out by the province…and our own standards as well.

The long and the short of it is that cleaning is transitioning to become a key operation for businesses to thrive in our new business reality. It’s no longer merely about keeping the space clean but keeping your people confident and comfortable in your space.

Looking for a special touch in supporting your team as you all come back together? Have a look at our individual Clean Club Calgary Welcome Back Bags, containing hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray, a roll of wipes, and a face mask (made by a local Calgary company!). To inquire about multiple packages, inquire with the number of packages you’re interested in here: https://www.cleanclubcalgary.com/products.
June 18, 2020
The Future of Cleaning Services in a Post-COVID World
How life was lived prior to March 2020 will never be the same. Nor should it.

COVID-19, the changing economy, and our new way of life is not something that people should look to survive, but understand how to embrace to continue to grow beyond it.

In this new era, there are a lot of good and positive things that are going to come from this. Personally, I hope a bit more human compassion and empathy will spread. Of course, I am also on a mission to show why professional cleaning services are considered an essential service and this is only going to continue.

I’m excited about the changes the industry will see, raising the standard of professionalism as a whole. Cleaning is a very honourable career and I believe that the fall-out of COVID will be a bright future for the cleaning industry.

Commercial Cleaning Services and the Business Community

Unsurprisingly, Clean Club Calgary has had an increase in the frequency of commercial cleaning service requests since COVID-19 broke. Businesses are starting to view cleaning as an investment in both their business and the health of their employees and clients.

That said, surprisingly, a number of our commercial clients changed how they previously viewed their services. For instance, one of our corporate clients increased their cleaning package with key sanitation procedures specifically to mitigate risk for their staff. Another client, previously cost-concerned with cleaning as an expense, has now increased the frequency of cleaning from weekly to two times per week, recognizing that they are investing in the health of their people, not only cleaning and sanitizing a space.

From show homes to studios, offices and cafes full of entrepreneurs, the business community is changing their relationship with cleaning, beginning to invest in it as they do their employee benefits programs.

Residential Cleaning Services and Improved Processes

First thing’s first — residential cleaners are ALSO considered essential workers! Why? Cleaning is as much about one’s overall health as it is about removing debris and dust from their home.

To ensure both families and cleaning teams remain safe, many companies have enhanced their processes for everyone’s safety. Clean Club Calgary has developed boundaries for social distancing, invested in quality face masks for our staff, and trained on additional sanitization techniques, among other steps to limit health risks. In addition, to reduce the time that we’re in a client’s home, we’ve developed firm processes so we can proactively clean and properly disinfect. While residential clients have always expected clean in their services (as they should), they are now growing to expect quality deep cleans every single time. It’s important that we further develop processes and procedures that provide greater relaxation and peace of mind for people in their homes, while meeting their expectations of clean and sanitized.
Cleaning Regulations Implemented Industry-Wide

I have always been committed to raising the standards of the cleaning industry. In fact, I am an active member of the ISSA Canada Residential Council. As part of this counsel, we are looking to develop regulations that all professional cleaning companies must follow. I believe that this is what all cleaning business owners should be doing as we have now entered an era where simple wipe downs do not bring the peace of mind EXPECTED by our clients.

Here, we continue to:
- Educate: There are key pieces of knowledge and support that come with being a professional cleaning company, such as having properly trained staff; proper coverage in terms of insurance, WCB, and staff; and what cleaning actually does in terms of transforming a space AND an individual’s physical and mental health.
  
  It’s also important that we educate on the types of products being used in the industry, particularly those laying claim to being “natural.” I am often approached by companies selling their “natural” cleaning product that has not (yet) been approved by Health Canada, does not have a DIN attached to it, nor does it have a safety data sheet. Natural may be a worthwhile trend to follow in cleaning products, however, if there is no safety data attached, then there is no guarantee that it is actually cleaning.
  
  Finally, while many products clean, they do not SANITIZE. In our post-COVID era, sanitization is crucial for businesses to ensure the safety of their people and clients. Professional cleaners must know the difference.
- Train: Did you know that there are eight ways you can fold a cloth to re-use it WITHOUT cross-contaminating? Not many untrained cleaners — including retail employees tasked with cleaning — know this either.
  
  This is just one tiny example of how easily and innocently cross-contamination happens. This is why cleaners who invest in their training are so valuable. They understand these tiny details that are about HEALTH.
  
  I personally invested in training and received certification as an House Cleaner Technician. All of our cleaners must go through similar onboarding training that we’ve developed to ensure that they are properly cleaning. By investing in proper training, both of our leaders AND of our cleaning team, our clients receive a true quality clean that supports their lifestyle.
- Improve systems: Systems and processes are crucial to properly regulating the industry. Our customers work with us because of the processes we have developed (not to mention our fun service). Our training involves going through our systems for how to properly clean, communicate with clients, work with special client requests, communicate with team members, and so forth.
  
  For the industry to raise its standards as a whole, showing the honour and pride that comes with this career, companies must implement processes and systems that support their clients and their cleaners. Having these systems in place, such as how to cover an employee who is sick, ensures the client work still gets done. These systems provide options for both the cleaning company AND the client themselves. The professionalism behind these systems raises the reputation of a company as better service is the long-term result.
Personally, I am excited to see people and businesses changing how they view cleaning services and professionals. Cleaning is no longer a nicety, but an investment that benefits people’s overall well-being. The future of the cleaning industry is going to sparkle and shine bright as more and more people expect higher standards for their new definition of clean.

Have you started to view cleaning in a new light since COVID? How has this impacted you/your business/your home life? I would love to hear how you’re using cleaning in your post-COVID world! Contact me today!
May 21, 2020
How to Clean Away Fear and Lean Into Your Values During COVID-19
COVID-19 has rocked my world no more or less than any other business or individual I know. We are all in a time where our hope and optimism are being challenged, where visions of growth are put on hold, and uncertainty makes us question what we hold most dear.

As I reflect on exactly what COVID-19 means for my family, Clean Club Calgary, our clients, and the small business community, my thoughts turn to our values and how we can help. How we, as a business, can be there for our team and customers beyond our residential and commercial cleaning services. Suddenly, COVID-19 became a way for me to further tap into my values. With this, COVID-19 became:
- Compassion for ourselves and others
- Offer to help
- Visualize life after the pandemic
- Incorporate fun every day
- Drink wine
- 1% fear
- 99% love
COMPASSION FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS

Without having compassion for ourselves as we face difficult decisions and for those who are impacted by our decisions, COVID-19 will win. With compassion, it won’t. The one thing that we are all seeing is the beauty of human connection and compassion this pandemic is bringing out in people.
Compassion for self and others

I myself had to lay off staff for a multitude of reasons in March and not one of them was a performance-based decision. However, it is still important that I connect with them. Once a week via Zoom, we connect and chat about how they’re doing okay with the EI process and their own mental health, understanding that this is (hopefully) temporary. We all understand the position we are now all in and share in our compassion for each other.

OFFER TO HELP

Clean Club Calgary has been deemed an essential business and is continuing to serve Calgarians with professional cleaning and sanitation services. One way we have identified that we can further help a number of our elderly clients (beyond our specific Coronoavirus sanitation procedures) is by bringing key essential items to them when we come for their cleaning. This way, they do not have to worry about going out for groceries or other items. While we are not offering this for all our clients, we are constantly looking for ways to support those who may be at higher risk.

We are here to help!

VISUALIZE LIFE AFTER THE PANDEMIC

A number of colleagues of mine in the cleaning industry simply closed their doors once this pandemic hit. This breaks my heart as, in talking with them, it’s clear that it was primarily a fear-based decision (rightfully so). To keep my mind out of the fearful zone while staying realistic in my hope, I wrote myself a letter highlighting what I want my life to be after this pandemic. This includes what Clean Club Calgary will look like. With so much out of my control, this specific task helps me stay focused on what I can control; specifically, my thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Yes, some days are really hard; others, not so much, but I have people I need to be there for today, tomorrow, AND months down the road. By visualizing life after the pandemic, I’m able to stay in the optimistic zone as I take the very next steps to work with the day-to-day realities as they present themselves.

Day dream a little!

INCORPORATE FUN EVERYDAY

This is key for remaining focused on hope.“Fun” doesn’t have to be huge. For me, fun is the conversations I have with my husband, or a loving touch and a warm smile. We also play card games every day. To keep things interesting, we have started a fun way of tracking who “wins.” This helps us remain lighthearted after days that are full of heartache.

I also think it’s key to bring fun into all business conversations these days. For instance, on zoom calls with my team, we all share in a gratitude moment. This is important as it allows us to remember that we are grateful to be together, serving our customers in a time of need.

Have fun and play some cards!

DRINK WINE

Always – drink wine! But in all seriousness, this really means that you should keep consistent with the things you did before the pandemic that helped your mental state. For me, a glass of wine a day has always been a comfort and continues to be throughout this time. For others, this could be as simple as keeping up with your medication or going for a walk. Whatever your “drink wine” is, continue to do it with even more purpose and intention for self-care.

Enjoy a glass of wine!

1% FEAR

We are inundated with fear from the moment we wake up to the time we go to sleep. However, we cannot operate on fear for long before we crash and burn. Recognize that fear is a normal emotion to have right now, but it should not be all-consuming. Limit your news and social media, look for those voices who are being a light in the dark, and focus on filling your fear with love for your team and your customers.

99% LOVE

Love, life, and business? Yes. More than anything, this pandemic has taught me the importance of operating with love, both in my personal life and in business. It’s important I take a moment and infuse all actions with compassion in connecting with other business owners, my team and customers. Even as we make hard decisions and have rough conversations, coming from a place of love and compassion will help us all get through COVID-19 a little less worse for wear.

At the end of the day, there’s not one person or business who will walk away unscathed by this pandemic. While there may not be much that we can control throughout COVID-19, we can control how we choose to act. It’s a matter of leaning into our values, showing compassion for everyone, and building community through safe distances and clean spaces.

How has COVID-19 made you look at your values and actions differently? Connect with me today – I would love to hear how you and your team are connecting through COVID-19.
April 15, 2020
How to Clean Your Drawers to Clear Your Mind

As the global pandemic causes families to stay indoors, it’s a crucial time to reset your organizational habits. Create a routine that helps you tackle messy drawers, cluttered surfaces, and crowded closets to reduce feelings of anxiety during an already stressful time. Creating the tidiest drawers possible is more important than you think.

If you don’t know where to begin, start small. You’re not going to have an immaculate home overnight. Have you figured out the best organizational method yet? Curious about the secrets of people with super organized drawers? Below, take a look at 11 easy habits you can adopt to create a more orderly living space:

1. Empty Everything

You might be wary of emptying all your items from your drawers for fear of making even more of a mess, but it has to be done. Clearing your drawers out all at once (and thoroughly wiping them down) is the #1 recommended way to start the tidying process.

2. Categorize and Label Your Drawers

There’s no room for confusion when there’s a label for everything. Feel free to get fancy and decorative when creating your labels. Then, label your drawers by season, category, or whatever you prefer.

3. Don’t Procrastinate on Folding Clothes

Folding is easy when you know the items have a place to go, and it’s best to knock it out right away. If you procrastinate on folding, it’ll probably never get done (or at least it won’t get done neatly.) Try to place folded items in a way that allows you to see at a glance everything you have.

4. Don’t Wait to Empty Your Laundry Basket

Leaving your laundry baskets of unfolded clothes is never a good idea. When you revisit the task, you might even mix up which clothes are clean and dirty.It’s worth it to invest that extra time to empty and fold your freshly cleaned items.

5. Clear Off Your Dresser Top

Are there miscellaneous items crowding the top of your dresser? Items tend to easily collect on open surfaces, so challenge yourself to keep your dresser top empty. It will contribute to an overall more organized look.

6. Make Your Bed Every Morning

What does a neatly made bed have to do with organized drawers? Your bed is the focal point of the entire bedroom. It affects the vibe of the whole space. You won’t want to organize anything else if it’s a mess!

7. Color Categorize Your Closet

Prioritize categorizing your closet by color so it’s easier to find items of your wardrobe. You’ll be able to put together outfits more easily, and you’ll be more motivated to organize your drawers, too.

8. Invest in Nice Linen Storage

Linen storage is often forgotten. Invest in beautiful wicker baskets or other aesthetically pleasing storage containers for storing bedding, blankets, towels, etc. It makes a huge difference.

9. Follow the 6 Month Rule

Unless you’re using something or wearing a piece of clothing all the time, you should probably toss it after 6 months. The 6 month rule of purging is liberating and makes space for new items.

10. Give Yourself One Junk Drawer

Allowing yourself one junk drawer will help you maintain your sanity. Nobody’s perfect. Sometimes you feel like you need a home for the miscellaneous items you can’t categorize. Just be sure to go through and toss unnecessary items from this drawer every few months.

11. Clean and Organize Your Room Weekly

We shouldn’t underestimate the power of organized drawers to clear our minds and set us up for success in other areas of our lives. Realistically, thoroughly tidying your bedroom once a week is a good goal. Make it fun, and make a routine out of it. Create an easy checklist to follow every time.

Organizing your home is a therapeutic process that gives you the chance to declutter your living space and your mind. Check out the full visual below that illustrates these habits you can adopt to create a better home this Spring.

April 12, 2020
Professional Home Cleaner or Independent Contractor: Who Has Your Trust?
Whether this is your first experience having your home professionally cleaned, or you’ve worked with residential cleaners for years, finding the right cleaner for your home boils down to trust.

I’m a tad biased when it comes to deciding between an independent cleaner or a licensed residential cleaning business seeing that I run Clean Club Calgary, a professional cleaning company. However, having first started in this industry as a solo cleaner myself, there are clear benefits to working with a cleaning professional over an independent cleaning contractor.

EARNING YOUR TRUST IS A PROFESSIONAL’S TOP PRIORITY

Cleaning is more than scrubbing and removing grime. It’s letting someone into your home, your safe haven, to transform it into a place in which you can simply relax. This requires trusting someone with your personal property. While there are plenty of good independent cleaners out there, who are typically more cost-effective than a professional cleaning company, there are clear differences that impact the type of cleaning experience you’ll receive.

This starts with having a professionally vetted and trained team, guided by a leader. This leader should be someone who is actively motivating, growing, and improving their cleaning team, setting up their client, the business AND their employees for long-term success. This translates to the quality of work because the cleaning team feels cared for and that they have an impact within the company. The result is a motivated, committed and professional team going into your home to enhance your home life.

DELIVERING MOTIVATED, RELIABLE AND CONSISTENT CLEANING

An independent cleaner is just that – independent. They typically do not have a backup cleaner to fill in for them should they be unable to make your appointment, often leaving you high and dry for cleaning services. Such events can include getting sick, having to care for a sick child at home, getting stuck in traffic, etc. From there, rescheduling may become a hassle if you are not able to have them clean your home when you want.

With a professional cleaning company, you typically have a cleaning team of two people. At Clean Club Calgary, we work to have the same team clean the same house so there is consistency in who is in your home. Should one individual not be able to make their shift, the other team member will still go, bringing another trained team member with them. This regular team member knows the house and client preferences, allowing them to guide the other cleaner, ensuring the quality of clean remains, without missing our promised cleaning date. Plain and simple, with a professional cleaning company, you are more likely to receive a team who will always show up and have a clear understanding of your expectations.

BUILDING AN EXPERIENCED, PROFESSIONAL WORKING RELATIONSHIP

Your home is not where your cleaner should get their emotional needs met. Unfortunately, time and again, I hear tales of cleaners who share all the details of their personal lives with their client…whether the client wants to hear it or not. In my eyes, this is incredibly unprofessional. When you hire a cleaning service, regardless of whether they are a freelancer, incorporated company, or close friend, they should be there to do one thing: the work you are paying them for!

A professional cleaning company understands this and equips their team accordingly. This translates into how we act and show up at your house. For instance, we have a clear pre-cleaning checklist identifying the next day’s required cleaning and specific client requests. This gives our people the knowledge they need to immediately start cleaning when they arrive rather than using the first 10 – 20 minutes of your time understanding what needs to be cleaned that day. There are a number of checks and balances, internal communications, and other policies in place to ensure our customers receive the specific cleaning they require that day. With an independent cleaner, often your cleaning needs are not identified until the morning they arrive and you have to use your booked cleaning time going over what needs to be done.

Another differentiator is ensuring the team appears as a united front. This shows up by wearing our company uniform and name tags over sweats, uniting us as a cleaning team while letting you know who is in your home. This is crucial for building trust in our people, our company, and our industry.
INVESTED IN GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED INDUSTRY-TRAINING

Anyone can clean. However, a professionally trained cleaner does so much more. Cleaning becomes a knowledgeable artform, using science to create fresh spaces.

One reason we focus on proper training with our team is as simple as understanding what products can be used on what materials. For instance, natural stone cannot come into contact with any acid. This means you cannot use any cleaners – including vinegar – that could damage the stone. If your cleaner is not properly trained in understanding what products can be used on what materials, you run the risk of having your home accidentally damaged. What’s more, a professional company will have the proper insurance to repair this damage should it occur. Chances are, an independent cleaner will not. What’s worse – and this is not always the case – but if they’re not aligned with your values of taking responsibility for their actions, a solo cleaner may just leave and never come back. Then, you’re out a cleaner and on the line for fixing the damage.

At Clean Club Calgary, we ensure we’ve provided our team with the right training and tools to ensure a quality clean. These items were developed based on my IICRC Technician certification, a globally recognized cleaning and restoration certificate. Two of these items we provide are:
- Solvent Usage List: This list provides insights into what solvents can and cannot be used on specific materials. We ensure our team can access this 24/7, ensuring they can easily review should they need to when supporting our customers.
- Cleaning Training Manual: Our training isn’t a simple, “Read this and you’ll be ready to clean for our clients.” We require new cleaners to review and learn a specific section of our manual and then watch the in-house training videos we’ve developed showcasing our client’s expectations of cleanliness. From there, they go with a cleaning lead to our client’s home and implement what they’ve learned. The leader then looks over their work and guides on how to improve (if needed). The process continues until the new team member successfully meets all criteria within our manual.
SUPPORTING HOME BUSINESSES WITH CLEANING WRITE-OFFS

An independent or solo cleaner will most likely have lower pricing than a professional company. However, this lower price actually limits you, the client, in the long run, particularly in relation to cost savings and tax write-offs.

As more companies introduce Work-from-Home Policies and home offices are the bread and butter for numerous entrepreneurs, clients have the opportunity to write off a portion of their cleaning service as a business expense for their home office. A professional company will have the proper invoicing system, allowing you to properly track payments and provide official receipts for Revenue Canada for writing off a portion of your cleaning as a business expense.

Solo cleaners tend to work with cash payments only (not all!) and are not able to provide the appropriate paperwork for the CRA. In addition, cash payments are “under the table,” and these individuals are not paying taxes on the income they’re earning. This lowers the reputation of our industry and minimizes the training and dedication that other companies have invested in.

PROTECTING BOTH CUSTOMERS AND OUR TEAM IMPROVES SERVICE

A cleaning company’s goal, other than providing a quality clean, should be to retain customers and work to resolve issues together. This is quality service in action. If there are any issues, such as not meeting cleaning expectations, the professional company should come back to rectify these because they have more ability to do so. A solo cleaner may simply not respond or come back.

A professional cleaning company must also have insurance, be bonded, and have WCB to ensure clients and their team are protected. In addition to these non-negotiable pieces, running background checks on potential hires is crucial for ensuring we are doing our due diligence in protecting ourselves and our clients. The worst horror story I have come across is an independent cleaner here in Calgary who stole from the client. When the client contacted the police, the client was informed that the individual was in the country illegally and they were trying to locate this individual. Needless to say, this client was never compensated for their loss.

PROFESSIONAL AND CLEAN SHOULD GO HAND IN HAND

Clean Club Calgary is building the bridge between the cleaning industry and a professional standard. Of course, there are solo cleaners who are reputable, honest, and there to provide the best service they can for their clients, but not always. By focusing on proper training, customer service, and empowering our team to take ownership of their role, professional cleaning is our client’s reality. It comes down to supporting the client ahead of their cleaning time; protecting them and the company through proper channels; and focusing on honest, open, relationships dedicated to providing a higher quality of life.

Regardless of whether you’re looking to work with a solo cleaner or a professional cleaning company, do your due diligence before letting anyone into your home. Ask questions, learn their process for scheduling/rescheduling, hiring, and cleaning your home. Sometimes, the benefits that go with a professional cleaning team can save you headaches and even money in the long run.

Have a cleaning horror story that scared you? Perhaps a cleaning company that pleasantly surprised you? Please reach out and share your insights – we are always here to learn more about the industry and what you’re looking for in cleaning services. Connect today!!
March 12, 2020