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How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolution Past January

We made it through the first month of 2020! Can you believe it? I don’t know about you, but I always find that by January 31st, even if I had the best of intentions with my New Year’s Resolutions, they tend to tumble by the wayside. In fact, up to 80% of all New Year’s Resolutions are abandoned by the end of January! Why does this happen and what can we do about it?

Well, January is often a time when people say “yes” to new, to be a “better” version of themselves, and commit to goals that require a change in their habits. Unfortunately, as they are saying “yes” to these new goals, they are then saying “no” to something else…and that something is often cleaning the home. This is okay and completely normal. You should be able to say yes to the things you want. Realize that when you do, something else is left behind.

In my experience with clients, they’ve shared that it’s the cleaning that allows them to stay committed to their goals. I was just as shocked as you! What in the world does residential cleaning have to do with staying on top of their resolutions?

In one word – TIME.

In this month’s post, we break down some of the more common resolutions people commit to in January and why cleaning can either be the thing that helps you keep – or break – your commitment to your resolution.

CLEANING UP YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

RESOLUTION: LOSE WEIGHT

If losing weight is your resolution, you are not alone. Weight loss is one of the most popular resolutions people set in January. However, this resolution is a commitment as it typically involves changing habits as you invest in your health. Often, it also means focusing on working out in your “free time” rather than on cleaning your house. Investing in a cleaner once a month to support you in being active removes the stress that you must clean OR work out. Rather, you can focus on working out without feeling guilty for not vacuuming.

RESOLUTION: SPEND MORE TIME WITH FAMILY

Spending quality time with the family is a big resolution for people. Do you really want to spend this time cleaning? While I absolutely agree that children should learn to be tidy and clean their rooms – responsibility is always a good thing – why don’t you treat yourself to the type of time you want with your family. By investing in cleaning (even if you do not include the kids’ rooms and bathrooms), you give yourself time to enjoy with your kids or significant other doing the things you want to do together. Of course, some families love cleaning together and this is how they spend more time with each other. If this is your family, awesome! Have any fun family cleaning activities you’d like to share for other families looking to clean together?

RESOLUTION: ENJOY TRAVELLING MORE

Stop stressing while you are enjoying your travels about the “mess” that awaits you at home. Get the most out of your travel resolution by investing in cleaning while you’re away. This way, you can run out the door (don’t forget to lock it) and enjoy your trip while professional cleaners come in and clean while you’re travelling the world. When you are back home, you simply get to reflect on your trip’s memories while getting rid of your jet lag rather than staring at the chores that must be completed.

RESOLUTION: START A NEW HOBBY

Hobbies are a fantastic opportunity to stretch your interests, improve your mental health, and help you cope with stress. However, hobbies take time away from things we feel we “must” do, in order to be a responsible adult, such as clean our homes. If you are starting a new hobby, wouldn’t you rather spend your time learning, planning, and then doing the hobby rather than worrying about whether the room you’re in is a mess? Investing in cleaning directly supports you in growing your hobby by giving you the time to actually enjoy being engaged with it.

RESOLUTION: GAIN MORE EDUCATION

You are ready to level up and step into the next version of you. Whether you are returning to school full time or taking continuing education courses, education requires a commitment and focus. In working with a professional cleaning company, you’ll be able to focus on your schooling requirements and not whether you have to scrub your toilets. Worrying about if your home is clean is irrelevant when you are focused on achieving your education goals.

RESOLUTION: BUILD A COMPANY

I am an entrepreneur who runs a full-time company and love what I do. The last thing I want to do when I get home is clean…and I run a cleaning business! Trust me, I understand that building a company takes a lot of your time and you may not have a day off for weeks. Use your energy to grow your company and focus where you need to most. Stop being stressed out coming home in the wee hours of night to a messy home. In working with a cleaning company, you give yourself the mental space needed to focus on your business (and other priorities, such as your family) and relax when you need to most.

Ultimately, resolutions succeed when you put clear boundaries and understand why this resolution is important to you. Setting up systems, processes, and commitments to your resolution means that you are more likely to stick with it in order to achieve it.

Remember, the year is 365 days (366 in 2020). Building new habits to achieve your resolutions takes more than four weeks, so if you’ve “fallen off the bandwagon” for your resolution, don’t worry! There is still plenty of time to restart and achieve your goal. It takes a clear understanding of why your resolution is important to you and then developing the right steps and supports to help you get there (and remove the distractions that make you say, “tomorrow”).

Eager to share your resolution and why it’s important that you reach it? Tell us how residential cleaning services may be the answer to helping you achieve your goal? Connect with me today – I’m only a phone call away.

February 20, 2020
10 Cleaning Myths to Scrub Away in 2020
The world of cleaning is full of different techniques, tricks, and tips to help you clean absolutely anything! From how to properly clean a hardwood floor, to removing red wine stains from white carpet, to brightening your teeth, just google “how to clean X” and your search engine shares all the hints you could possibly use. However, not all information online is the truth! I know – I was just as shocked as you. So, this month, we’re here to debunk a number of these “helpful cleaning hints,” busting the myths of the past decade so you can start your 2020 feeling confident in your kind of clean.

Myth 1: Vinegar is truly the best cleaning agent

Vinegar is absolutely a fantastic cleaner to use for removing hard water stains and for disinfecting surfaces. However, it is acidic and will damage any natural stones you have, including floor tiles, counter backsplashes, and your jewelry.

Myth 2: String mops give the cleanest floors

Please do not take this the wrong way, but YUCK! Think about it, how many times have you washed and disinfected a string mop after using it. Unless you take the time to properly soak it, cleanse it, and dry it, this mop remains a home for germs, grime, and other dirty critters.

In fact, I once hired a cleaning company to clean my house and they used a mop where they had stapled the string portion onto the handle. There is no way this mop was clean or sanitized. I was appalled. So, when I started Clean Club Calgary, I knew we were never going to do this as it goes directly against our promise of providing a quality clean. Rather, we use mops with removable and replaceable pads to make sure we can clean and sanitize them properly before and after each use. This way our clients get a truly clean floor.

Myth 3: Bleach cleans everything

While bleach lightens stains, making things look cleaner, it doesn’t actually remove any soil. However, it does kill bacteria meaning that bleach is actually better as a sanitizer than a cleaner. Next time you go to reach for the bleach, ask yourself if you need to truly clean, or merely sanitize with sparkle.

Myth 4: Central vacuums are the worst for sucking power

We know vacuums at Clean Club Calgary and, without a doubt, the best ones we work with are central vacuums. When they are properly cared for, they have a lot better sucking power than a push vacuum. Yes, push vacuums are good, but, in our experience, they simply do not provide the same quality clean as a central vacuum.

If you have a central vacuum and are looking to connect with a professional vacuum specialist to care for it, we highly recommend the folks over at A Vacuum Store and Service.

Myth 5: Newspaper is unsurpassed as a glass cleaner

Newspaper absolutely worked 30+years ago when materials were not as advanced. Now, we use a squeegee and/or microfibre cloths that provide a better clean, are more environmentally friendly, and are more sanitary when properly cared for.
Personally, to get our clients glasses super shiny, we use a bit of dish soap in water and give the glass a solid wash. Then, polish them up with our glass cloths for an extra sparkle. Nothing fancy, just pure clean.

Myth 6: Kitchen sponges can be used again and again and again

Kitchen sponges are really germs in action and not the friendly cleaning device you think they are. In fact, research shows that there are more active bacteria contained in your kitchen sponge than anywhere else in your house, including your toilet! This same research shows that sponges can contain pathogenic bacteria, which can lead to E. coli and salmonella.

Don’t worry! Sponges still have their place and we use them all the time at Clean Club Calgary. Here are a few tips so you can keep using your favourite sponges:
- Clean your sponges! Kill those spongey bacteria by either putting your sponge in the dishwasher with a heated dry cycle or pop it in the microwave on high for one minute. Make sure the sponge is damp when you do this.
- Sponges do not last forever. Throw them out and replace them every one to two weeks to ensure you’re not building a long-term home for bacteria.
- Use your sponge wisely. When working with raw juices from meat or poultry, we recommend using a paper towel that can be disposed of. If all you have is a sponge, throw it out after using it with raw meat.
Myth 7: There’s nothing quite as good as handwashing dishes

Sometimes you do have handwash your dishes. Plus, it can be a super fun, relaxing, and social activity if done as a family. However, it is not always better than using a dishwasher. Of course, a dishwasher takes more time from beginning to end, but it does a better job simply because of the degree the water temp gets to so that it properly sanitizes the dishes (~140°F). To handwash at that temperature to properly kill off bacteria would hurt your hand (even if wearing your trusty rubber gloves).



Myth 8: Stainless steel is not easy to clean

Stainless steel can be tricky to clean, particularly since they attract pesky fingerprints. To counter this, at Clean Club Calgary we treat stainless steel the same way we do glass – the other fingerprint attracting material – using only a damp, soapy microfibre cloth to wash it. Then we dry wipe it and polish with our glass cloth. We’ve found that most stainless cleaners are oily and when applied make it next to impossible to remove those finger marks. With our method, prints and other marks do not stick! Easy cleaning without the fancy tricks.

Myth 9: It is only clean if it smells good

Smells play tricks on our senses and tend to create the illusion of “cleaner.” Using the same product, whether scented and unscented, will clean equally well. So why do we assume that the one that smells nice is clean? The smells created come from either chemicals or natural oils in the product you’re using. It is not an indication of cleanliness, but of tantalizing your senses and memories. If you want to know if something is truly clean – nice smelling or not – do the touch test. If it looks and feels clean, chances are you have removed dirt and scum from the surface.

Myth 10: More cleaning is always better

More cleanser, more soap, more spray – just because you’re adding more does not mean you’ll be getting a better clean. When you add more, you have a higher chance of leaving a sticky film behind that attracts, you got it, even more dirt! A bit counterproductive. All you need is a little elbow grease, the right amount – and type – of cleaning product, and you’ll achieve the quality clean that you deserve. Emptying a soap bottle to ensure there’s ALL THE FOAM will not. Fun, yes. Clean…not so much.



And with that, we encourage you to throw these myths away with the dishwater! Is there a cleaning myth you’ve debunked? Share it with us today!
January 15, 2020
The Three Truths Behind Your Residential Cleaning Costs
Residential cleaning is a rip off! Why pay someone to do something that we can do ourselves? It’s super expensive and never great service. Cleaning companies make huge profits and are just racking up the money…but not sharing it with their staff.

Yep. A lot of these statements are true of the industry. However, a lot of them are not true of most cleaning companies who are working hard to build reputable businesses. I believe it’s important to change these overall beliefs, demonstrating that cleaning is about more than, well, cleaning. It’s about a quality of life. To do this, I want to start by being completely transparent about the real costs of where your hard-earned money goes.
TRUTH 1: HOME CLEANING IS AFFORDABLE FOR MOST HOUSEHOLDS

There is a misconception that to invest in residential cleaning services, one must be earning hand over fist in cash, with lots to spare. The key to affording it is working with your budget and developing a schedule that suits your lifestyle. For instance, there are a number of ways you can split a $520 monthly cleaning budget. Let’s break it down here:

Monthly Cleaning Budget: 520 CAD

Results in: 8 cleaning hours / month at 65 CAD / hour

Cleaning Options:
- Option 1: 1x/month for 8 hours, 1 lump sum payment, monthly cleaning list
- Option 2: 2x/month, 4 hours/visit, 2 lump sum payments, cleaning priority list
- Option 3: 2 hrs/week, 4 lump sum payments, weekly cleaning priority list
While the budget remains the same, the spacing of payments and type of cleaning can be manipulated to fit your family’s budget and life schedule.

TRUTH 2: PROFITS ARE INVESTED BACK INTO THE CLEANING COMPANY’S PEOPLE

To be incredibly frank, Clean Club Calgary currently has a slim margin at only 10% in profit. This goes directly back into the company and the development of our people through team building workshops, individual training, and educational opportunities. In addition, 90% of what you pay for is for a lot more than clean floors. It supports an entire ecosystem that supports Calgary’s economy, both in terms of service offerings and in adding jobs. The reality is you are supporting a local business, along with the costs of running a reputable, ever-improving company. This breaks down into specific business, operations, and human costs.
BUSINESS COSTS
- Insurance: making sure that both our customers and our team/business are covered with the proper type and amount of insurance is crucial to building a reputable business. By having the right insurance, we are able to stand behind both our team and our customers should an issue arise.
- WCB: if anything happens to our team while on the job, we must take care of them. This means investing in WCB coverage to, again, protect both our team and our customers.
- Background Checks: you are trusting us in your home with all your personal belongings and your family members! We cannot, and will not, hire anyone who has a history with red flags. This means covering timely and accurate security checks to make sure we continue to earn your trust with the right people on our team.
- Team Payroll and Business Taxes: as with most businesses, one of our largest overhead costs is the employee payroll. At Clean Club Calgary, this accounts for more than half of your hourly rate. In addition, there are also those fun CRA taxes, such as GST, Payroll, and Corporate taxes that all incorporated businesses must pay. We are a business who takes pride in paying our team a healthy living wage while still remaining in good standing with the CRA.
- Administrative Fees: all of the above have monthly administrative fees to obtain proper coverage and certifications, along with ensuring we remain up to date with industry organizations.
OPERATIONAL COSTS
- Overhead costs: items such as cleaning supplies, office rent, and our user-friendly booking system through Jobber is crucial to ensuring that you receive quality cleaning when you want it.
- Travel Costs: not all cleaning companies do this, but at Clean Club Calgary, we pay our team for travel time and mileage in between cleaning jobs, particularly since a team may clean three sites a day. We do not charge the client for this time, but we ensure that this is covered as travel is a requirement of the job, much like it is for a sales rep.
- Advertising: cleaning is a very competitive industry. Even though word of mouth is our preferred – and most common – way of advertising, we still invest in professional advertising services, such a Google AdWords, to ensure we remain competitive in the market.
- Image: running a professional company goes beyond the quality of service (but never overshadows it). It’s in how we show up, including with what we wear, how we carry and present ourselves, how we communicate and respond to clients – all of this takes time to train, reinforce, and ensure that you receive a consistently positive cleaning experience.
- Ongoing Training: Currently, there is nothing available for residential cleaning training in Calgary. Any training we do receive must be done outside of the province. For instance, I completed my IICRC House Cleaning Technician certificate to properly support my clients, along with onboarding my team through best practices, industry standards, and new cleaning techniques. Since training includes completion in person, one must travel to where the training is taking place. While I would love to bring this type of training to Calgary (future goals!), there is nothing here at the moment for us to send our team to. We account for this when completing our yearly training budget.
HUMAN LABOUR COSTS
- Back-Breaking Work: cleaning is not easy on the body, especially for people who have mobility limits or body injuries. Yes, you are paying us to take this physical labour off of you and, while we are absolutely honoured to do this, we then place the stress on ourselves. You are literally paying us to put additional strain our bodies.
- Team Benefits: to ensure that our team remains in tip-top shape due to this additional strain, our company must take care of them. Specifically, Clean Club Calgary has an excellent health benefits plan that keeps our people happier and healthier. Read more about how we invest in our team here.
TRUTH 3: THE QUALITY OF YOUR HOME LIFE & RELATIONSHIPS IMPROVES

As I sat down with a recent prospect and his wife, he said,

“you are really taking care of things that we would otherwise fight about!”

At the end of the day, he’s right. You are investing in getting your time back in multiple ways – from not having to do the actual cleaning, to avoiding the time-wasting “who does what” convos and “who can hold out the longest” mind games we have all done (myself included, much to my husband’s own frustration). Residential cleaning is as much about providing you with a quality clean as it is about investing in the quality of your personal relationships.

I fully acknowledge that cleaning services are a luxury investment as they are something that most households can do on their own. At the end of the day, though, the primary question isn’t about how much your residential cleaning services cost. Rather, it should be about what impact this investment has on your life. From there, it becomes easier to understand exactly what the cost is – time, money, and harmony – for cleaning your home.

If you are curious to learn more about where your cleaning investment goes, I am more than happy to have a conversation. Contact me when you’re ready.

Alternatively, know someone who wants to understand a bit more about cleaning costs? Share this blog with them!
December 12, 2019
3 Cleaning Truths Successful Companies Don’t Want You to Know About
Your business may not be in cleaning, but cleaning is still part of your business. It represents your brand, your goals, an overall experience for your clients and employees alike. Knowing this, is your business unintentionally leaving some dirt on your brand’s reputation by not utilizing a proper cleaning service?

Perhaps your office or studio is absolutely spotless, thanks to you and your team staying late and scrubbing down the toilets, wiping down desks, and chasing the dust bunnies away. But, did you truly start your own business so you could scrub it at night? As a Calgary small business owner myself, I understand the urge to do your own cleaning in order to save a few pennies here and there, and that often starts with cleaning. Yet, if “cleaning” is being spoken in hushed tones over the water cooler, it may be time to think about professional services. Imagine what could happen to your business, your reputation, your team’s happiness if you invested in an economical professional cleaning service?

Let’s explore a few truths as to how commercial cleaning can advance your company.

TRUTH ONE: CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO CLIENT HAPPINESS

Yes, when a client comes into your office, a patient into your practice, or a yogi into your studio, they are absolutely judging the space they’re in. By welcoming them with a truly clean space – dust free, smell free, stain free, junk free – you’re creating an environment people want to be in. Even better, you’re creating a business that people want to come back to, while sharing their positive experiences with their friends.

Other benefits from cleanliness show up in your team’s performance by through improved focused, increased engaged, and overall happy attitude when working in a clean environment.

TRUTH TWO: CLEAN IS IN THE EYE OF THE CLIENT

What you may believe is clean may not actually be clean to your clients or customers. Make sure that you think of who is using your space, why they’re there and what the space is used for to understand what clean truly is. From there, it’s a matter of utilizing a cleaning service that supports the type of quality clean your business requires.

For example, we have a chiropractor practice as a client who happens to specialize in babies. As such, they have babies crawling on the floor of their practice all the time. It is absolutely crucial that their floors be immaculate so the parents bringing their babies in can rest easy knowing that they are letting their child crawl on a clean floor. We all know that there is nothing quite like the eagle eye of a parent. Ensuring this practice is clean at all times is essential in supporting our client’s reputation with their key clientele.
TRUTH THREE: CLEAN MAKES HAPPIER, MORE PRODUCTIVE TEAMS

More and more, we’re learning how hygienic workplaces contribute to your overall employee health, satisfaction, and productivity. Ensuring your business is clean, truly clean, helps improve employee productivity as it limits the spread of airborne illnesses, such as the nasty flu. While it is obvious why building a culture of “cleanliness” is important to keeping employees healthy (e.g. hand washing programs, work remotely if contagious, “no touch” doors, etc.) in order to limit the number of sick days taken, we’re also learning more about how a clean workplace can enhance the overall mindset of your team. By reducing clutter in the office, kicking out those dust bunny “employees,” and even wiping the fingerprints off the glass doors that welcome clients, your team will begin associating quality and positivity with your environment. As such, you’ll have happier, healthier, and a much more productive team focused on the role you hired them for in the first place.

By using a professional cleaning service, you’re also going to help improve the indoor air quality. Reason being is that we have the proper tools to remove the type of dust that sticks to walls, windows, and mirrors – those particles that get in the vents and send who knows what throughout the air and into our lungs. We have also invested in the right supplies to ensure we’re taking the dirt with us, such as high-powered vacuum cleaners, leaving your studio space with a real clean, not a surface one. With cleaner air comes easier breathing. This ultimately leads to a team with clearer thinking abilities, allowing them to be more creative and engaged.

ULTIMATELY, CLEANING AND BUSINESS GO HAND IN HAND

Cleaning doesn’t have to be done every single day in order for your business to benefit from professional services. What’s important is understanding what clean is to you, your employees, and your customers. When working with a cleaning company, such as Clean Club Calgary, you have a dedicated team member whose sole purpose is to make your office spectacular and represent your brand in a positive light. This means gaining a clear understanding of what “clean” is, how often your cleaning should be done, and how cleaning can support your overall business goals.

If you’re not sure whether your business could benefit from a professional cleaning service, take a moment to answer the following (be honest…we won’t tell):
- Toilet Time: Does someone want to sit on the toilet or are you making your customers squat more than they need to?
- Garbage Smells: What’s the garbage can smell like? Not the actual garbage bag…but the can itself? (yep – these too need to be washed)
- Fridge Critters: Is there something crawling in your team fridge? If yes…your employee satisfaction is most likely not that high…or at least falls every time the fridge is opened.
- Look Way Up: When was the last time you cleaned the high areas in your office, removing the dust that impacts air quality?
- Smiles Abound? Observe the overall mental health of your employees. While there may be a number of items that contribute to a person’s mental health stressors, make sure the cleanliness of your environment isn’t one of them.
If your answers to these sent some shivers down your spine, you could very well need support in seeing how cleaning can support your business growth. A commercial cleaning company will be able to walk you through each of these questions (and then some) to understand what your primary concerns are and how to start addressing them.

The ultimate truth here is that you’ve worked hard to build a business you can be proud of. Take it even further by investing in cleaning services that focus on you, your productivity, and your client satisfaction. Connect with Clean Club Calgary to see how you can relax with commercial cleaning services.
November 14, 2019
5 Ways to Keep it Clean While Building A Team
It’s true; a team really is only as good as its weakest link. As I’m sure you know from running your own business, the “weak link” is often impacted by how a company cares for its people. While I take many cleaning industry employer horror stories with a grain of salt, there are small truths in a number of these tales. What we aim to do at Clean Club Calgary is build our team of individuals, providing them with a career to take pride in and clients who respect and appreciate their work. Ultimately, we care for our people, which, in turn, provides our clients with cleaners who care about their quality of work.
So, how can we support our team to ensure that:
- They have all the proper tools, mindset, and proactive attitude, and
- Our clients feel cared for while having their cleaning expectations met?
The simple answer is we EMPOWER our staff. This ensures clients receive more than a cleaning, but an overall higher quality of life. It all starts with how we work with our cleaning teams.

TRUST IS OUR ESSENTIAL CLEANING TOOL

Trusting my team is easy as I truly believe that people put in 100% effort. I trust that my team is cleaning to the best of their abilities, with the right tools to do so. That said, I also know that we are all humans and have hiccups happen from time to time. What’s important is that we all remain committed to doing our best, implement processes if this trust is broken, and continually empower each other to be accountable for our work.

As my team has grown, I’ve been able to further empower them in their roles by taking ownership of how they provide a higher client quality of life. This builds my trust in them even more while encouraging them to further improve the quality for our clients. Sending a cleaning team to you with my trust is the most essential tool I can provide.
PROVIDE INSTANT FEEDBACK

This is one of the kindest things an employer or client can do. If there is an issue, it does not do well to let it fester. Feedback must be instant as it allows us to go back to a client and fix things right away. Whether the feedback comes from you – the client – or a senior cleaning member, instant, proactive feedback goes a long way. Internally, we have a systemized approach for providing effective feedback ensuring:
- The team member understands the hiccup in order to not make it again,
- The issue is dealt with and proactively managed as soon as possible,
- There is a clear path forward to correcting the hiccup, and
- Clients are kept in the loop on all feedback communication and how issues are solved.
OUR TEAM ARE ALSO OUR CUSTOMERS

“Treat your employees as your customers” – sure, we hear this a lot, but is it being put into practice? For some companies, their employees are as replaceable as the cleaning cloths they use. However, our people know that they are irreplaceable and respected as a Clean Club Calgary cleaning team member. Our staff are long-term, loyal people, here to build real relationships with each other and our clients. It’s important that we take care of them.
This starts by making sure vacation requests are approved in a timely manner, a great benefits package and Group matching RRSP are offered, and a few other personalized bonuses and perks. We also have a solid cancellation policy in place with our clients to ensure that our team, who is eager to provide a quality clean, can work.

APPRECIATION GOES A LONG WAY

Cleaning is not a glamorous job. We all know this. There truly is nothing wonderful about scrubbing a toilet. However, knowing that we are making a difference in the lives of our customers is a huge motivator for us to show up ready, willing, and able to work.

Sharing positive feedback and acknowledging the effort our team puts into their cleaning is so important. And not just with the specific individual who received the praise. It’s important that when members of our team receive feedback the whole Clean Club Calgary team is made aware. We do this through Facebook’s corporate communication tool, Workplace. Our team shares files, pictures, group conversations of support; are able to ask and answer each other’s questions; often offer new cleaning tips and techniques; and so much more. This has helped to cultivate a deep fellowship feeling, supporting our team in communicating and connecting further. The trust between team members has grown since we’ve started using this system as it also allows them to provide their own shout-outs to their cleaning teammates. Ultimately, this support and appreciation shows up in the quality clean our clients receive.

REPEATING ONESELF ISN’T A BAD THING

As a leader, I believe that I have a full-time career in learning. While I’ve learned so many lessons, the biggest one is that repetition is the God of Learning. Everyone learns differently and expecting all members of my team to learn the same is wishful thinking. Rather, repetition has become my biggest asset in supporting my team. I’ve learned that I must repeat myself, in different ways, to ensure everyone understands our clients’ expectations. Particularly with my multi-nationality team, I have become quite savvy at navigating the cultural differences in how things are said so there is clarity for all.

While we have full customer profiles on file that outline all cleaning requirements, details, and preferences, there are still questions from team members that come back simply because each person learns differently. It is my job to make sure that your cleaning team understands what your definition of clean and quality of life are. Repeating myself ensures that you receive the service you expect.

Being able to build a team of individuals is one of the greatest things about running a business. It is something I am committed to working on as a company centred on “TEAM” for being essential to our – and your – success. It’s how we’ll continue to provide you the quality of clean you deserve, whether in your home, small office, or commercial studio.

The bonus of knowing your cleaners care? You’ll spot it in the details! Contact us today to connect with a cleaning team who cleans with care.
October 17, 2019
The Sparkling Details in the Simplest of Cleaning Tools
I love sharing information about the cleaning industry. Even more, I love talking about cleaning tools and products. In this love, my firm belief with Clean Club Calgary is that we must provide every member of our team the proper tools to succeed at our job. This is as important as the actual cleaning itself! This is the only way we can provide clients with a quality clean.

This month, I wanted to share the ten tools that are our absolute essentials for ensuring our clients receive a clean that improves their quality of life in their home, office, or even post-construction project.

THE ESSENTIAL CLEANING TOOL CHECKLIST

1. Glass Cloth

A multifunctional tool, we never go anywhere without it. A true lifesaver for cleaning all kinds of surfaces that always adds the extra oomph and sparkle to any clean. Extremely gentle on glass, it allows us to clean sensitive, commonly scratched surfaces without doing damage. It dries quickly, is reusable, easy to wash, and highly durable. We wouldn’t dream of cleaning without one to buff and shine all surfaces, including glass cook tops, mirrors, windows, and appliances.

Curious about this cloth for your own use? Click here to learn more.

2. Microfiber Cloth

Cleaning without a microfiber cloth is like putting on makeup without foundation or shaving without any shave gel. You can do it…but not very well. Using this material cloth is crucial for a great clean. Similar to the glass cloth with its lightweight and ability to gently clean all surfaces, there is one main difference between them. The microfiber cloth is meant to handle HEAVY DUTY cleaning. Our team uses these cloths to wash down bathtubs, sinks, and even floors. When done, we buff them up with the glass cloth.

3. Mop

There is no way we would ever start cleaning without a quality mop. Even more important is that it has to be a mop with Velcro on the bottom. This allows us to remove the original mop pad and replace it with a microfiber cloth on the bottom to act as the mop. Why do this?

First, the germs!

Spray mops and thick pads just push the dirt around, similar to traditional string mops. Using the microfiber cloth allows us to remove it, wash the cloth thoroughly, and then start using it again. Goodbye germs, hello super shine!

Second, water control

You have better control of the water and moisture level you’re putting on the floor. This allows for a clean that sustains your floors, rather than shortens their lifeline due to too much water.

Third, floors and walls

We don’t just mop floors. We dust and wash the walls clean. Particularly useful in post-renovation or commercial construction cleanings, the base mop tool (handle and Velcro bottom) allow for changing between dry cloths that allow for safe dusting and gentle microfiber cloths to wash the walls. The final result are streak-free walls, almost as if we’ve “painted” them clean.

4. Vacuum Cleaner

A central vacuum is the absolute best vacuum you could have. If serviced properly, the suction and deep clean is so much better than any big-name brand canister vacuum. However, it’s easy to forget to change the main canister, which impacts its cleaning ability. Simply put, this is a cleaning tool that is often not maintained as it should be. If you can’t remember the last time you checked the canister, perhaps have a look. Chances are, you’ll discover your central vac is a much better one than you thought.

Not sure where or how to have it serviced? Connect with the folks at A Vacuum Store and Service. They are affordable, friendly, and know everything there is to know about vacuums!

All that said, we will always arrive with a quality vacuum as not every house has a vacuum of their own. We always tell our clients though that the vacuum goes from client house to client house. This gives our clients the option as to whether they want to invest in their own vacuum or use the vacuum we have.

5. Scraper

A small blade in a plastic holder: doesn’t seem like much, but there is nothing quite as satisfying as scraping off gunk without scratching the surface behind it. One of my favourite things to use the scraper for in residential cleaning is removing burnt food off cook tops and grime from porcelain.

However, the scraper really shines when it comes to post-renovation and commercial cleans. It easily removes stickers off of mirrors/windows/appliances and strips paint splatters off floor tiles without scratching a single thing. Spic and span, but not scratched – just the way any renovation should end.

6. Squeegee

“Squeaky clean” is definitely a squeegee clean. Excellent for using on huge mirrors and windows, especially for those that dust bunnies are attracted to, the squeegee helps bring a streak free shine.

For homeowners with furry pets, the rubber part of the squeegee is to become your new best friend. If you find fur continually embedded in your couch or carpet, drag the rubber part over the surface to easily pull up and collect the fur.
7. Dish brush

There’s nothing quite as effective for cleaning tiny, hard to get to places than a regular handheld dish brush. Not just for cleaning dishes, this brush easily scrubs those tiny dark areas a sponge or cloth can’t get to. Areas we most often use it include:
- Drains and their rims to get a little extra sparkle
- Grout to make the light-coloured grout gleam and remove any dust bits off of dark grout
- Vents and ceilings fans for removing built up dust and grime, and
- Toilets for removing those accidental splatters around the flush knob.
8. Sponge

When grime and soap scum are all about and “scrub, scrub, scrub” is what we must do, there’s no better tool than a sponge. For us, the best is a flat, double sided sponge, with one side abrasive, the other not. The key to using it successfully is never starting with the abrasive side. It is quite rough and could potentially scratch a surface and this is not okay. Don’t worry, this wears out after a few rinses. From there, this tool is excellent on most surfaces!

9. Dish soap

Next to the glass cloth, dish soap is the cleaning tool we use most. Yes, regular dish soap gives the real clean feeling. Not fancy cleaning sprays, not the world’s best mop, not even the coolest foaming and scrubbing gel. Basic, pure dish soap is what leaves a true quality clean. From floors, walls, and every other surface, this is our go-to, indispensable cleaning product.

10. Essential Oils

New to Clean Club Calgary this year, we’ve started to enhance our client cleans through essential oils. A little touch of scented oil mixed with diluted dish soap in a spray bottle goes a long way for transforming a room from seeing it’s clean to experiencing the clean.

I am always amazed at how a little water, oil, and soap can transform the smell and add just a little something special. Plus, many oils have different cleaning properties, such as antibacterial or antimicrobial, allowing for a deep clean and not just a great smelling clean.

Personally, some of my go-to favourites are sage, lemon, lavender, and lemongrass.

This cleaning tool checklist ensures we are able to meet our end goal: to enhance the customer’s quality of life. Experience tells us that this comes from the small details, including showing up when we say we will, with the right supplies, and the right attitude. We are proud of what we do, and these tools allow us to support clients by giving them the time and freedom they deserve.

Do you have a favourite cleaning tool you’d like to share? Curious about how our cleaning team can support you? Give us a call today and let’s have a chat!
September 19, 2019
Why Buy Local Beyond the Weekend Market

Last month, I attended a Calgary Chamber event and was struck by what another business owner said about locally vs nationally-run businesses. Specifically, she spoke about buying local services, such as through a locally-owned and operated cab company versus a bigger national chain. This made so much sense to me that I immediately wanted to explore this idea further and answer:

What does “shopping local” mean for Calgary’s businesses and why is this important to Clean Club Calgary’s clients?

REFRAMING WHAT IS LOCAL

Typically, when we hear local, words like “market,” “produce,” and “artisan” pop to mind. But, what about local services and those entrepreneurs building service-based businesses, such as the local cab company? After all, locally-owned, service-based companies become as much the core of a community as the people, parks and pubs do.

When a service company “makes something local,” they’re making relationships on top of their service. With Clean Club Calgary, focusing on the relationships with our clients, the community, and our individual team members is what makes us a local business (that…and our business licence, of course). Supporting people is what we’re most proud of in addition to a sparkling clean for an enhanced quality of life.

Locally-owned and operated independent businesses contain a lot of heart and soul. It’s this heart and soul that makes real impact on the communities they serve. An example of this is that in using local cleaning services, you can now focus on growing your own small business rather than cleaning your office, or enjoy more time with your family rather than scrubbing the household’s main toilet.

Once we expand our idea of what “local” means, a number of benefits become clear.

LOCAL ALLOWS FOR FLEXIBILITY WITH THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY

Every community has individual needs. Large multi-national corporations, while they may provide good service, excellent prices, and service offerings up the wazoo, ultimately, are not as flexible to the specific needs of a community. Local businesses typically have the owner directly involved, able to listen and make real change to their company’s services based on your feedback.

In addition, should mistakes happen – because everyone is human – the owner is there, able to connect, support, and resolve challenges as they happen. More importantly, they are then able to implement change to ensure the same hiccups do not happen again. With less red tape and levels to go through, local businesses are able to more easily adapt based on direct communication.

SHOPPING LOCAL SEES MONEY REINVESTED BACK INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY

When you hire a local service company, you are helping to stimulate the local economy. Studies have shown that when you buy from a locally-owned business versus a larger national chain, more of your money goes back to the local economy.

For instance, you allow the local business owner to pay her employees, who, in turn, put this money back into the local economy. Specifically, at Clean Club Calgary, a number of our team call Calgary their new home. Our clients are directly supporting these individuals in building their quality of life as they settle in the great YYC.

And, with 97.8% – ALMOST 98 PERCENT! – of businesses in Canada qualifying as a small business (less than 100 employees), and employing nearly 54% of Canadians, supporting local businesses is crucial to stimulating your city’s economy.

SUPPORTING LOCAL SEES MORE BUSINESSES INVESTING BACK INTO YOUR COMMUNITY

Local businesses are more likely to directly invest back into your community, such as by contributing to and supporting local non-profits and groups that are important to you/the city. Plain and simple, local business owners tend to be more invested in the long-term future of the community and the individuals who reside there.

For instance, at Clean Club Calgary we donate our time and cleaning services to people undergoing cancer treatment (providing two free cleanings of three hours each). This allows us to support individuals as they move through a challenging time in their life without having to worry about cleaning their home. By investing in these individuals, they, in turn, can focus on their recovery.

In addition, even if you are supporting a company that is local but is part of a larger franchise, the franchiser does not always keep the money in the local economy because of ownership, licencing fees, and so on. If you are wanting your money to go back into your local economy, I encourage you to look into where franchise fees go if you are deciding between a local company and a larger, national franchise.

LOCAL BUSINESSES FOCUS ON THE LOCAL GOOD AND LONG-TERM COMMUNITY HEALTH

The truth is that I purposely started a business focused on cleaning because I saw the immediate impact it can have on a space. At Clean Club Calgary, we are grateful that we can support other local businesses with how they present their company through our commercial cleaning services. We are also grateful to the residents who trust us with their home cleaning to improve the quality of their lives. We believe in the power of clean and the lasting impact it can have on the larger community.

Business owners work hard and have agreements not only with their customers, but with their employees, to ensure long-term sustainability. This focus on serving the team goes a long way for building local organizations full of individuals who truly want the best for their community. For me, ensuring my team members have their full-time hours while providing excellence in service is what keeps me up at night. These people trust me to support their livelihood just as much as our clients trust us to support their quality of life through cleaning. This is something that most business owners I’ve spoken with feel similarly about, particularly within Calgary’s significant small business community. With this entrepreneurial drive at our core, along with the benefits that come to a city that supports local business, investing in each other is crucial for our city’s growth and economic sustainability.

Ultimately, this Chamber event inspired me to understand how Calgary businesses can work together for the betterment of our city. At Clean Club Calgary, our promise is to serve Calgary, invest in our people, and commit to creating more opportunities for improved and sustainable quality of life.

Share your thoughts about buying local with us! We want to know how we can have more impact on the communities, businesses, and families that we serve.

August 15, 2019
How to Hire and Enjoy Working with a Cleaning Company
It’s time. You know it, your family knows it, even the family dog knows it – you are finally ready to let go of cleaning your home and hire a professional cleaning company to support your quality of life.

Yet, you’ve never worked with one before. Where do you even begin to start to connect with a company you can trust in your home, fits within your budget, and provides great service for the type of clean you need. Ask yourself the following questions to start your journey to hire a professional cleaning company.

Prefer to watch video? Check out this blog on YouTube !

QUESTION 1: WHO DO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS USE?

Look to the people you already know and trust for their recommendations. Ask them:
- Are they happy with their service? Why/why not?
- What type of cleaning service do they use (e.g. weekly, deep clean, office, etc.)?
- Would they recommend them?
Your friends and family can provide good suggestions and advice as they already have experience in finding, interviewing, and working with a cleaning company. This way, you’ll have a fairly good idea about what you’re going into.

QUESTION 2: WHAT ARE MY EXPECTATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO CLEANING?

Clean to one person is dirty to another – clean is simply different for everyone. Some of our clients prefer a basic clean each week, while others require a deep clean once every few months and maintain on their own in between. What’s important is that you are clear on what you consider clean.

Your potential cleaner should come out to quote you and ensure that your expectations are understood and will be met. You’ll be on the same page when it comes to cleaning your home and you can go about enjoying your quality of life…not wondering if your home is “your clean.”

QUESTION 3: AM I COMFORTABLE WITH SOMEONE ELSE WORKING IN MY HOME?

At Clean Club Calgary, trust is an absolute must for our clients. If we don’t earn their trust, the comfort won’t be there.

Having a cleaning company in your home may take a bit of time to build this trust, however a few questions to ask them to make sure that your safety and security are covered include:
- Is the cleaning company covered with WCB?
- Do they have company liability insurance?
- Do they run background checks on their employees?
- Is there high staff turnover or do you have the same cleaning team each time?
Trust will absolutely grow over time as you get to know who is in your home, but it can start with the basics of coverage.

QUESTION 4: HOW WOULD I REACT TO ACCIDENTAL DAMAGES?

No cleaner intends to damage a client’s property, but sometimes accidents happen. As amazing as cleaners are, we are only human in the end.

What’s important is how the cleaning company responds to the damage. At Clean Club Calgary, we take accidents seriously, even the tiniest of scratches. Should an accident happen, our team will take a picture, fill out a damage form for you and our records, and a supervisor will follow up with you to address how we’ll fix the situation.

As accidents are often the number one concern of potential customers, it’s crucial that a cleaning company have a clear process in place to rectify any mistakes. For you, understand that accidents are never intended, but make sure you know what the company will do should any situation need to be addressed.
QUESTION 5: HOW DETAILED OF A CLEANING DO YOU EXPECT?

There are a variety of different cleaning options, so it falls to you to determine how detailed a cleaning you would like.

A professional cleaning company should be able to complete a regular cleaning checklist or customize one to your specific needs. For instance, you may receive weekly cleaning, but find you don’t require your guest room cleaned each week. Rather, you only need it cleaned once a month. This would be built into your cleaning schedule. What’s important is that your cleaning is customized to your needs, lifestyle, and what you require in the moment.

QUESTION SIX: IS AN EDUCATED CLEANER IMPORTANT TO YOU?

In this industry, it is difficult to get a traditional education, so professional cleaners must seek this training out. At Clean Club Calgary, we have joined associations to ensure that we invest in courses for ourselves to ensure we are always aligned – if not leading – industry standards in both our service and our techniques. Specific associations we’re members of include ISSA and the Association of Residential Cleaning Services.

Through these organizations, we’re able to take courses and achieve certification. I myself acquired the House Cleaning Technician certificate through the IICRC, increasing both my knowledge as a cleaning professional, as well as how to run an effective business. Knowing that this type of education exists, we recommend that you work with someone who is involved with these types of organizations so you can trust that you’re receiving the best quality clean and service out there.

QUESTION 7: WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF ONLINE REVIEWS?

This question focuses more on the type of communication and relationship you want with your cleaner.

First, are you willing to give feedback to the cleaning company? If you’re not comfortable giving online reviews, but still want to communicate feedback to help the company improve their service, let the company know either with an email, phone call, or even written letter.

On the other side, note if the cleaning company you’re looking at is open to accepting your review and feedback. At Clean Club Calgary, we value the opinion and feedback from all clients as this is how we continue to improve. This is why we encourage feedback of all sorts (of course we love the rave reviews, but we are always looking to you for how we can improve to support your quality of life.)

If a company isn’t open to your feedback, ask why? This could be a red flag or obstacle to building a cleaning service that suits your lifestyle.

QUESTION 8: WHAT TYPE OF CLEANING PRODUCTS ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU?

Do you have particular cleaning products that you prefer used or are you happy with whatever products the company uses?

While the cleaning company should come prepared to do the job (at Clean Club Calgary, we bring all our own materials including mop, vacuum, cleaning products, and specialty glass cloths that ensure a gentle, yet deep clean), however some families have their own product preferences, such as hypoallergenic cleaners or specialty floor cleaners. If this is your preference, always let the cleaning team know what they are, where they’re located in the house, and what they are to be used on.

QUESTION 9: WHAT FREQUENCY OF CLEANING DO YOU NEED AND WHAT IS YOUR FLEXIBILITY?

Everyone has different preferences in their cleaning frequency. From weekly, biweekly, occasional deep cleans, to finding the day of the week that works for you, it’s important to know what frequency and cleaning flexibility you have for pricing purposes and for your own schedule.

Clean Club Calgary is very flexible in working around your schedule, including if you need to reschedule your cleaning time. What’s important here is that your cleaning company has an agreement with you, but also their team in providing a quality of life in terms of their career.

While flexibility in your cleaning partner is important, the more advanced notice you can provide should you need to reschedule, the more likely:
- You’ll get your preferred rescheduled time, and
- Your cleaners are able to schedule other appointments.
QUESTION 10: WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET?
The burning question on everyone’s mind. Understand that a cleaning lady and a cleaning company are two very different types of services. A cleaning company has a good, honest, and reliable system in place to clean your home. While a cleaning lady may have similar, there are no guarantees. We recommend that you budget between $100 and $300 per clean, depending on the size of the home, type of cleaning, frequency, and so on. Cleaning is not, and should not be, a cheap service. Generally speaking, if it is, then the work will not be good.

Now that you have a clear understanding of what is your type of clean, the frequency, type of client service, and how much you can expect to pay, you can go to the next step in exploring your cleaning journey.

Still have questions or are interested in learning more about working with a professional cleaning company? Connect with us today and ask away!
July 18, 2019
Clutter Chaos: Reducing the Piles for a Cleaner, Healthier Life
”Our life is organized chaos!!”

I do not have enough fingers and toes to count the number of times I’ve heard this cry from clients. And while this may be said half-jokingly, the truth is “organized chaos” could be adding more stress to your daily life. And really, who wants to unknowingly add MORE stress to their life?

WHAT CLUTTER DOES TO YOUR HEALTH

In my business groups, the term “messy desk, messy mind” crops up quite a bit. It means that if a person’s desk is cluttered, files all over the place, paperclips and business cards strewn about, chances are, their mind is in this same state of disarray. The same is true for our homes. This clutter has the ability to subconsciously impact our mental health. Why? Clutter:
- Overstimulates the eye and overwhelms the mind,
- Distracts your focus and impacts your time,
- Induces feelings of guilt, triggering “I should do this…”
- Creates frustration and anxiety, and
- Can leave you feeling absolutely helpless.
So, while it may seem like “just a bit of clutter,” it’s really a visual pile reminding you of all the things that still need to be done.

HOW TO REDUCE AND MAINTAIN CLUTTER

First, define what “cluttered” means for you and your family. Just because jackets tossed over a railing bothers you, doesn’t mean it bothers anyone else. Get everyone on the same page.
From there, identify where to start. Solutions that have helped us with our own clutter reduction include:

Creating spaces for clutter

Assign specific areas of the house for common clutter items. Shoes strewn about the entrance way without a care? Place a shoe box in the closet where you toss your shoes in and shut the door. Unopened mail and flyers all over the house? Place a basket by the front door and throw all mail in it when you walk in. Pick one day of the week, such as Sunday, to recycle flyers and organize/file the rest (if there’s a bill in that pile, we recommend paying that too J ). Too many business cards filling your pockets? Easily add them to your phone contacts with an app, such as Cam Card, and recycle the card!

Investing in a deep clean

Feeling paralyzed with where to start decluttering is completely normal. Many clients use our deep clean services solely to help them gain a fresh start and control over their decluttering process.

By having a cleaning crew come in to do an initial deep clean, you’re less likely to be overwhelmed with thoughts of “where do I even start?”

Using this ultimate clutter hack

One of the easiest tricks to reduce clutter is a storage bin. From toys (both children and pet’s) to shoes, winter gear, and even kitchen gadgets, bins or furniture with built-in storage are excellent pieces to invest in. Having a place to “hide” items helps you quickly stay on top of organizing without the pressure of having to make everything look perfect.

Plus, storage bins can be beautifully designed, adding to the décor of your home. Fashion and function are things that we always get behind!

Tossing daily clutter

This is a personal favourite of mine, particularly in homes with an up and a downstairs. Place two bins (laundry baskets work too) at your staircase on the main floor – one bin for upstairs, the other for down. Throughout the week, toss items to go upstairs in the one bin, items for downstairs in the other. At the end of the week, take the bins to their appropriate level and organize there.

Removing attachment to things

Humans are sentimental beings. This makes it hard for us to separate our emotions from physical items. When we touch items that spark memories, we’re less likely to let them go, even if the memories aren’t always positive. This clutter is often the hardest to let go. If this is your clutter hiccup, have a friend help (I hear Marie Kondo is excellent at this). Let this person hold up the item and you decide without touching it whether it stays or goes.

Alternatively, take a picture of the keepsake as your memory. My husband and I took a picture of the bottle that we shared on our honeymoon. Rather than keeping an empty bottle, we have a photo to spark our memory.

Keep the memories and the feelings…not the knickknacks won from carnival dates in junior high.

Developing a clutter routine

Ultimately, reducing clutter becomes about building new habits. If you’re looking for ways to reduce clutter, start by looking at your routines. At the end of the day, do you throw your clothes on the floor or do you hang them back up on a hanger? If the former and you’re tired of seeing your clothes piling up, take 5 seconds to hang them up. It may not seem like much, but this small step will help reduce physical floor clutter. More importantly, it will reduce the clutter in your mind.

BENEFITS OF LESS CLUTTER

Other than the obvious – less clutter – the benefits for reducing clutter are astounding! A few of them include:
- More easily engage creative flow
Reducing clutter allows you to have more open space, which encourages more creativity and problem solving.
- Become more productive
No longer distracted by stuff on chairs or paper piles on your desk, you’re able to focus on the specific task at hand. Plus, you’re able to find things more quickly!
- More intention with purchases
Build more intention in your experiences to create memories rather than clutter. For instance, do you really need those “one day” jeans? Why not treat yourself when “one day” comes rather than holding onto something that is unintentionally creating more stress (and may be deterring you from a goal…but that’s a whole other blog)? This way, you’ll actually use the items as you have them.

Dust collectors are great at adding stress. Removing them is a perfect way to reduce it.

The truth is clutter is nothing to be embarrassed about. We all have it; we may have different ways of organizing it. What’s important to ask yourself is this:

Is the clutter in your space causing you stress?!

If yes, try a few of the above tips. Putting the mail in one spot is a great place to begin! Start reducing your clutter and gain control back over the quality of your life.
June 14, 2019
Lessons of an Entrepreneur from Hungary
Judith, Founder of CCC, alongside her grandfather while he visited Canada in 2002.
Hungary isn’t the place where you would think the entrepreneurial spirit would be fostered, but that’s exactly where I started my journey to owning a business focused on improving the people’s quality of life.

But what does this have to do with cleaning?

Simply put, everything.

Raised in a family of business owners in Hungary during the communist regime – my grandparents owned a produce store; my parents, a produce store and café – I learned the value of hard work early on. More than that, the lessons that I learned as a little girl, getting up every day before 4am to join my grandfather at the produce markets, became the foundation for how Clean Club Calgary is now turning entrepreneurism in cleaning into quality of life for Calgarians. My learned lessons of ethics, fun, having courage, hard work, and fueling your body and mind, ensure that cleaning isn’t just removing dirt, but a committed experience.

Enjoy these lessons – they’re not just for cleaning or running a business. They’re for everyday living!

ETHICS MUST ALWAYS COME FIRST

No matter the circumstances that you are trying to build a business in – whether communism or capitalism – compromising on your ethics is a non-negotiable.

How Clean Club Calgary brings this to cleaning:
- We are growing a business, but not at the expense of our clients or our team;
- We acknowledge – and fix – our mistakes, always looking to learn and be better; and
- We work together to ensure clients are treated fairly, the team is looked after, and our integrity is always intact.
NO MATTER WHAT, YOU ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF FUN

It is hard work being an entrepreneur. It can be lonely, even in a relationship-centred one like Clean Club Calgary, so a little bit of fun every now and then is crucial for creating a sustainable business.

How Clean Club Calgary brings this to cleaning:
- We learn about our clients lives and preferences to ensure we positively impact their lifestyle;
- We build real relationships with our clients, learning their individual personalities and quirks; and
- We have the freedom to make our own choices and decisions in the services and processes we implement, ensuring we improve the quality of life for Calgarians.
HAVE THE COURAGE TO STAND IN YOUR VALUE

Win-win deals are absolutely possible. What’s important is having the courage to know, respectfully say, and stand in your value. Then, you must continue to prove it time and again.

How Clean Club Calgary brings this to cleaning:
- We consistently go above and beyond dusting and mopping, breathing real freshness into clients’ homes again;
- Respectful conversations are our focus, regardless of why the conversation is happening;
- Hiring the right people and using effective tools to enhance the client experience, such as Jobber, and
- Entering into our clients’ homes, treating both them, their families, and their property with the utmost respect, ready to prove our capabilities for their benefit.
Portrait of Judith’s father and grandparents in Hungary, circa 1957.
HARD WORK ALWAYS PAYS OFF

An internal drive to succeed is crucial for success. Show up, even when there are challenges, as hard work will always bring their fruits.

How Clean Club Calgary brings this to cleaning:
- We always show up when we say we will, ready to work;
- We clean beyond the dust, creating healthy homes and more free time for our clients; and
- We demonstrate our capabilities and drive to improve quality of life every day by meeting and exceeding client expectations.
FUEL YOUR BODY AND YOUR MIND

To be on top of your game, you must know how to fuel your mind and your body. This is what will energize you and ensure that you can keep growing, even in the face of obstacles.

How Clean Club Calgary brings this to cleaning:
- We continue to take cleaning technician certifications, join business groups, and work with a business coach;
- We ensure we eat right, keeping our bodies in tip-top shape for the physical labour of cleaning; and
- We always ask questions, making sure our cleaning and our relationship enhances our client’s quality of life.
Running a cleaning business is a lot of work, especially when it’s one that is committed to building relationships focused on the greater good for clients and team members alike. Whether you’re looking to implement these lessons in your own life or work with a residential cleaning company who already does, I and the rest of Clean Club Calgary are here to support you. Who knew that Hungary would be the catalyst for a commitment to transforming cleaning into a quality of life experience?

To learn more about my journey, our team, or inquire about how these lessons can improve your quality of life, connect with Clean Club Calgary today!
May 17, 2019