Tag: professional cleaners

7 Home Cleaning Hacks for Seniors
Each year I get older, I celebrate! Aging is a beautiful thing. Yet, with this gift of aging, the body can rebel, adding some extra challenges to activities I used to do with ease. We’ve all been there, surprised by how we strained ourselves simply trying to get out of bed!

The main thing is that we cannot let aging prevent us from doing things we want – including cleaning our homes. With some clever tricks and adjustments, cleaning can become a fun and innovative way to maintain a clean and comfortable living environment…and great exercise to boot!

Here are some life and cleaning hacks to help you keep your home clean, your spirits high, and your energy up!

Regularly Declutter

We collect so much throughout our lifetime – photographs, trinkets, Tupperware lids! Take time to declutter on a regular basis so you don’t get overwhelmed or lost in your “stuff.” Not only will this help keep your space more organized, but it is beneficial for your overall physical and mental wellness as well.
Invest in Cleaning Aids & Tools

There are so many innovations in how cleaning tools are designed these days, that anyone, regardless of age or body capability, can benefit from them. A few of the Clean Club Calgary’s personal favourite cleaning aids and tools include:
- Long- or extended-handled dusters, mops, and scrubbers that allow you to clean those hard-to-reach areas without adding strain to your body.
- Lightweight, maneuverable mops with a built-in sprayer help to give your floor a thorough clean without the need for you to carry a bucket with you.
- Lightweight vacuum cleaners or cordless sweepers make it easier to quickly clean your floors.
- Automated cleaning devices, such as robotic vacuum cleaners and mops easily tackle regular cleaning maintenance.
- Microfiber cleaning cloths capture dust and dirt without the need for any harsh spray chemicals.
- Cleaning caddies or portable organizers help to carry your cleaning supplies from one room to the next without hassle.
Use Natural Cleaning Solutions

Many cleaning products are full of harsh chemicals. Ingredients that can harm both our skin and our lungs. This is why we recommend more natural cleaning solutions. For instance, at Clean Club Calgary, most of our cleaning is done with common household products such as gentle dish soap, water, baking soda, and a bit of vinegar. Not only are these better for your overall health, but they tend to work better than a lot of the products on the market.

Sit While Cleaning

No one ever said that we must be standing when we clean! If you’re folding laundry, sorting items, or even cleaning lower surfaces, use a sturdy chair and sit while performing your task. If you’re comfortable while cleaning, then you’re more likely to clean.

Break Tasks Ups

Once upon a time, cleaning the bathroom, kitchen, living room, and bedroom could all be done in one day. Nowadays, cleaning may take a little longer – and that’s okay! Simply focus on cleaning one room at a time. Within each room, break down each cleaning task into smaller, more manageable amounts over the course of several days and avoid feeling exhausted. This helps to prevent feeling overwhelmed as you go about your thorough cleaning.

Ask for Help

Life isn’t meant to be lived so that we can spend most of it cleaning. If possible, ask family members or friends to help (and bond as you clean side by side). If available to you, invest in hiring a professional cleaning company for larger cleaning tasks or deep cleaning.

Maintain, Maintain, Maintain

Between any deeper cleans, make sure to perform any routine maintenance to prevent dirt buildup. Smaller tasks, such as wiping down surfaces and appliances help to keep your space feeling fresh.

Regardless of how you keep cleaning your home, remember to take breaks, stay hydrated, and listen to your body while cleaning. If a task seems too challenging or risky, don’t hesitate to ask for help or seek assistance from professionals.

Until then – have fun capturing those dust bunnies!
October 18, 2023
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
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
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