Tag: residential cleaning services

10 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Cleaning Company in 2023
What in the world do I ask someone who’s going to be cleaning my space? Even more…how will I know if they’re the right person or company for me to trust with cleaning my property?

Both are legitimate questions to ask when considering which cleaning company and which services you’re looking to hire. There are many articles out there that cover the basic questions to ask, including:
- What type of training does the company provide their employees?
- What is your budget for cleaning services?
- Who will be cleaning your property
- When are their working hours?
- Do you need to be home when the cleaners are there?
These questions are absolutely important to have answered as they set you and your cleaning partner up for success. However, I’ve recently been asked a few more detailed questions when quoting on cleaning jobs. To help you better understand if a cleaning company is the right fit for you and your home, below are ten of these commonly asked questions to make sure you cover the nitty gritty of residential cleaning.
Do you dust or vacuum first? Why?

We always dust first. The reason is that if we vacuum before we dust, then any loose particles released when we dust will then settle on the floor, making the vacuuming moot. When we dust first, we’re able to vacuum up any particles that fall to the ground. To learn more about how we vacuum and dust, read the below two blogs.
1. How to Properly Vacuum So It Doesn’t Suck
2. How to Properly Kill All Dust Bunnies Invading Your Home
Our dishwasher stinks – what can be done about this?

It often comes as a surprise that dishwashers tend to produce unpleasant odours over time, especially if you use them frequently. While cleaners typically wash the outside to make it shiny, the real trick to keeping a dishwasher smell free is by properly maintaining it as the smells typically come from its filter. This filter, usually located at the bottom, traps food particles. We recommend that once a month, you remove the filter, wash and clean it, then put it back.

In addition, once a month, run a cup of vinegar through a normal cycle to keep the inside continuing to smell nice while also creating a nice inner shine.
Our vacuum cleaner has stopped doing a good job. Why?

Vacuums are another cleaning tool that requires regular cleaning maintenance. If it’s not working properly, check to make sure that:
1. The bag isn’t full. If it is, replace it.
2. The filters are clean as they hold a lot of dust. If dirty, remove and wash them.
3. The brush is not clogged with hair, fur, or something else. If so, remove these from the brush (they may need to be cut out if they are wound up tightly).
4. The nozzle itself isn’t clogged. This often happens when larger items are sucked up, such as toothpicks, paper, fabric, etc.
To learn more about how to properly vacuum and care for it, visit this article.
Which would you recommend – wet or dry dusting?

It depends on what it is that needs dusting. Most items can have a wet dusting, meaning that we use a damp cloth and wipe this to pick up the dust particles. The best cloth for this is a microfibre one that has been well wrung. This goes the same for mopping, which is essentially dusting for the floor. After you’ve swept, use a damp mop to pick up any remaining dirt, pet hair/fur, or crumbs with ease.

Dry dusting, on the other hand, works best for items, such as picture frames, trinkets that sit on your shelves and wood/antique furniture. If you use a damp cloth on wood/antique furniture, you may create a haze within its colour. To better understand the ins and outs of dusting, visit this article.
How can you help us clean up all the pet hair and fur?

We all love our pets…but keeping furniture and carpets free from their hair is and always will be a daily struggle. We’ve found that, if there’s only a bit of pet hair, the easiest thing to do is use rubber gloves or a brush, slightly dampened, and rub your hands/brush over the area. To remove the hair off the gloves/brush, plunge them into a sink of warm water. The fur will lift off easily.

If there is a lot of pet hair – tumbleweeds of it even – you’ll find it easier to use:
- the nozzle of a vacuum cleaner to suck the fur up off the floor.
- the furniture attachment that came with your vacuum to remove pet hair from furniture.
Are you comfortable washing our high-quality flooring (e.g., wood and laminate)?

Washing floors is one of the most relaxing cleaning services we provide. But, not all floors are mopped the same. Laminated and sealed wood floors require more than a quick swipe of the mop over the floor. Rather, these floor types should first be swept and then damp-mopped, taking special care to not use too much water on the wood. Too much water will cause the wood to swell.

If there are marks and stains that need a bit more strength to remove, then use a diluted solution of water with a touch of vinegar.

For other types of flooring materials and how we clean them, be sure to read this article.
How can we reduce all the clutter we have?

Clutter can make our space look less clean than it actually is. Plus, it can increase your stress level, create frustration, and cause larger health – both mental and physical -issues, which you can read about here.

From a financial perspective, clutter slows down the cleaning process, which means it will take longer, and therefore cost more, for you to have a space cleaned. To not run into this, we recommend the following five tricks to help reduce your clutter and increase your overall satisfaction.
1. Keep a bag for charity on the go at all times, adding to it as you go throughout your days (as needed). This way, you’re keeping what’s clutter to you out of sight, while also having a bag full of treasures for people when you take it to a donation centre.
2. When you’re cleaning, take a garbage bag round with you wherever you go. When you come across pieces of garbage, toss them in the bag. Items such as random sheets of paper, the mysteriously appearing tissue, or even those larger clumps of fur that accumulate rather quickly!
3. Store all your paperwork in one area – mail, grocery lists, school parent consent forms, etc. Once a week go through this and deal with the paperwork before it piles up.
4. Make the stairs a “no storage space” meaning…don’t leave things on the stairs. Rather, take them up/down when you realize they need to go to another level. Added bonus – a little extra exercise for your lower body!
5. Make cleaning up toys fun. Keep a nice box in your kids’ rooms where they can place their toys at the end of the day.
Is there a way to remove marks on the wall without removing the paint?

This is going to sound strange, but soft white bread will do the trick. Believe it or not, it is great at removing scuff marks from walls and paintwork. Gently rub the marked up area with a scrunched-up ball of white bread. It’s essentially like using a very big eraser.

Alternatively, you can use a Flash Magic Eraser or Bar Keepers Friend.
How can we prevent dirt from getting into the house?

You simply cannot prevent dirt from getting into your house. However, you can limit the amount of dirt that comes in. We recommend the following three ways to reduce dirt from infesting your house.
1. Invest in machine-washable doormats and wash them regularly.
2. Brush pets outside of the house to prevent excess fur in the house, and to remove any dirt they may have attracted while out and about. Many cats tend to roll around in planters and dogs love to roll around on the ground. They may not actually look like they have dirt on them, but they do. Trust me on this one…I learned this from my own cat.
3. When you see dirt, wipe it up so it doesn’t have the chance to build-up.
Why doesn’t our television ever look clean?

Think back – when was the last time you remembered to clean your TV – especially if it’s a flat-screen that’s wall-mounted? So many of us forget about them because they tend to “blend in” with the wall. Part of our routine for cleaning rooms with televisions in them is to make sure they are clean, and your picture is dust free. If you’re wanting to clean it yourself, we don’t blame you – they are very delicate. Here are a few steps as to how we clean them:
1. Use the right materials: a smart clean cloth and distilled water
2. Spray the water on the cloth. DO NOT spray it directly on the screen. This will harm it.
3. Using the dampened cloth, start at the top left corner, wiping right. Then repeat below.
4. Turn on the television and enjoy your next show (this isn’t part of our cleaning services, though!)
I love hearing all the different questions clients ask when we come in to quote a cleaning for their property as it helps me to understand what is important to them, along with their expectations of what “clean” means. These ten are some of my absolute favourites. If you have any questions that you’d like answered, feel free to reach out and ask away.

Of course, if you’re simply wanting someone to come in and clean, we can do that too! Connect with us for a quote.
December 14, 2022
How to Not Fall Back into Unhealthy Cleaning Routines

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cleaning allows me to tap into my inner joy

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

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

Cleaning allows me to make better decisions

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

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

Cleaning allows me to enjoy my partner more

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

Who knew a vacuum had that much power?

Cleaning allows me to focus on what really matters

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

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

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

September 16, 2021
Cleaning House Does Not Mean Cleaning Office: The Differences in Residential and Commercial Cleaning

Cleaning is cleaning. Everyone does it the same. Every space requires the same effort and order of cleaning. It’s all the same.

NO!

This is the farthest thing from the truth. It truly hurt my heart to write that very sentence! One person’s clean may very well be another person’s dirty – that’s what we say here at Clean Club Calgary. And this applies whether in a home or a workspace.

And just as there are differences in cleaning preferences, there are even further differences in how one cleans a residence versus a commercial space.

The Dusty Devil in the Details

Residential Dusting

As much as we love our dust bunny friends, they need to be evicted as they impact air quality. Dig into the exact details on how and why to dust at home right here. A quick overview: go top to bottom, left to right; feather dusters are bad; use the right materials properly and use them often!

Commercial Dusting

Traditionally, dusting in workplaces was minimal. Today, as we’ve become more aware of how dust impacts our health, companies are regularly requesting dusting. Now, cleaners wipe everything on one’s desk (keyboard, mouse, phone, desk surface). *

Interestingly, many of our clients are in spaces where their landlord is responsible for ensuring the duct systems are cleaned. This allows for proper ventilation. While we can dust as part of a cleaning package, it is virtually impossible to remove all dust if the air ducts are circulating with dust from the rest of the building.

Dusting is definitely not a one size fits all

*Note: we recommend you implement a clean desk policy as, by law, cleaners are not allowed to touch and/or move any paper remaining on a surface. If your employees do not remove the paper, we are not able to take all the necessary steps to ensure proper cleaning, sanitizing, and/or disinfection.

Floor Fashions that Differ

Residential Floor Cleaning

Vacuuming is VERY detailed for residential services. As much as we can, we move furniture, lift area rugs, vacuum under, heck sometimes even over. Anywhere that’s easy to reach gets a detailed vacuum every, single time.

Once we’ve vacuumed, we solidify the work by mopping. Using a freshly cleaned microfibre cloth, mopping picks up any dust that beat the initial vacuum power!

Commercial Floor Cleaning

Commercial vacuuming is done once every 1 – 2 weeks and is not quite as detailed as residential vacuuming. For Clean Club Calgary’s commercial cleaning clients (contract stipulations apply), we provide a once/year deep clean, which ensures digging into the nooks and crannies to remove as much as possible. This requires support in lifting stuff off the floor, pulling out desks from walls, and other such involvement from the client.

For commercial mopping, we have special mop heads. Unlike the microfibre cloths we use in residences, these must be sent away to be laundered because of the special material and size they are. It is an additional step in how we care for our cleaning materials that is one of the major differences between residential and commercial clients and cleaning frequencies.

Busting Bathroom Rumors

Residential Bathrooms

Each time you ask us to clean the bathroom, it is always a thoroughly deep clean as we do not offer the same frequency cleaning packages as we do for commercial cleaning. With more and more people working from home, a deep bathroom clean, particularly the bathroom, shower, and sink surfaces, is always one that is included. Other things for the bathroom that need deep cleaning, but not every time include the lights, which should be done monthly, and the ceiling fans (and vents), to be cleaned quarterly. The cabinets and baseboards are cleaned every 2 – 4 weeks.

Commercial Bathrooms

While the actual cleaning techniques are similar, it’s the frequency and depth of clean that vary. With Clean Club Calgary, our commercial cleaning packages typically offer daily, 3 times/week, 1 time/week, or monthly (our most common) service.

For daily commercial cleaning clients, we are able to replenish their supplies (e.g. paper products, hand soap, and sanitizer). We also do the surfaces and toilet cleaning as well every time. Once per week, we do a deeper clean, getting into the corners, scrubbing the base of toilets, washing stall dividers and the wall tiles.

The touchpoints for both residential and commercial are always sanitized with each clean. These are areas such as doorknobs, switch plates, faucets, knobs, etc.

Kitchen Cleaning

Residential Kitchens

More and more meals are cooked from home, and the beautiful messes left behind are showing us that kitchens are being USED! While we have our usual cleaning, which involves wipe down, sanitize, and make it sparkle, we also complete deep residential kitchen cleans by request. These include things such as washing the counters and/or backsplash, cleaning the stove, washing the fridge (inside and out), cleaning the oven, wipe down the cabinets, wipe inside the cabinets, etc.

With our mopping, we have one rule of thumb, taught Day One of team member training: Mop Twice!

Commercial Kitchens

For our daily and 3x/week service, we do surface level every week. Once a month, we do a deep clean of the kitchen, including a fridge wipe (and throw) out.

While there are not as many large appliances as there are in residences, we do still wipe down the small ones most kitchens have (coffee machine, toaster, and microwave). 99 percent of the time, people in the office take the responsibility for office dishes, whether washing by hand or in a dishwasher.

The kitchen is probably where we spend most of our time mopping as it is one of the most heavily used rooms in an office. There is a lot of traffic with numerous coffee breaks, water breaks, breakfast, snacks, lunch, afternoons snacks all leaving behind scuffs, dirt, and spills.

Whether residential or commercial, what’s important is the work is done by a professional, in a manner that provides a higher quality of living.

If you’re curious as to how we can clean so you don’t have to, connect for an instant quote.

May 20, 2021
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
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
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