This is just a quickie for you ... one I've known for awhile but just popped into my head to share with you. It's a fun trivia question as well.
Do you know the difference between a spot and a stain?
Give up?
Answer: Time
Moral of the story: Quick wipe ups save your carpet or fabric.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
The Mythology in Hiring
The dictionary defines Orion as classical mythology; a giant hunter who pursued the (7) Pleiades, was eventually slain by Artemis, and was then placed in the sky as a constellation.
So romantic a notion. On further study I found that the Pleiades were seven mythological sisters who were placed among the stars as a constellation to protect them from Orion's pursuit. One hid, either from shame or grief so only six can be seen when you gaze up at them at night.
I suspect the same name was given to a particular survey designed by professional police investigators, psychologists and human resource personnel because Orion was a hunter. I discovered the survey through one of our trade associations and learned that Wal-Mart incorporated it as part of their hiring process several years ago with gratifying results.
The Orion survey is a series of 80 questions administered to job applicants and scored before their interview. It has proven itself invaluable in determining personal trends toward drug use, tardiness, theft, safety issues and even congeniality with co-workers.
At Clean Reflections, we believe that our maids and clean-techs are extensions of us. We wouldn't place anyone in our trusting customers' homes or businesses if we weren't confident they would act ethically, show up on time and do their work diligently. The Orion is just one more way we can insure that level of trust. We also run national criminal background checks on everyone hired.
So romantic a notion. On further study I found that the Pleiades were seven mythological sisters who were placed among the stars as a constellation to protect them from Orion's pursuit. One hid, either from shame or grief so only six can be seen when you gaze up at them at night.
I suspect the same name was given to a particular survey designed by professional police investigators, psychologists and human resource personnel because Orion was a hunter. I discovered the survey through one of our trade associations and learned that Wal-Mart incorporated it as part of their hiring process several years ago with gratifying results.
The Orion survey is a series of 80 questions administered to job applicants and scored before their interview. It has proven itself invaluable in determining personal trends toward drug use, tardiness, theft, safety issues and even congeniality with co-workers.
At Clean Reflections, we believe that our maids and clean-techs are extensions of us. We wouldn't place anyone in our trusting customers' homes or businesses if we weren't confident they would act ethically, show up on time and do their work diligently. The Orion is just one more way we can insure that level of trust. We also run national criminal background checks on everyone hired.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
An Ode to Dirt
Just like beauty, dirt is in the eye of the beholder. I can't tell you how many phone calls I've been on where the caller insisted his/her house wasn't 'all that bad'. I know for a fact it is or they wouldn't have looked up the Clean Reflections number to schedule a cleaning! No matter the level of tolerance, they had reached their particular limit.
I'll admit to being a bit spoiled. Since it's my business, I have my home cleaned regularly and it's a luxury I'd hate to relinquish. I never have to worry who is at the door ... the house is always guest-ready (at least the front rooms anyway). But you know, there are a few tricks that can help you keep your home guest ready too.
The bedroom(s) and private bath(s) need not always be sparkly clean ... just those your friends will likely use. That could mean only one room and one bath need to be really, really cleaned regularly. Leave the stove top, the mold in the master bath or the kitchen floor for a day you need to work off steam. And develop a keen eye for tools. They are after all what set the professionals out front of the pack. If you don't like to scrub, experiment with cleansers until you find one that does the majority of the work for you. If you don't like to dust, try a new microfiber, lambswool or feather duster ... whatever fits your hand comfortably. One with a telescoping wand is especially handy for ceiling fans, vents and door frames. I find it's always more interesting with a new gadget (see my blog on the Sh-Mop!). Steamers work well on some grime.
Now vacuums are another animal. They tend to be expensive and hard to trade in, so buy carefully when it's time. I personally prefer an upright that has attachments on board. I've seen the new "ball" upright that looks like a good design but I haven't tried it. Our maids love the little "Henry" vacs. The Henry is a cute little red cannister vac decorated with eyes and a nose/hose that is made in England. I saw it being used inside Windsor Castle in fact one Sunday when I was watching a documentary on the Royals on public television. Whaddya know, we have a couple of British 'stars' on our team! At any rate, they all will eat dirt for you and as you know, there's never a lack of it in our lives like it or not.
I'll admit to being a bit spoiled. Since it's my business, I have my home cleaned regularly and it's a luxury I'd hate to relinquish. I never have to worry who is at the door ... the house is always guest-ready (at least the front rooms anyway). But you know, there are a few tricks that can help you keep your home guest ready too.
The bedroom(s) and private bath(s) need not always be sparkly clean ... just those your friends will likely use. That could mean only one room and one bath need to be really, really cleaned regularly. Leave the stove top, the mold in the master bath or the kitchen floor for a day you need to work off steam. And develop a keen eye for tools. They are after all what set the professionals out front of the pack. If you don't like to scrub, experiment with cleansers until you find one that does the majority of the work for you. If you don't like to dust, try a new microfiber, lambswool or feather duster ... whatever fits your hand comfortably. One with a telescoping wand is especially handy for ceiling fans, vents and door frames. I find it's always more interesting with a new gadget (see my blog on the Sh-Mop!). Steamers work well on some grime.
Now vacuums are another animal. They tend to be expensive and hard to trade in, so buy carefully when it's time. I personally prefer an upright that has attachments on board. I've seen the new "ball" upright that looks like a good design but I haven't tried it. Our maids love the little "Henry" vacs. The Henry is a cute little red cannister vac decorated with eyes and a nose/hose that is made in England. I saw it being used inside Windsor Castle in fact one Sunday when I was watching a documentary on the Royals on public television. Whaddya know, we have a couple of British 'stars' on our team! At any rate, they all will eat dirt for you and as you know, there's never a lack of it in our lives like it or not.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Rocky Mountain Fever
Hi again! I'm back from a few lovely days in Nederland, Colorado and I must say, the words to John Denver's song, "Rocky Mountain High" now have a whole new meaning to me. I'm a flatlander and this tour took me to 12,000 feet! We spent one entire day driving to and through Rocky Mountain National Park and between big gulps of air that don't boast near the oxygen content of Texas air, my eyes were feasting on what can only be called postcard snapshots of in itself breathtaking beauty.
There were majestic mountains layered upon mountains under a blue sky full of fluffy clouds. We even witnessed a herd of elk so tame they merely stood closeby and looked at us as if to say, "Why don't you move off our road so we can pass?" If I can figure out the mechanics of it, I'll post a few photos taken by my able scrapbooking daughter and granddaughters. The elk were magnificent.
Back at the cabin we had no Fox News or football, no Rush or Hannity on the radio, no dishwasher yet we seemed busily occupied from awakening until dark. I learned several new card games and one new domino game which can take hours to finish. We took most of the family dogs too which was an experience. None of the three hounds were accustomed to "doing their business" on an incline or on rocks for that matter and those were their only choices. It was an adjustment, but one to which they finally acquiesced. And then there were the chipmunks and birds to chase ... dog heaven. Poor ole' Bess sliced up her paws pretty badly while in hot pursuit day after day.
On reflection, "cabin" might be an understatement as well. It has for the past four years undergone a major renovation we were told. As first time guests we had not experienced it prior to this trip. What was once a humble getaway outpost has now become a tri-level contender for coverage in Architectural Digest. We slept on the top floor under plate glass windows overlooking 30 foot tree tops! We saw meteor showers at midnight and hummingbirds fluttering in the upper pine branches at daybreak. Only the determined could sleep beyond sunrise with all that expanse of window glass. Anyway, sleep was not necessarily what we went for.
Because of my occupation I suppose, I kept thinking of the scaffolding that will be necessary to clean said glass when the time comes!
I used to think of vacations as frivolous or an added strain on the household budget but after this trip, I truly understand the meaning of the word, respite. This wasn't necessarily an expedient time for us to duck out for a week and some, but we feel so mentally refreshed having done so and our dependable staff proved themselves again by keeping things going in good order. We are fortunate to have them.
If you have an opportunity to take a last minute vacation before school starts up once again ... Let me encourage you to grab it! You'll no doubt make memories for a lifetime and you can always call Clean Reflections for a thorough top to bottom cleaning when you get home!
There were majestic mountains layered upon mountains under a blue sky full of fluffy clouds. We even witnessed a herd of elk so tame they merely stood closeby and looked at us as if to say, "Why don't you move off our road so we can pass?" If I can figure out the mechanics of it, I'll post a few photos taken by my able scrapbooking daughter and granddaughters. The elk were magnificent.
Back at the cabin we had no Fox News or football, no Rush or Hannity on the radio, no dishwasher yet we seemed busily occupied from awakening until dark. I learned several new card games and one new domino game which can take hours to finish. We took most of the family dogs too which was an experience. None of the three hounds were accustomed to "doing their business" on an incline or on rocks for that matter and those were their only choices. It was an adjustment, but one to which they finally acquiesced. And then there were the chipmunks and birds to chase ... dog heaven. Poor ole' Bess sliced up her paws pretty badly while in hot pursuit day after day.
On reflection, "cabin" might be an understatement as well. It has for the past four years undergone a major renovation we were told. As first time guests we had not experienced it prior to this trip. What was once a humble getaway outpost has now become a tri-level contender for coverage in Architectural Digest. We slept on the top floor under plate glass windows overlooking 30 foot tree tops! We saw meteor showers at midnight and hummingbirds fluttering in the upper pine branches at daybreak. Only the determined could sleep beyond sunrise with all that expanse of window glass. Anyway, sleep was not necessarily what we went for.
Because of my occupation I suppose, I kept thinking of the scaffolding that will be necessary to clean said glass when the time comes!
I used to think of vacations as frivolous or an added strain on the household budget but after this trip, I truly understand the meaning of the word, respite. This wasn't necessarily an expedient time for us to duck out for a week and some, but we feel so mentally refreshed having done so and our dependable staff proved themselves again by keeping things going in good order. We are fortunate to have them.
If you have an opportunity to take a last minute vacation before school starts up once again ... Let me encourage you to grab it! You'll no doubt make memories for a lifetime and you can always call Clean Reflections for a thorough top to bottom cleaning when you get home!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
A Cool Breeze
Vacation! Even the word makes me smile. No telephones nagging to be answered, no paperwork looming on my desk, no salespeople to sort out (worthy product for us or not). No bills to pay for a few days. Most of all, it will be coo-ool where we're headed. I hate to malign Texas because it's my birth state and I do love it but it does faithfully burn us in the summer months, doesn't it?
I have to keep it all in perspective remembering that the people here are friendlier than anywhere I've traveled except perhaps the deep South. My customers are the most pleasant of people as are my vendors and the folks who wait on me when I go out to eat or shop. And of course with one exception, family lives here and that counts for a lot.
Nonetheless, balmy 70 degree weather beckons on that mountaintop in Colorado and I can hardly wait. Thinking back to the heat of last summer our maids were having such a hard time working in it that we started sending out heat advisory notices asking our residential customers to turn down thermostats the morning our maids come to clean. I know it doesn't feel too bad as homeowners leave for work in the morning but if the team arrives at say, 1:00 the interior temperature of the house has risen to 80 or even 85 degrees which is in itself uncomfortable. I was chastised once for saying that, like the maids were wimps to complain, but vacuuming is rigorous upper body work which by itself can work up a steam and the exhaust from the vacuum cleaner heats the ambient temperature of a room by 10 to 15 degrees! Even if the thermostat is lowered on arrival, it's just beginning to cool the air by the time the team is locking up to leave, so it's not too helpful.
Ah, warm and wonderful Texas ... goodbye for a few days. I'll do my best to check in while I'm on the road. I'd love to share my travelogue observations with you. Make it a wonderful week ... and stay cool whatever you do!
I have to keep it all in perspective remembering that the people here are friendlier than anywhere I've traveled except perhaps the deep South. My customers are the most pleasant of people as are my vendors and the folks who wait on me when I go out to eat or shop. And of course with one exception, family lives here and that counts for a lot.
Nonetheless, balmy 70 degree weather beckons on that mountaintop in Colorado and I can hardly wait. Thinking back to the heat of last summer our maids were having such a hard time working in it that we started sending out heat advisory notices asking our residential customers to turn down thermostats the morning our maids come to clean. I know it doesn't feel too bad as homeowners leave for work in the morning but if the team arrives at say, 1:00 the interior temperature of the house has risen to 80 or even 85 degrees which is in itself uncomfortable. I was chastised once for saying that, like the maids were wimps to complain, but vacuuming is rigorous upper body work which by itself can work up a steam and the exhaust from the vacuum cleaner heats the ambient temperature of a room by 10 to 15 degrees! Even if the thermostat is lowered on arrival, it's just beginning to cool the air by the time the team is locking up to leave, so it's not too helpful.
Ah, warm and wonderful Texas ... goodbye for a few days. I'll do my best to check in while I'm on the road. I'd love to share my travelogue observations with you. Make it a wonderful week ... and stay cool whatever you do!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Sh-Zam it's a Sh-Mop!
Veterans in the trade will recognize it, but most homeowners wouldn't be familiar with the Sh-Mop. It's a handy do-jigger I wish I'd discovered years ago. It has a telescoping pole handle for any height user and a permanent flat scrubber head, similar to the nylon filament scrubber on the half sponge, half scrubber you may use in your kitchen sink. Now here's the fun part; over the permanent scrubber, goes an elasticized microfiber bonnet that is saturated and wrung out before attaching. Whenever it gets dirty, a new one replaces it. The Sh-Mop head is huge too. It covers a large swath of floor with one pass.
Credit goes to Jeff Campbell of "Speed Cleaning" fame for inventing it. The man knows what he's talking about. Anyway floors of course, are always the dirtiest surface in a home and aside from plugging in an electric scrubber machine or using a toothbrush on one's knees approach, this should garner rave reviews for cleaning floors. I'll let you know how it works in the field. It's so fun to discover a new, effective tool, don't you agree?
Credit goes to Jeff Campbell of "Speed Cleaning" fame for inventing it. The man knows what he's talking about. Anyway floors of course, are always the dirtiest surface in a home and aside from plugging in an electric scrubber machine or using a toothbrush on one's knees approach, this should garner rave reviews for cleaning floors. I'll let you know how it works in the field. It's so fun to discover a new, effective tool, don't you agree?
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Is Clean Ever too Clean?
Most of us have to work within a budget, so that is the determining factor in how often you might want a service to come to your home to clean for you but there are a couple of other considerations. If you have children ... especially teenagers that come and go - with friends, you might not be able to clean near often enough to keep up but for the average family every other week is just about right. It seems a reasonable length of time between dust bunny accumulations to not be noticable and not so often as to be a drain on the household budget. If you entertain, even spontaneously the house is always ready for guests and it's just sooo nice to come home to a clean home, be it apartment or mansion. There's never an odor in the home either since regular sanitizing of wet areas keeps the bacteria colonies at bay. We offer weekly, bi-weekly every four week or as-needed service, whatever span works best for your schedule.
We were just called by a lovely executive/wife/mom who had given up her previous service years before because her conscience nagged her that she was supporting various illegal aliens on the payroll of the service she'd hired. She'd been trying to keep it up all by herself until the day she decided to call us for help. She was on her knees scrubbing a spot beneath the kitchen counter and she misjudged coming up and took a nasty bump on the head. As she lay on the kitchen floor, head throbbing and looking at the ceiling she thought, "I've had enough of this!" She was tired of being angry all day every Saturday while she picked up and cleaned behind her busy family. A family too busy to do it for themselves, in their minds. This way she can leave the scrubbing to us and enjoy her family AND her Saturdays -- without a headache. For her, that is just about clean enough. And that's what we take pride in offering; more time for the things that count!
We were just called by a lovely executive/wife/mom who had given up her previous service years before because her conscience nagged her that she was supporting various illegal aliens on the payroll of the service she'd hired. She'd been trying to keep it up all by herself until the day she decided to call us for help. She was on her knees scrubbing a spot beneath the kitchen counter and she misjudged coming up and took a nasty bump on the head. As she lay on the kitchen floor, head throbbing and looking at the ceiling she thought, "I've had enough of this!" She was tired of being angry all day every Saturday while she picked up and cleaned behind her busy family. A family too busy to do it for themselves, in their minds. This way she can leave the scrubbing to us and enjoy her family AND her Saturdays -- without a headache. For her, that is just about clean enough. And that's what we take pride in offering; more time for the things that count!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Town Hall Meeting
I'm thinking tonight about our congressman's Town Hall meeting he's hosting in the morning. I applaud his temerity. Seems some are holding teleconferences by phone, or not at all. Never mind hearing from constituents!
I've never before been a political being. I get too passionate about topics near to my heart in the face of others that take a stubbornly opposing view. Thus I've avoided that public arena ... until now. After all, I am a business owner. I haven't done it right every time, but I've spent 20 years alongside my hard working husband doing my darndest to provide steady jobs to willing employees and a good service to our great customers. Now I'm in there with every other business owner, facing this imposed health care system price tag that will only drive my expenses up which translates into higher consumer prices. What's bad for one is bad for all.
I want good healthcare for everyone when they need it, but this plan which evidently very few of our representatives have even read through, seems to promise a lot but delivers only disappointment, if not in the short term, surely in the long run.
I encourage you to get informed and engage your representative in a dialogue on this -- or any subject you hold dear for that matter. Let them hear from you in person, on the phone, by fax or email. We live in a nation with a representative form of government. Let's exercise our first ammendment right of free speech and freedom of the press to let Congress know we're here and what we want to see happen.
I've never before been a political being. I get too passionate about topics near to my heart in the face of others that take a stubbornly opposing view. Thus I've avoided that public arena ... until now. After all, I am a business owner. I haven't done it right every time, but I've spent 20 years alongside my hard working husband doing my darndest to provide steady jobs to willing employees and a good service to our great customers. Now I'm in there with every other business owner, facing this imposed health care system price tag that will only drive my expenses up which translates into higher consumer prices. What's bad for one is bad for all.
I want good healthcare for everyone when they need it, but this plan which evidently very few of our representatives have even read through, seems to promise a lot but delivers only disappointment, if not in the short term, surely in the long run.
I encourage you to get informed and engage your representative in a dialogue on this -- or any subject you hold dear for that matter. Let them hear from you in person, on the phone, by fax or email. We live in a nation with a representative form of government. Let's exercise our first ammendment right of free speech and freedom of the press to let Congress know we're here and what we want to see happen.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Trust Me
There's an old ethnic joke that asks "How does a ____ (you fill in the blank) say 'trust me'?Answer: 'With a stab in the back'! And haven't we all felt like we've encountered that person?
Be sure the cleaning company you hire can prove they carry the insurance they claim to carry -- that you really can trust them. Why is that important? Your homeowners' policy is at risk otherwise. If you hire an independent cleaner, chances are they are "self" insured or bonded which means they would have to personally reimburse you the homeowner out-of-pocket should an item be broken or go missing. Let me hasten to say, there are honest individuals out there who would do that. However, should they fall or injure themselves while cleaning in your home and they have no insurance coverage then your homeowner's policy is responsible. Yikes! Who knew?
Be sure the cleaning company you hire can prove they carry the insurance they claim to carry -- that you really can trust them. Why is that important? Your homeowners' policy is at risk otherwise. If you hire an independent cleaner, chances are they are "self" insured or bonded which means they would have to personally reimburse you the homeowner out-of-pocket should an item be broken or go missing. Let me hasten to say, there are honest individuals out there who would do that. However, should they fall or injure themselves while cleaning in your home and they have no insurance coverage then your homeowner's policy is responsible. Yikes! Who knew?
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Water Water Everywhere
Texas is typically hot and dry in the summer months, but this year hasn't been so typical in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. We've certainly had the hot and dry but we've also seen some rain -- a nice respite from the norm. With fluctuating water tables, I notice that funky algae smell on occasion when the water is turned on and we've seen a small rash of infrequently used toilets develop that pre-mildew pink ring right around the water line in no time flat. Be sure your clean-tech uses a brush with cleanser rather than the toilet "mop". This seems to do the job. Happy swirling! Call if we can help.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Welcome to Clean Reflections' Blog
Thanks for stopping by to see what's new in the world of cleaning. It's been 20 years since I laid down my sales portfolio and took up mop and bucket to serve homeowners in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. It was a crazy idea, but hey, it was supposed to be temporary ... what can I say? There is gratification in serving, no matter the venue.
On to a topic of more interest to you. As I pondered this, I asked what was one of my own recurring questions -- as a customer years ago, and it was on dusting. I never understood why I could see dust that the expert I hired couldn't. Now that I'm on the other side of the issue, I've come to identify a couple of legitimate reasons. The most prevalent being that the expert HAS ADDRESSED the dust, or so he/she thinks and occasionally the tool is the culprit. When the property has not been deep cleaned for an extended period of time, a dry duster may release some dust back into the air which -- you guessed it, resettles on surfaces -- typically not visible immediately. Now that microfiber cloths and disposable dusters are available, it doesn't need to be an issue. The only drawback there is that they are expensive. That's why independent cleaners along with numerous national services use the feather duster ... it's reusable and for most applications, effective.
Clean Reflections does use microfiber dusters on an initial deep clean. Feather dusters are used only on properties we maintain on a regular basis. Just another detail that sets us apart from the pack.
Email me if you have a burning question on a cleaning problem. Chances are I've tackled it at least once before. You can reach me through our website at http://www.cleanyoucansee.com or at sharon@cleanyoucansee.com. I look forward to your inquiry.
Oh yes, we offer FREE in home estimates. Give us a call if we can be of service.
On to a topic of more interest to you. As I pondered this, I asked what was one of my own recurring questions -- as a customer years ago, and it was on dusting. I never understood why I could see dust that the expert I hired couldn't. Now that I'm on the other side of the issue, I've come to identify a couple of legitimate reasons. The most prevalent being that the expert HAS ADDRESSED the dust, or so he/she thinks and occasionally the tool is the culprit. When the property has not been deep cleaned for an extended period of time, a dry duster may release some dust back into the air which -- you guessed it, resettles on surfaces -- typically not visible immediately. Now that microfiber cloths and disposable dusters are available, it doesn't need to be an issue. The only drawback there is that they are expensive. That's why independent cleaners along with numerous national services use the feather duster ... it's reusable and for most applications, effective.
Clean Reflections does use microfiber dusters on an initial deep clean. Feather dusters are used only on properties we maintain on a regular basis. Just another detail that sets us apart from the pack.
Email me if you have a burning question on a cleaning problem. Chances are I've tackled it at least once before. You can reach me through our website at http://www.cleanyoucansee.com or at sharon@cleanyoucansee.com. I look forward to your inquiry.
Oh yes, we offer FREE in home estimates. Give us a call if we can be of service.
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