The Cleanie Blog

Owned by a Woman

2011-11-26T15:10:00.003-06:00

I don't say a whole lot about this, but it did take some time and effort to acquire so I thought I'd pass on that Clean Reflections is a HUB certified Woman Owned Small Business. Our fair state of Texas recognizes our company as such and I am indeed proud of the designation. I was a burned out corporate employee 23 years ago looking around for something meaningful and profitable to do with myself when I read a newspaper article about an ambitious mother of five who was widowed too early with no saleable skills. She turned to housecleaning since she was more than familiar with it and it made sense to her. At the time of the newspaper article she was reaching out to help others who wanted to do the same. I called and attended her meeting and launched a surprising new career. My husband joined me a year later and we've never looked back. We've worked with and for a colorful variety of people along the way and have gathered a substantial number of stories.

We cleaned for one couple for instance, for 21 of those years traveling with them through retirement, their move to a smaller home, various hospitalizations, the death of the husband and ultimately the wife's move to a retirement home. We miss her on the schedule but feel blessed to have been her trusted visitor twice a month for all those years.

How Often Should You Clean?

2011-01-05T07:35:00.002-06:00

I ran across this by Mandi Rogier, an eHow Contributor which you might find helpful if you wonder why your home isn't looking it's best.

House cleaning is an important chore that can keep your home beautiful, livable and sanitary. By maintaining a regular schedule, you can ensure that your home is always presentable and avoid the last minute rush to tidy up when a friend is coming over. How often you need to clean your house will vary with each chore, but there are some simple guidelines that can help you create your own house cleaning schedule.

Kitchen
The kitchen is one area of the home that cannot get by with anything less than a daily cleaning. After cooking, you should wipe down all of the kitchen surfaces and put away any supplies that you used. Do dishes immediately after the meal, and wipe down the sink once a day, preferably before bed. The floor should be swept and mopped once or twice a week, or more if needed. The fridge should be cleaned out regularly. The ideal time to do this is right before you go grocery shopping, so a fridge full of spoiled food and rotten leftovers doesn't fool you into thinking you don't need to buy more food. Give the appliances, fridge and sink a thorough scrubbing once a week.

Bathroom
The bathroom can get dirty very quickly, so a regular daily cleaning is important. Wipe down the tub, shower stall, sink and counter with a multipurpose cleaner once a day. Wipe down the mirror with a touch of white vinegar. Straighten the toiletries and hang up towels after every use. Ideally, the toilet should be cleaned several times a week. At a minimum, do this once a week. Once a week, you should also thoroughly sweep and mop the floor and replace the towels.

Bedroom
The bedroom will need less work than the other areas of the house. Tidy up any laundry, books, shoes and other clutter on a daily basis. Once a week, change the linens, dust the furniture and vacuum the carpet. Once a month, you should vacuum and rotate the mattress. In children's rooms, you may need to wipe down surfaces and pick up toys more frequently. Encourage children to help you with these tasks until they can eventually complete them on their own and take responsibility for their own bedroom.

Living Room
The state of your living room will vary greatly depending on the number of people and pets residing in your home, and how much time they spend there. If you live alone or with your spouse and you both work during the day, then your living room may remain largely untouched throughout the week. If you are a stay-at-home mom with kids that are homeschooled and an ever-growing collection of pets, you will fall at the opposite end of the spectrum. In general, you should vacuum the carpets two or three times a week. Pick up books, toys, cups and other clutter at the end of the day, every day, and wipe off surfaces. Vacuum the upholstery once a month, and shampoo the upholstery and carpets once or twice a year.

Other Activities
Some household cleaning can be left to a once-yearly "spring cleaning." Don't let the name fool you, though. You can just as easily take on an annual cleaning in the summer or fall, though winter is ill-suited to many of the tasks involved in this campaign. Once a year you should give the house a thorough scrubdown. Clean under and behind furniture, including the fridge and other appliances. Dust the ceiling and fans, wash the drapes and wash scuff marks and stains from the walls. Empty bookcases and toy shelves and wipe down the shelves and the items that go on them. If you are doing this cleaning in the fall, this is a good time to launder and put away summer draperies and linens and air out the fall set. Likewise, in the spring this activity can be reversed.

Hate the thought of cleaning?

2010-09-20T10:22:00.005-05:00

We all know cleaning is not rocket science, and we all think we can do it outselves, "why hire an outside company to shovel out my dirt?" Yet ... it's the last on the list of "to-do's" for so many of us ... why is that do you suppose?

I'm going to offer some encouraging words. You CAN do it with the right tools and just a little time set aside for the purpose. it really isn't necessary to do it all at once. Of course, if you need it done NOW, we're a phone call away (940-566-MAID).

Let's tackle it from the bottom up. First you need your weapons of choice. We at Clean Reflections use Green Juice an enzyme based cleanser, for most surfaces that don't require dynamite. It literally eats bacteria and most dangerous germs leaving behind a fresh clean, almost non-scent. We pack some grit type cleanser for porcelain, and a diluted version of Green Juice for glass and windows. Then there is toilet bowl cleanser and we bring a pumice stone for hard water buildup if needed.

Now for equipment type weapons: Your vaccuum of choice; a hose attachment is handy for corners,beneath furniture and for the stairs of course; rubber gloves for the obvious reasons plus when used dry, they make a great hair ball remover for upholstery; a long duster; a short duster -- which could be a feather duster but we've settled on Swiffers. They hold the dirt better and squeeze into tight places nicely and they don't molt. Their drawback is expense. You can on occasion find them at the Dollar Store, however. A scraper for melted wax, a small wisk broom and dust pan, a broom and a mop; I recommend a Sh-Mop found at Jeff Campbell's www.thecleanteam.com website. And last but not least, the ultimate microfiber cloth! One for glass, a couple for counter tops and surfaces, and one for the bath.

You'll need a bucket or tote to store and carry all this and an apron (most important) to carry a few of these things in while in action.

I'll give more details on execution next blog. Until then, load your tote and keep it clean!

Quickie Cabinet Clean Up

2010-09-07T09:59:00.002-05:00

This from the Family Handyman:

To remove that greasy build-up that collects on kitchen cabinets, heat a damp microfiber cloth in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds (this will loosen baked on dirt in the microwave as well!). Put on a pair of gloves, spray your wood or metal cabinets wtih an all purpose cleaner containing orange oil, like Orange Glo. Wipe off the cleaner with the warm cloth. Rinse, wring out and reheat the cloth. When finished, remove excess oil with a cool, damp cloth.

The Red White and Blue

2010-07-05T14:31:00.004-05:00

I bought a new flag this year, placed it on a pole in front of our office window on Flag Day in June and I light it up every night as proper flag protocol dictates. I'm so proud of what it stands for ... the men and women who have fought and even died to keep it our proud symbol of a free nation. My prayer is that all Americans will appreciate it's true meaning. Perhaps we could each take a few minutes to share with our children or grandchildren the history of our Red, White and Blue. See a condensed version below.

Our flag carries American ideas, American history and American feelings. It is not a painted rag. It is a whole national history. It is the Constitution. It is the Government. It is the emblem of the sovereignty of the people. It is the NATION.
-Henry Ward Beecher, 1861

"From its controversial beginnings, the American flag has been an important part of our culture. It has survived over 200 years and two World Wars. The flag has evolved physically and symbolically in times of crisis and achievement. During the Vietnam War, the flag took on conflicting meanings that split the nation, and by the Gulf War, the flag was again a uniting force. September 11, 2001, the flag became a symbol of hope and pride. Though tattered and dirty flying above the rubble of the World Trade Center, it, like our country would prevail.

Unlike other countries, America only has two national symbols, the bald eagle and the American flag. While the bald eagle is internationally recognized, the American flag is a symbol known worldwide. The flag has been the inspiration for holidays, songs, poems, books, artwork and more. It has been used to show nationalism, rebellion and everything in between. The flag is so important that its history tells the story of America."

The Magic of Service

2010-04-27T19:26:00.003-05:00

My daughter (also a business owner) and I were lamenting the fact that service in business seems to be a dying practice. For instance, my office phone line was slammed about three months ago by a carrier that provides my cell phone service. When I called to cancel it, they BLOCKED any outgoing long distance calls from my number! How incredibly foolish of them. I'm now considering another cell phone carrier after all the years I've been faithful to them. I established a new account with my FIOS provider, and they assured me within 24 hours I'd have my outgoing long distance line again. Wrong! 30 days later I was still without. It seems my order sat on someone's desk unattended for a month. After an hour and four operators later on the phone, I was again assured I now had new long distance service and they would "expedite" manually if necessary, the removal of the block on my line. Wrong again! A third attempt was made a day later and I'm still waiting to see if it "took". Many apologies were given, along with excuses, but what rotten service is that??? Our business has grown on service as an essential component. The customer may not always be right, but their opinion certainly carries a LOT of weight at Clean Reflections. We listen, we correct when necessary and more importantly we do everything imaginable to head complaints off at the pass. We screen our maids with national criminal background checks, they are given a personality screening as well to determine tendencies from punctuality to thievery with much in between. It's not foolproof, but at least we have a headstart on getting to know the character of those we hire. We also train on best industry techniques before anyone sets foot in a customer home or business. We take your concerns seriously. That's one reason we affiliated with SERVICE MAGIC who ran background checks on us just like we do our employees. They also required we show proof of bonding and insurance and only then were we admitted into their exclusive membership. Yep, we believe in old fashioned service. Don't believe me, just give us a try. You can check us out on our profile page at http://www.servicemagic.com/ too. Click on cleaning and maid service and you'll see us there.

Earth Day

2010-04-15T08:29:00.006-05:00

Saturday April 17th is Earth Day! What enterprising person thought that up? And how far we've come since Colombus' day in 1492. Back then we thought we'd fall off the earth if we wandered too far from home. Now we celebrate it in all it's roundness while wandering all over it's surface yet cautioning ourselves to not take it for granted. A good idea I think and we at Clean Reflections are in a unique position to be aware since we are in the what I affectionately call the "chemical warfare" business. That's why we use only environmentally friendly products with rare exception. It started from a purely selfish motive I admit. We became highly sensitive to some common products that had bleach in them. We noticed a burning sensation in our throats and worse yet, the following day breathing was labored and we experienced a general sense of malaise. Not good in a labor intensive business! We figured if they weren't good for us, then we didn't want to expose our customers to them either. So, enjoy and celebrate Earth Day in your own way. Never mix bleach with ammonia and always use chemicals in a well ventilated area. Better yet, let our experts show you how new fangled products and equipment can customize a cleaning program for your home.

Spring has definitely Sprung

2010-04-05T17:41:00.004-05:00

I heard from our daughter in Idaho today that it is SNOWING there! Not so in Texas ... at least for two weeks now. We did have a strangely late snow for one whole day in March and that was after some of the shrubs and trees had started putting on buds. We survived it though and it's now more like business as usual -- WARM. A good time for cleaning out one's garage (which we need to do in the worst way) or take care of touch up painting around the house (also something on my list) or just a plain old deep Spring cleaning. That means baseboards, pulling furniture away from the wall ... and might as well rearrange the contents of the room with those coaster-like slides while you're at it ... dust the ceiling fans, clean under, around and behind all things normally neglected; the treadmill, the television, the top of the fridge, the lint-y utility room and on it goes.

A friend of mine suggested Spring Cleaning is a hoax perpetuated on already overly busy women. I guess to keep us "off the streets and out of the pool halls" as my now deceased character of a father-in-law often joked. Who knows? But spring does inspire me to get up and DO more than any other season of the year. Perhaps with the greening of the trees and shrubs, and the first peek of the sun, I am motivated to think I can do it ... the days are longer.

If you however, still can't bring yourself to think about piling one more task on your shoulders, I hear and I understand. Give Clean Reflections a call. We can come only once or regularly ... whatever helps you the most. It's an easy number to remember too: 940-566-MAID! Happy spring to you!

Hearts and Flowers, Puppies and Kitties

2010-02-21T11:10:00.002-06:00

We just passed a sweetheart's celebration ... Valentine's Day which I've always enjoyed. It's another opportunity to correspond with those dear friends we didn't get to at Christmas for one thing. And this year my sweetheart gets extra points for remembering to bring home a dozen long stemmed yellow roses with the sweetest card I think he's ever chosen for me.

Now that brings me to the house cleaning part. We all know that live flowers say "I love you" almost better than anything, but they do die and they drip in the process. I even resisted clipping off their stems of my beauties to draw more water because of the mess it makes while pulling them apart. Just keep in mind to place them on something that won't be harmed by damp babies breath buds or vase bottom. Pull out of the vase over the trash can when it's time to say goodbye to them and you're clean up will go much faster.

Other oddball things that go into the mix to create household dust would be: pet dander, soot from the fireplace and believe it or not dead skin cells (probably the biggest culprit) and of course just plain old dirt that seeps in when the door is opened or around windows not well sealed. Be sure to invest in placing a good scraper type fabric door mat at those well used entry doors. A good swipe of one's shoes over a mat goes a long way toward saving your floors from muddy scuffs.

I hope this helps. If you're still overwhelmed, give us a call. We're here to pitch in and help be it one time or on a regular basis. Our number is 940-566-MAID (6243). And all this applies to offices as well. My valentine to you!!

Dirt by any name is still Dirt

2009-12-02T23:32:00.003-06:00

Isn't it fun to secretly gloat over someone else's dirt? I hate to admit that I enjoy seeing the cracks in someone's beautiful facade but it's a sad fact of life. We all try for that perfection whatever it is to each of us but alas no one will ever achieve it. In fact, I had a speaking coach suggest that when speaking before a group publicly to NOT look perfect ... allow an uneven hem, a turned collar or whatever so that audience members would focus on that imperfection rather than on my stumbles in speech. Crafty, but I can't say I allow that intentionally. It's the same with our homes. I like a picked up, clean house as much as the next housewife but don't get so picky that you can't truly live in your own home. Our dear Maids and night crews encounter just a few fortunately, but they do encounter those homeowners and building managers who appear to have attained masters' degrees in complaining. It's off-putting to say the least. So here in the wake of Thanksgiving ... while we still live in the grandest nation on earth, let's BE thankful we can hire someone to do what we don't have time nor inclination to do ourselves and give one another some slack. Call Clean Reflections if you're the current clean up person and are sick and tired of spending your time mopping up after all the others in your home or office. "We don't cut corners, we clean them!" Visit us online at www.cleanyoucansee.com anytime.

Aubergine, beautiful aubergine

2009-11-10T19:10:00.004-06:00

Because I have my house cleaned every week, I can now focus on my achievements in the kitchen. I ordered a natural cookbook a few weeks ago having seen a segment on TV by the author. Because I want my husband and I to enter the 'golden years' in good health, I've been focusing more on organics and vegetables in cooking. Anyway, turns out the author is British. My roots are in Great Britain, in fact my grandparents landed here right off the boat, so I am grateful to the Brits for all they bring us. They do however, speak English a bit differently than do we. All measurements are in grams and liters ... so I Googled a conversion chart. Check, got that handled. Then flipping through the recipes I discovered some strange sounding food items. Ever hear of a "courgette"? Me neither. Back to Google. It's a zucchini; go figure. How about an "Aubergine" which I thought was a designer color. Well, it is that too, but it's an .... eggplant! That's a much prettier name than eggplant, isn't it?

More Maxine on Housework

2009-10-30T17:49:00.006-05:00

I thought about cleaning the house. But then
I thought, "What's the house done for me lately?"
Y'know, what we do isn't rocket science ... although the janitorial industry in general is really coming of age in terms of science and technology. We now have the option of using robotic equipment, electrolized water to sanitize, fancier and fancier floor machines that will multi task with one pass over the floor; for example, put water down, scrub and suck it back into a tank all at once. It is pretty amazing if you focus on it a moment. Nonetheless, it isn't rocket science, as I said, but it does require some training and a mindset to do it consistently and correctly. I guess that's why I so love Maxine. She determined early on that she didn't like housework, wasn't going to do it and made no bones about it. And these days you shouldn't have to, especially if you are the chief cook and bottle washer, income provider and possibly Mom or Dad on top of all that. To you, the battle scarred, freeway stressed, microwave set, I bring Maxine for a moment of levity. Laugh along.

Enjoy this latest Maxine installment along with me and put your feet up.

Maxine on Dishwashing

2009-10-20T14:46:00.004-05:00

I feel so blessed; I have a brand new dishwasher. After a good 25 year run, my faithful Kitchenaid conked out permanently. It screamed at us for a few final weeks while it did still wash but finally it coughed and died. I lived without one for awhile shopping for the perfect replacement -- which adversly affected our diet. We ate lots of sandwich dinners. It's hard to consider a full course hot meal on paper plates ... for me anyway. So when Maxine appeared with her support group idea; I totally related to her. Do you?

Call Us! We're good dusters

2009-10-18T18:16:00.005-05:00

I attach the above photo remembering the attractive young couple who years ago called and hired us to clean their first new home on a regular basis. It's unusual for us to have newlyweds as customers so one day I was bold and asked why they had. The sweet young wife replied that during their premarital counseling at church, their wise counselor said to eliminate as many topics as possible that could be argument-starters. One of those was house cleaning! What a smart counselor and what a smart young couple. The house was never a subject over which they fought!

New Use for Windex

2009-10-17T21:55:00.002-05:00

Did you see "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" the sleeper movie hit about a Greek family and their daughter's courtship and subsequent marriage? Daddy in that movie was always touting the use of Windex and it's many uses ... even as an antiseptic for bug bites and shaving nicks. Well, here's a new one for you. I haven't checked it out on Snopes or spoken to anyone who might have tested it but it sounds plausible. Ready? Here it is:

If you are ever struck with an overwhelming desire to run around naked, sniff Windex first. It will keep you from streaking!

C4R on Channel 8 with Oprah

2009-10-14T22:44:00.004-05:00

Big stuff! Our very own Cleaning for a Reason charity was introduced on the WFAA Channel 8 news Monday evening by Oprah Winfrey! Oprah was in Dallas for the State Fair and made an appearance on Channel 8 that evening, thus she was on hand to introduce the story on C4R. How special for us. Look back, I wrote a blog September 1 on C4R ... it's a free house cleaning service we offer to women undergoing cancer treatment as members of the Cleaning for a Reason Foundation. To have a look go to: http://www.wfaa.com/video/index.html?nvid=406464&shu=1

Maxine-isms

2009-09-20T17:16:00.006-05:00

I hate housework! You make the beds,
do the dishes and six months later you
have to do it all over again!!

Lordy, isn't Maxine the new expert today on everything? Well, she's certainly a sage on cleaning and household chores as well. I share the following with you in a spirit of empathy with all of you who feel the same as she does on the subject. They are classic!

Birthdays and Other Parties

2009-09-17T21:53:00.009-05:00

My birthday arrives again tomorrow so as I remember past celebrations I'm reminded of my Mom and her "to-do's". Did your mom make a big deal of birthdays when you were a kid? Mine sure did; which means of course, birthdays have always been a day set aside in my mind for whooping it up. Always the frugal one, mom arranged a backyard circus theme party for me one year. She even issued ride and prize "tickets" at the end of the driveway as guests arrived at the party along with homemade ice cones. I don't have specific recall of all the day's activities, it was alas too many years ago now, but I do remember the residual feeling ... which was one of exhausted exhilaration at the end of the day. If a mom can accomplish that, I guess she's done her job well.

I've always remembered her sharing the secret with me to any successful party ... and she hosted many of them. She said at one of my older brother's birthdays, a little friend of his tugged at her skirt for attention and asked, "When is the party going to begin?" She realized Bill had opened gifts and guests had engaged in several party games but she hadn't SERVED REFRESHMENTS! There you have it, a best hint of the day.

If you need help with the cleaning before or after your next celebration, give us a call at 940-566-MAID. We love to help you keep that party feeling after the guests have left.

Customer Spotlight - Aldi

2009-09-13T21:55:00.003-05:00

I haven't mentioned any of our customers by name, but Aldi deserves recognition. They operate a chain of grocery stores around the country although they are new to North Texas. What's unique about them is their concept of small town friendly service. Most of the grocery stores today seem to be going the opposite direction getting bigger and bigger. We did the new construction clean of the beautiful big Kroger store on Teasley Lane that opened just a few months ago and it is the largest of the three in Denton at 90,000 square feet! Now that's a lot of groceries. Aldi wants to keep it neighborhood market friendly. That just has some appeal, doesn't it? Their stores aren't yet built, but they are on the way so be on the lookout for them. Even in a down economy a good idea can find a home in the marketplace. It's the American way at its best.

How to Clean Your Computer Screen

2009-09-08T15:45:00.003-05:00

It's not often someone stumps me on a cleaning solution, so when this was sent by my good friend from high school days, I bit. She includes directions on cleaning your computer screen on the INSIDE. That's right. Just follow the link below and see for yourself. It's helpful and just so darned cute! Click on: http://www.raincitystory.com/flash/screenclean.swf and take care of your dirty computer screen!

The Extra

2009-09-06T22:24:00.005-05:00

I caught my daughter on the phone this afternoon, waiting at home for her 11 year old son while the rest of her family went to dinner at their other Grandmother's house. When I asked where he was, assuming he was playing at a friend's house she said, "Oh, I guess you don't know about it." "It?"

It seems through a good friend of his who at this advanced age has aspirations of becoming a box office star, our grandson Joel was recruited to be an "Extra" in a new Traveler movie production Revenge of the Grasshoppers. It's being filmed on the campus of McKinney Christian Academy in McKinney, Texas about a 30 minute drive from Denton.

He hasn't gotten a big head from it as yet. He takes it all in stride as just a good excuse to spend time with his thespian friend. I hope that lasts. Fame is a heady potion. It's mighty good to know that wholesome family fare is in the works though. You can read more about the production at http://www.revengeofthegrasshoppers.com/. I'm all for supporting more of this type movie.

Fun Websites

2009-09-05T18:56:00.004-05:00

I just discovered a couple of related websites that I know you'll love if you like to at least think about organization and cleaning. I love reading about both, although I don't find much time these days to act on what I read! Anyway they are as follows: http://www.flylady.com/ one that my dear daughter discovered several years ago. She said it changed her life. She home schools and teaches sewing from home so staying organized is pretty much a must for her. They offer fun things there ... recipes, journals, directions on getting started if you're new to organizing and how to take one bite at a time as it were.

My daughter's website BTW is http://www.seamsseweasy.info/ and her blog is http://www.seamsseweasy.blogspot.com/ if you'd like to pick up some sewing hints. She's one of the best.

The other one is http://www.organizedhome.com/ somewhat the same idea. They even show you how to make your own cleansers for housecleaning.

If you don't want to mess with either, give us a call and we'll be glad to help. Our home audits are free and you can schedule one through our website: http://www.cleanyoucansee.com/

When in Doubt, File it

2009-09-03T21:09:00.003-05:00

In opera it's not over until the fat lady sings. In business it didn't even happen unless it's in a file; at least, that's how it is in my office. Is it in yours as well? If I can't find that former customer in my file cabinet, he/she might as well not exist! And what is the very bane of our existence? Of course, that blessed paperwork! In fact, I look forward to Heaven for that very reason; NO MORE paperwork! Won't that be glorious? And it's the endless stacks of bills and letters to go through too. It all adds up.

For those of us old enough to remember, we were told during the IBM Selectric days (that's a typewriter for younger readers) when IBM was just starting down the computer path, that we'd soon be a paperless society. HAH! I fear the imminent computer crash, so I back up everything -- online and with paper, so no savings there.

Ah yes, it is a filing I must go! Hi Ho, Hi Ho.

The Donald

2009-09-02T22:15:00.003-05:00

You might ask, "what was she thinking?" and that would be a valid question. I'm already running one successful business but I guess it's the call to a new frontier ... something a little challenging, new, exciting ... all that. And the fact that it's a company recently purchased by Donald Trump was a large incentive as well. He tends to make savvy business decisions you have to admit, regardless what you may think of him. In his own words in fact Donald says,"If you're going to be thinking anyway, you might as well think BIG." I like that and in these times, I say diversify if you can. Our 401k's aren't the nestegg they once were for sure.

This company previously marketed only to doctors' offices and medical professionals are not the easiest to convince, so I knew the products were top drawer and with Trump doing the marketing, how could I lose, right? If you're curious and who wouldn't be? Check it out at no obligation at http://www.joinedg.com/. I'd love to get your feedback after you view the short video there. Should you want to join me let me know, I'm always looking for good business partners. If you're interested in the Privia Test or customized for your system supplements, I can help you with that as well. We need to be clean on the inside just like our homes and office buildings, don't we?

C4R

2009-09-01T17:48:00.003-05:00

Clean Reflections is a proud affiliate of Cleaning for a Reason; the purpose of which is to DIRECTLY benefit women who suffer with breast cancer and are undergoing treatment. I think we've now all been directly or indirectly touched by this hideous disease. I myself had a brush with it five years ago and what I learned was how easy it is to be identified AS the diesease rather than me with an illness to bear. People tend to look at you as breast cancer ... not Sharon (in my case). It was a wierd experience and one I doggedly determined to overcome. I would not tell anyone new that I met that I had the disease and at that time I travelled all across the U.S. on weekends as a consultant to women's pregnancy centers. Ironic, wasn't it? My daughter in fact told me one day that she would forget that I was struggling with it. We just didn't talk about it or dwell on it.

Prayer - lots of prayer, movies that made me laugh, upbeat talk around me, a healthy diet ... they all played a major role in keeping me from the pits of dispair during treatment and ultimately placed me on the road to health but my house still got dirty. I suspect most women are like me and feel ever so much better when they don't have to look at a dirty house they are too exhausted to clean. It's for that reason that we jumped on board when we learned there was a way we could help other women going through that. There are so many opportunities to contribute to research, but that somehow seems little comfort to the woman at home in bed. I hope this brings if not joy, at least comfort to the women we serve. If you know of anyone who is undergoing treatment who would benefit from a few free house cleanings, please contact the Cleaning for a Reason Foundation. You can access them through our website: http://www.cleanyoucansee.com. Click on the pink ribbon which will take you to the C4R website.

Spot or Stain?

2009-08-31T18:52:00.003-05:00

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.

The Mythology in Hiring

2009-08-27T14:24:00.004-05:00

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.

An Ode to Dirt

2009-08-26T20:42:00.000-05:00

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.

Rocky Mountain Fever

2009-08-24T15:05:00.000-05:00

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!

A Cool Breeze

2009-08-13T17:54:00.000-05:00

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!

Sh-Zam it's a Sh-Mop!

2009-08-12T21:52:00.000-05:00

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?

Is Clean Ever too Clean?

2009-08-11T17:44:00.000-05:00

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!

Town Hall Meeting

2009-08-07T22:47:00.000-05:00

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.

Trust Me

2009-08-06T19:24:00.000-05:00

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?

Water Water Everywhere

2009-08-05T17:37:00.000-05:00

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.

Welcome to Clean Reflections' Blog

2009-08-04T11:41:00.000-05:00

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.