First day of school!

Today was my first day of school. I am even more nervous today than I was before. I got to check out all of the assignments for the next week and it's a lot of reading and writing. I thought this would be simple and slow paced but it is SO NOT!

Work is going well. I went out to a job today. I promised myself to take this week off and focus on school, but I couldn't help it. I don't know if I'm a control freak or just cautious, but the idea of relying on someone to take care of business makes me uncomfortable. I trust all of the workers, but I like to stay in charge. Maybe it's because I grew this business all on my own, starting with just one client. It took years of effort and ridiculously low income to make it what it is today. It's a huge success in my book and I'd be heartbroken if it fell apart.

Kinga is doing well and I think she is here to stay. Marta seems pleased with the work Kinga does. I really hope Kinga gets comfortable and learns to take it easy, work doesn't have to be stressful. I always try to make sure that work is a place where we can all enjoy each others company and have fun as we're cleaning. It's pointless to stress out.

Barbara decided to decline my offer for a full time position, but she will continue to work with us part time. Barbara is a nanny to a sweet little 1 year old girl. She said she couldn't part with the little girl and I am completely understanding of that. The little girl is very blessed to have Barbara as her nanny. Barbara is a very sweet girl with a big heart.

I hope things continue to go well and we keep growing.

New clients, please click here.

Maggie

Kinga

Today was Kinga's first day with us. I have never been more impressed with a new employee. Even though Kinga is experienced, each client is new to her. I was expecting her to take things slow and familiarize herself with the homes. Nope, she knew what she was doing. As soon as we walked in, Kinga rolled up her sleeves and got to work. Not only was she focused and fast, she did a great job. The day went by quickly. Kinga is very polite and quite fun to work with. She kept the conversation going while we worked. I was not only happy with her attitude, but her work as well. Every room she cleaned was perfect. She pays a lot of attention to detail. I was not expecting much from her on the first day but she blew me away. I am so glad we found someone who does a great job and is so much fun to be around.

New clients please click here.

Maggie

School starts in a week!

As some of you may already know, I went back to school. It's been about eight years since the last time I stepped foot in a classroom so this will be quite an adventure.
I am scared and excited!

Some changes will come for sure, but no worries! Maggie's Cleaning is going strong, hiring more help, and hoping to keep growing.
Being a single mom and going back to school full time, I am counting on this business more than ever.

Some changes that will take place:

More workers. Even though we are growing, we will keep the quality high. Every new employee is accompanied by either my Mom, Marta, or myself.
I am begging Barbara to join our team full time so that we can avoid hiring someone totally new.

I will only go out to cleaning jobs for 2-3 hours per day. My main focus will be on scheduling, management and checking up on the girls. I trust the crew completely, but I still want to be on location to make sure everything is going smoothly.

Marta is taking on a new Supervisor position. She will be the person to talk to if you have any cleaning concerns while the girls are cleaning your home. I will still be available by phone and email at all times.

Thanks everyone! This is a very exciting time for all of us and we are grateful for having such amazing clients.

Maggie

Funny cleaning commercial

The busiest week ever

I feel blessed to have a strong business in this economy. This week I have scheduled more cleanings than any previous week since I started cleaning, five years ago. Five days, three girls, NINETEEN homes!

I need to thank my crew, we grew this business together.

Marta, thank you for being someone I can always count on. You are not only the best worker, but also my best friend. I feel lucky that I found you!!! You rock, sister!

Barbara, even though we only see each other occasionally, you are always fun to work with. I am excited when my mom gives you time off so that you can work with us. You are truly hilarious! Thanks for making us laugh. I really hope you will join us full time.

Ana, you helped me keep my sanity when Marta took a 5 week vacation. FIVE whole weeks!!! I don't know how I could have lived through those 5 weeks without you. Thanks for helping and you are always welcome to come back!

Anita, there are no words. You are simply awesome. Congratulations on the new baby boy! We can't wait for your return. Have a happy and relaxing maternity leave. See you soon!

Mom, thanks for teaching me how to care about my work and do a good job. I'm lucky to have someone who can guide me and be supportive. You are an amazing woman and you taught me how to be independent. Thanks for all the good advice, for lending a helping hand when I need one, and for being a really cool mom. And thanks for babysitting!!!! ;)


Maggie

General Information

A lot of people email and call to find out about my prices.
Here is a bit of info:

My minimum fee is $75
I charge per job, not per hour. There are no time limits, we work until the job is done.
There is always a fee for a first time cleaning. Sometimes it's $5, sometimes it's $20. It depends on the space.
As much as we love pets, homes with cats or dogs will tend to cost a little more to clean.

Please call me at (312) 725-4050 to find out how much it would cost to clean your place.

Please have the following info ready:
Location
Size of home (beds/baths/sqft)
How often you need the cleaning done?
What are your cleaning priorities?

Things to keep in mind:
We only take on small places, no larger than 1200 sq ft.
We prefer to fill our schedule with clients who want regular service (weekly/bi-weekly).
One time, move in/out, and occasional cleanings are only done if we have a cancellation. This type of work does not provide steady income and it is not where we focus our efforts.

We don't do:
dishes
laundry
organizing

We do:

Kitchen-
-cabinet doors
-stove top
-microwave inside and out
-appliances outside only
-counters
-sink/faucet
-window sills
-baseboards
-floor
-remove trash

Bathrooms-
-mirrors
-shower
-tub
-sink
-counter
-toilet
-floor
-remove trash

Bedrooms-
-make bed/change linens
-dust all furniture/electronics
-mirrors
-window sills
-baseboards
-vacuum/mop floor
-remove trash


All areas-
-dust all furniture/electronics
-dust/wash window sills
-dust/wash baseboards
-vacuum/mop floor
-remove trash
-mirrors
-ceiling fans
-wall hangings

We use earth friendly and non toxic cleaning supplies.
Once in a while we are forced to use harsh chemicals to clean, but usually only on a first visit if green supplies can't handle the job.

Please be ready for the cleaning appointment by tidying up before we arrive. Mess makes it hard for us to do a good job. Dishes are very time consuming and we prefer for them to be done before we arrive. Please put clean linens on the bed if you need them changed.

We love notes! Feel free to email/call/text/leave a note if there are any areas that need special attention.


Maggie

Hello Visitors!

I've been in the cleaning business for over five years and figured I should find a spot online where I can talk about my experiences.
Cleaning houses is not the worlds most desired job. It doesn't pay big money, nor does it look good on a resume. A lot of people give me an odd look when I tell them what I do. Some people give me that 'Ohhh that's so cool!' response, which is an attempt to hide the reaction they're having in their head.
So, after much soul searching I decided that I LOVE MY JOB!
No, I don't enjoy cleaning toilets, of course! I enjoy running a business. I enjoy meeting a bunch of new people. I enjoy providing jobs to women. I love the clients turned friends that I gained. I especially enjoy the strong friendships that developed between my employees and I.
I love being a business owner!

So here is my new blog, I hope you enjoy!!!

Maggie