Ask a House Cleaner

Powder Cleanser is it safe to use? How about on a porcelain sink? Or is the abrasive powder going to scratch it? Boss man says to use a scrub brush and a few shakes of cleanser. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says company approved cleaning products are a sure bet. The company will stand behind the products they suggest. Any powder cleanser like Comet, Ajax, Bon-Ami and Bar Keepers Friend are safe to use for a ceramic sink.

Want to know how to clean a moldy shower? You can with Greased Lightning Super Strength. This #ProductReview will show you how to get rid of the muckity muck in your icky shower. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says Greased Lightning Super Strength is a degreaser cleaner. Some say the alkaline cleaning products are best for shower scum. Others argue Greased Lightning Super Strength is the best degreaser for cars. Today's #AskaHouseCleaner sponsor is Savvy Cleaner.

Check out the brands that made Angela Brown's Top 10 Mops for Hardwood floors. Today we look at different mops to clean the floor (hardwood floors, ceramic tile floors, laminate flooring etc.) Brands that made the best mops for hardwood floors are Microfiber Wholesale and Linkyo with the microfiber mop. Mopnado and O-Cedar topped the charts with their mopping system steam mops. Rejuvenate and Bona made the list of mopping systems as a spray mop...

"I've reached business burnout. Do I need a reboot day? I'm trying to grow my cleaning business but can't afford to take a day off. What house cleaning motivation can you give me? I need to take a vacation." Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says a reboot day is a great idea. In fact, it is part of all house cleaner training. Take a reboot day when customers cancel. It's like when you do a computer flush dns. A mental wellness day will clear the cobwebs and give you renewed inspiration

Bonuses and Tips for housekeepers of #Vacation Rental and #Airbnb. Do they keep the bonuses and gifts given or does the entire turnover service team and co-hosts share? Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says in hotels when you tip the maid or tip the housekeeper, they usually keep the tips. But in a short-term rental or VRBO, there may be housekeeping partners who share incentives. With turnover service, you replace or restock supplies, coordinate check-in, and check-out.

How do you clean like a cleaning service when you can't afford a maid? I want to clean my space before the guests arrive and we don't have a cleaning service. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru tells you how to cleaning like a cleaning service in 5 easy tips. Clean flat surfaces, clean glass, polish furniture, clean the floors and take out the trash. They are not cleaning hacks just simple ways to tidy up your house. Homeowners #cleaning has never been easier.

The Clorox ToiletWand product review, unboxing, and demonstration is on tap today. Ever wonder the best way to clean a toilet? Or maybe you call it the loo, the latrine, a lavatory, the can, the oval office a water closet, the potty, or the commode. In any event, DIY cleaning is easy if you have a toilet wand. And today Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru will show you speed cleaning techniques to clean the bathroom. "Clean with me and then you can do it on your own."

Want to know the real reason you didn't get the job? House cleaning bids or job estimates often come down to price. The customer will say "You charge too much." Or, "I can't afford your service." It may be a version of "I don't make that much per hour...your price is too high." The real reason you didn't get the job is you don't know your market, or you don't know how to adjust your offer. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says you have to sell what people are buying.

Here are 3 easy ways to scale back your cleaning business when life changes. Cutting back is an option if you're not ready to retire but can't run at full throttle. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says you may have to close accounts as you restructure your business. And employee management is crucial to your business health. You will say goodbye to clients and you may lay off employees but with a good business plan scaling back might save your cleaning business.

No smoking rules apply to all VRBO, Airbnb and short-term rentals. Today's vacation rental mailbag answers house rules for a no smoking policy. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says the host should mention it in the listing. "No smoking, no vaping or there will be an extra cleaning fee." (This means extra chemicals or an ozone generator for odor removal.) You can still make it welcoming to a guest to smoke out back with a designated smoking sign. Include a decorative outdoor ashtray.

Ever toss trash in other people's dumpsters? Here's what happens if you get caught. Illegal dumping comes with fees and the fines just went up. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru wants you to know the laws about trash receptacles, recycling bins and roll out tubs. If you toss trash or are caught illegal dumping in a dumpster, they can write you a ticket. They can charge you for community service, impound your car and even demand imprisonment.

How to clean many ovens in a day is a house cleaning FAQ. And if you're a solo house cleaner or maid you wonder if you should use the self-cleaning cycle. Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says before you do, get a waiver from the apartment complexes property manager.  If you're doing an end of tenant clean and using the self-cleaning oven vs. oven cleaner you have to track the self-cleaning oven cycle.

Compliments and complaints for your house cleaning. Do you have jealous relatives who spout opinions about your clean house that leave you confused? Debbie Downer gives you veiled compliments when she complains that you're "too tidy." Or maybe "your house is too clean" or "too organized." And you can't figure out if they're compliments or complaints but the words make you feel bad.  Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says every Negative Nelly has an opinion and that's all it is.

How to charge by the room for house cleaning comes up when talking about how to price cleaning services. If you charge by the room you can give a quick job estimate on the initial walkthrough. Residential cleaning prices vary and every bid or in home estimate is different. You can charge by the hour vs. job or charge by the room for house cleaning. Each method to price a cleaning job works if you understand the methods behind it.

What networking sites or groups can you join to get more Airbnb cleaning jobs? We look at business marketing strategies in today’s Vacation Rental Mailbag. (VRM) Angela Brown says hosts join Facebook groups and other networking sites to find a maid, or housekeeper for turnover service. What #VacationRental groups for VRBO, #Airbnb or short-term rentals can you recommend? Let's start a conversation to connect the house cleaner and host.