Is it safe to have House Cleaners in your Home during the Pandemic?

There are so many questions regarding what is safe and what should be avoided during this pandemic. One of the constants is to keep things clean and disinfected. So the question that some people have is, “Is it safe to have my house cleaners in my home?” There is no guarantee that anyone coming into your home is Covid free, however, you need to weigh the pros and cons and ask several questions. First, determine whether or not you are able to keep your home clean and disinfected. It is a fact that it is essential to keep surfaces clean to help fight germs and viruses. If you are unable to do it yourself, then it is wise to hire a reputable service. Here are a few things to consider or ask regarding a cleaning service:

1. Are special procedures and checks put in place and health monitored on everyone entering your home? What are those procedures and checks?

2. Are cleaning tools and equipment disinfected between homes?

3. Are the cloths and mops used in your home cleaned and disinfected before use?

4. What types of cleaners and disinfectants are used? Are they approved by the EPA as being effective against Covid 19? Are the cleaners trained in using them properly?

5. Are the cleaners equipped with masks and protective equipment and trained on how to use them properly?

6. Have the cleaners or cleaning company provided you with information, procedures and policies established to adhere to CDC guidelines?

7. Are the cleaners and cleaning company adhering to social distancing measures? They should be requesting that you are in a separate area of the home while they are there.

8. Are you monitoring your health before allowing someone in your home?

9. Does your cleaning service offer a fogging service to kill the virus in areas that may be hard to reach?

The Washington Post noted: Like everyone else, Anthony S. Fauci has to balance coronavirus risks in his everyday life. But while he may not be eating in restaurants, Fauci is having his house professionally cleaned, he told The Washington Post in July.

“The only person who comes into the house besides [my wife], Christine, and me is the woman who cleans the house once every two weeks,” said Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. “She wears a mask and gloves at all times while in the house.”

Though everyone has to decide for themselves what is wise and how best to protect themselves and their families, one thing is evident and that is that we need to keep our environment as clean as possible. We here at Prescott Maid to Order are here to help you with this goal.

Fall Allergies – Can Your Home Be Making You Sick?

As the weather starts to turn colder and the leaves begin to fall, we start closing up our homes to keep the cold out and the heat in.  Many people start to notice allergies flaring up in the fall due to various allergens in the air such as ragweed and mold spores.  Often what feels like a “change of season” cold is actually allergies that present themselves with the same symptoms as the common cold.  These symptoms include but are not limited to cough, itchy eyes, sore throat, sneezing and just overall yuckiness.  

 In addition to the outside causes of allergies, there are inside culprits as well.  The American Academy of Allergy and Immunology (AAAA&I) talks about these inside allergens in an article on their website www.aaaai.org.  Some of these are dust mite droppings, animal dander, mold and cockroach droppings:
Dust mites can be found in bedding, carpeting and upholstery.  Keep these areas vacuumed and cleaned regularly.  Bedding should be washed and dried often and if possible, replace wall to wall carpeting with hard flooring and use rugs that can be washed or cleaned often.

Contrary to popular belief, most people are not allergic to animal hair.  It is more often the “dander” or dried skin flakes, saliva and pet urine that cause the trouble.  Even the breeds that are thought to be “hypo-allergenic” can still create a problem for allergy sufferers.  As in the case of dust mites, it is essential for your home to be vacuumed, cleaned and sanitized often to minimize the symptoms of these allergies.

Mold is one of the most common issues when it comes to allergies within your home.  We close up the windows to keep things nice and warm and the mold just thrives in a warm moist environment.  Some areas that may be harboring the mold spores are inside bath toys, in washing machine seals, showers and shower door railings, drain pans under the fridge, fridge seals, sponge holders in the sink and so many more places that you may not even think about.  These areas should be inspected and cleaned regularly.

Though cockroaches are associated with big cities and dirty areas, they can actually be found anywhere. Make sure floors are cleaned and pet food is not left out.  Seal up any cracks and crevices where they may be able to enter. Clean under stoves, refrigerators, toasters, microwaves and toaster ovens where crumbs can accumulate.  Clean stove tops, counters, kitchen surfaces and cabinets regularly.

We look forward to the cozy holiday season and enjoy the warm comfort of our homes.  It is imperative to our health to make sure that the areas we spend our time in are clean and free of these allergy culprits so that we can enjoy the upcoming season.

Housecleaning 101

When I visit a home to find out how we can help someone with their cleaning needs, I will usually ask “how can we help you?”.  I may need to change my approach because often the response is “Well….I want my house cleaned”.  As simple and obvious as it may sound, there are actually a lot of variations of types of cleanings, types of houses, types of people and their specific needs.  For example, a single gentleman living alone, no pets, may want the very basics and with little frequency.  “Just do my floors and clean the bathrooms”.  My next visit may be someone who wants a very detailed cleaning, more often and with lots of instructions. Some may not even know what they are looking for, but just know they need HELP.  

We have to take into consideration that some people may LIKE or WANT to do certain things, like dusting their prize collection of knick knacks, figurines, glass vases or statues.  It’s important that a cleaning crew knows the specific needs and wants of each individual person we serve.  Specific instruction as to how they want a surface or room cleaned is valuable. The customer should feel confident that there will not be damage and that the surface, such as a high quality wood floor or a special type of kitchen counter is being properly cleaned and treated with care. This is their home, it’s personal.  Very few services out there are as personal as someone coming into your home, on a regular basis, being around your children, pets and touching your stuff.

Giving up a job such as house cleaning is sometimes difficult to someone who has taken pride for many years in the work they have done themselves to make their house a home.  It’s uncomfortable to admit to someone or themselves that they need a little help, unlike all the years before. With that in mind, a cleaning crew needs to be aware and place importance on the requests and desires of the customer.
So, what are the basics?  A good cleaning of the bathrooms including toilets, counters, sinks, showers, tubs, glass doors, mirrors, light fixtures and floors. In the kitchen, all the outside surfaces, counters, sinks, outside of appliances, stove top, and inside the microwave. In the living areas and bedrooms of the house, dusting of the furniture and cleaning the floors.

How about the deeper stuff? Along with all of the above, someone may want all the fans cleaned, the baseboards scrubbed, the light fixtures cleaned and shined, the cabinets oiled, the blinds cleaned, the inside of the oven and the refrigerator cleaned, the pot shelves dusted.  How about the tops of those kitchen cabinets!

Regardless of the depth and instruction of the particular job, the company that does that job needs to understand the customer, understand the instructions, genuinely care about the home they are going in to and take pride in the work they do. 

 
Wishing everyone a wonderful Summer!

Enjoy Your "Happy" Summer

We'd like to invite you to “Enjoy every day this summer and leave the cleaning to us”.  As the weather turns warmer and we come into “vacation season”, I automatically feel happier.  People are out and about and enjoying our beautiful area.  It is a time when kids are out of school, family often comes to visit or you take that much anticipated vacation.  

Here at our company, we encourage our friends and community to enjoy their season and let the professionals take some of the tasks that they normally do, off their list and lift a weight off their shoulders.  We encourage our employees to be happy and we strive to make our clients happy as well.

I recently came across this list whose author I am not aware of, but is worth passing along:

TEN THINGS HAPPY PEOPLE DON’T DO

1. They don’t worry a lot about what other people think.
2. The don’t waste time doing things they dislike
3. They don’t try to manipulate or change other people
4. They don’t get stuck in the past
5. They don’t obsess over what MIGHT happen in the future
6. They don’t strive to achieve absolute perfection
7. They don’t forget to be thankful
8. They don’t value material possessions over experiences
9. They don’t seek fulfillment in the wrong places
10. They don’t stay in a negative situation long

Why would I include this list in an article about cleaning?  Because many people I run into feel “guilty” if they do something for themselves or accept help.  They may worry about what other people think if they seek help.  They get “stuck” (like in number 4 on the list) not knowing where to start on a project or a move.  It sometimes seems overwhelming when there is a life change like a move or a house sale.  A recent client called when her Aunt had passed and it was now her responsibility to get the house ready to sell.  This was almost more that she was able to comprehend completing because of the condition that the house was in.  After an initial day of cleaning and professional carpet cleaning, she tearfully thanked us for taking some of this huge task off her plate.  What a great feeling to provide a service that contributed to someone's happiness today!

Being the Best, Finding the Best, Reputation in Business

 Can enough importance be placed on reputation? It is paramount in almost any aspect of life.  Your personal reputation and integrity affects just about anything you do from your social circle to your professional life.  It is the same with business.  As business professionals, your companies reputation should be at the very top of your list of goals and aspirations. Of course every business owner wants others to regard them highly, however, your reputation goes further than that.  Your business reputation is affected by almost everything you do.  Here is a list of some of the most important components that affect an organization's reputation:
    1. Employees: The company has talented employees
    2. Ethics:  The company behaves ethically and is worthy of respect and trust
    3. Leadership:  The company is a leader in the industry and is innovative
    4. Financial:  The company is financially strong, profitable and growing
    5. Social responsibility:  The company is involved  in the community and supports good causes.
    6. Management: The company is well organized, well managed and has a vision for the future.
    7. Customer Service:  The company cares about and is committed to its customers
    8. Reliability:  The company provides consistent service and stands behind its products and services.
    9. Quality:  The company provides high quality of services and products to its customers
    10.  Value:  The company provides its products and services at a good value
    11. Communication:  The company provides good communication between the customer and the company representatives.
    12. Emotional appeal:  It’s a company to feel good about using
Online and social media reviews, publication awards and recognition along with overall word of mouth reputation is what drives consumers more today than ever.  Advertising is of course still viable and is how you get your businesses name in front of the public, but your reputation is what will seal the deal.
As a consumer, are you looking for a particular service or product? When searching for your next service provider or product, do your homework and research the company you are considering.  Take a look at it’s reputation online and in the community.  Try to avoid “the cheapest” deal and look for the qualities listed above. In the long run, it will save you time, money and headache.  The organizations with good reputations got there with hard work and commitment to be the best in their field.
Here at Prescott Maid to Order, we are committed to excellence and are grateful to our community and customers for our reputation.

Keeping Home and Pets Safe During Monsoon Season

                                                     

We anxiously await the rain that our area so desperately needs, but as thankful as we may be for the
moisture, we quickly realize that there are concerns during this time of the year. Mold and
mildew can create health issues and the additional dirt, debris and germs that enter our homes
can cause us trouble down the line. Here are a few tips to help us a stay safe and healthy this
summer monsoon season.

Wash your hands regularly - Additional germs and allergens are growing during this time of the
year. We bring them in on our hands and feet and on our clothing. Don’t allow wet or damp
clothing to set in a hamper, wash and dry it immediately to avoid mildew and germs. Shoes are
bound to get wet. Clean footwear regularly and make sure shoes are completely dry before
wearing again. Use antibacterial foot powder.

Keep kitchens and bathrooms clean. Check in areas that sometimes don’t get cleaned every
time, like high corners above the shower, behind and under things, window tracks and sills.
These are all areas that can collect mildew, dirt and germs.

Keep windows closed when you leave the house. As you know, it may be sunny one minute
and a cloud burst the next. Water entering through an open window can damage sills, walls,
curtains, furniture and floors. Open windows again when you are home and it is not raining.
Your home needs as much fresh air ventilation as possible.

Make sure to use area rugs on the interior and exterior side of each door to the outside. Leave
soiled shoes in a shoe rack instead of walking around the house and spreading the dirt and
germs.

Remove any containers or buckets outside that may collect rainwater. Once the rain stops and
the sun comes out, that standing water is a place for mosquitos and other pests to gather and
breed. Keep pets clean and teach them to wipe their paws on the rug outside (yes, they can
learn that), or you can wipe their feet.

Keep furniture clean and dry and disinfect all hard surfaces often. Outside of appliances, walls,
fixtures, door handles, ceiling fans can all collect dirt and germs.

Make sure your pets are safe during the thunderstorms. Many normally well behaved pets
totally “lose it” during the storms and will dart out of the door, or over a fence. Some people
have had success with the “Thunder shirts” that can be purchased at most pet stores. If you
don’t have one of those, and your dog or cat is sensitive to the sounds of thunder, place a crate
with a comfortable blanket, one of your t-shirts and a toy inside, in an interior bathroom or closet
with a little radio or music playing. You can cover the crate with a sheet. The crate serves as a
“den” which is a natural comfort for most dogs and cats and is a safe place for them until the
storm subsides. Micro chip your pets so that if they do get separated from you, they will have a
better chance of returning home safely.

After the monsoon season, it is a perfect time to get windows, tracks and sills professionally
cleaned and carpeting and draperies professionally cleaned to prepare for the winter and to
avoid the continued growth of mold and mildew.

Have a great summer and be safe and healthy.

THE VACATION RENTAL EXPERIENCE

There is a lot of talk out there about vacation rentals in Prescott.  Some are in support and some are against the vacation rental industry here in Prescott and the surrounding communities.  Regardless of what side of the fence you are on, the fact is that people want to come here and enjoy the many things this area has to offer. 

The Prescott area continues to be named “The Best” in many publications and surveys including:

#1     “Best Place to Retire” – escapehere.com
#13     “Happiest Healthiest City” in the country – Sunset Magazine
#5    “Best Arizona Attraction” – USA TODAY
#3    “100 Best Places To Retire” – topretirements.com
#1    “Best Destination for Nature Lovers” – Expedia

With all of this in mind, owners of vacation rentals need quality, professional and reliable service to keep the properties in shape and cleaned between renters.  Many owners work out of the area or just don’t have the time to manage the maintenance and cleaning required to provide a successful vacation rental.  It is important to have a bonded and insured company overseeing the ongoing cleaning schedule.

The company should:
*Provide quality cleaning
*Handle laundry service
*Monitor condition of the property
*Report damage or excessive use
*Provide pictures of property condition to owner
*Be available to make minor repairs
*Report daily maintenance issues such as light bulbs, batteries in fire alarms
*Restock supplies and snacks
*Take care of outside yard maintenance
*Respond to renters needs when requested
*Provide professional window and floor cleaning

I am sometimes amazed at how lucky I am

to be able to live every day in a place that many people spend their valuable vacation time to visit.  I am able to look out my window and watch as people from all walks of life enjoy the trails and the outdoors.  It is very important that visitors are able to return to a clean and comfortable place to stay while here.  It is our goal at Prescott Maid to Order to help owners provide a positive and wonderful experience for their renters.