Franchising New Zealand 2017 Survey and Some Highlights of Select Franchise

A research team from Massey University Business School and Griffith University’s Asia-Pacific Centre for Franchising Excellence conducted the ‘Franchising New Zealand 2017 Survey’ from April to May this year.

This business-related survey confirmed that New Zealand is the most franchised country per capita in the world as it had one franchised unit for every 124 people during the survey period, a report published by World Franchise Associates on 2^nd August said.

The survey revealed that there are an estimated 631 different franchise systems (business format franchisors) in New Zealand in 2017, compared with 446 in 2012. The total number of franchise units around the country stands at 37,000, an increase of 14,600 since 2012.

Sales and service sector turnover has increased substantially in the past five years with further growth forecast into 2018 and 2019. Franchising offers employment opportunities for increasing numbers of people, and full-time positions have risen.

The survey clarified that the turnover of the franchise sector has shown robust growth (about 84 percent), with an overall turnover of $27.6 billion compared to $15 billion turnover in 2012. This indicates the strong, experienced New Zealand franchise sector is riding the wave of an upbeat national economy.

And now coming to Select Home Cleaning Franchise, it has helped many people attain financial freedom through business ownership with over 190 Franchisees in its fold in the home cleaning sector. It had also once bagged the Westpac New Zealand Franchise Award for the best franchise system in the home services area.  

Select Cleaning effectively deploys their core systems and business processes that enabled their franchisees to deliver and maintain consistent quality cleaning to their customers at a cost effective price. As Select Cleaning Franchisees own their businesses, they really care about the cleaning quality they provide and are trained professionally to delight their customers.

Select Cleaning Franchisees get quality training, which covers everything one needs to know from how to mix chemicals through to how to build positive and lasting relationships with clients. The training has been provided in several different ways such as face to face training with dedicated trainers, video training, operational manuals and onsite training, and more.

Quick home maintenance tips for the week 

How to replace a sink pop-up stopper: Fixing a bathroom sink pop-up stopper is not a difficult task if you have the willingness to do it.  You only need some common tools like a slip joint pliers, an adjustable wrench and a screwdriver to replace the stopper.

First, remove all items from under the sink. Using torchlight, you can locate the horizontal pivot rod that connects to the sink drain, and see where the rod threads through the clevis (vertical plate).

Unscrew the clevis screw and the pivot nut where the rod slips into the drainpipe. Now pull out the rod enough to insert the new pop-up stopper into the drain.  Slide the clevis over the stopper rod and carefully insert the horizontal pivot rod into the drainpipe and check to ensure everything is properly aligned.

Next, tighten the pivot nut just enough so the stopper doesn't slide down, and tighten the clevis screw also on the other end. If you feel that the stopper doesn't move freely, slightly loosen the nut till it is working fine. Check for leaks under the sink before you finish the job.

For a free home cleaning quote, use our New Zealand wide phone number 0800 000 907, and a trained office staff will promptly attend to your queries. You may also contact us via email; all you need to do is fill in your name, suburb and phone numbers on our Select Cleaning website. While visiting the Select Home Cleaning website you can also read customer reviews about our dedicated home cleaning service. 

How to Break Bad Housekeeping Habits Efficiently

Regular maintenance will keep your home working well and looking good longer. Two golden rules for keeping your home clean are: allot a place for everything and constantly rid yourself of unwanted stuff. Once you inculcate the habit of designating a spot for everything coming into your home, you can see that the clutter will automatically disappear.

Let’s now discuss some bad housekeeping habits to avoid

• Wearing shoes inside: Shoes scuff floors, stain your lovely carpets, and deliver dust, dander and even diseases into your home. A research paper published by University of Houston states that 39% of shoes contained Clostridium difficile (C. Diff), a type of bacteria which causes a potentially life-threatening infection. A good idea is to place comfy slippers at the entry door for you and the guests to use inside your home.
• Putting cleaning tablets in the flush tanks of toilets: you may find it a handy shortcut to clean your toilet, but these tablets contain chemicals that will slowly corrode the plastic parts in the flush mechanism. Read Select Cleaning blog to get easy home tricks to keep your toilet clean and hygienic.
• Using closets to hide clutter: Clutter makes your house less organised and messy. You need to break bad habits such as letting the mails accumulate, keeping clothes you no longer require, old magazines you won't read again, and dishes you don’t need any more. Learn easy storage tricks that will make even the smallest closet in your home, a well organized and functional space.
• Neglecting small maintenance issues: A continuous musty smell in the bathroom area or basement could mean mould is growing. Hiring professional home cleaners occasionally can prevent mould growth in your house. However, if you avoid such warning symptoms in the beginning, things may complicate further, forcing you to go for major repairs.

Environment-friendly home cleaning tips for 2017

Add one tbsp of cornstarch to a litre of lukewarm water and your glass cleaner is ready. Now spray this liquid and wipe with newspaper, cloth or a squeegee to get your windows sparky clean. Remember to dampen the squeegee before cleaning and use it from the top down, wiping its edge after every stroke.

Naturally clean your window traps with vinegar. Dip a cotton bud in distilled white vinegar and run it along the filthy cobweb- and dust-ridden frames to perfectly clean the window traps.

Vinegar can also be used to deodorize your garbage bins and eliminate odours. Spray the bin inside and out with white vinegar. Scrub the bin with a toilet brush or other convenient long-handled brush before rinsing out with a hose. Allow the can to air dry and you’ll find that the terrible smell has gone.  

Do you dust the floor before vacuuming? If not, make it a habit because this way you can suck up any dirt and debris that you dislodge.

Remove rust stains from your tiled countertops or floor tiles with the help of a tomato. Acid elements contained in the tomato work with the rust stain and loosen it. Rub a cut piece of tomato onto the stain, add a little rock salt and use a toothbrush to clean the rust completely. Another method to remove rust is using bleach: smear a little bleach on the rust cylinder stain on your floor tiles, and after 15 minutes, sprinkle a little water and brush it away to get a clean surface.

Leave odour removers, such as a bowl of oats, a cup of distilled white vinegar, baking soda, charcoal briquettes, or a dish of dried coffee grounds, open in your fridge and they will suck in all the bad smells.

Call Select Cleaning verified home cleaners today on 0800 000 907. Your home cleaning tasks in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch are carried out by local, dedicated owner operators of Select Cleaning who bring all the cleaning materials, tools and equipment for the job.

Nine House Cleaning and Maintenance Tips That’ll Make You a Smart Homemaker

Too many tasks related to household chores and not enough time? Don’t worry, you’re not alone- this is the problem faced by most of the working parents.  Whether you do it alone or divide them up among family members, home cleaning & maintenance activity is a must-do daily/weekly routine you can’t afford to postpone. Of course, there is an easy solution: you can rely upon an affordable and trustworthy home cleaning service, thereby saving valuable time and getting peace of mind.

You may have a list of favourite home cleaning and maintenance tips you put into practice. Add the following into that list – it’ll make you a great homemaker.    

Trouble removing food particles left on stainless steel pan?

Pour a few drops of vinegar on to the pan and then sprinkle a little baking soda, and watch it bubbles for a minute. Now add some hot water as required and use a scrubber to completely clean the leftover food particles with much ease.

Getting rid of pantry moths

Add whole dried bay leaves to the corners of your pantry or cupboard or add them directly to your canister of flour, rice, or other dry food to Repel Bugs in Pantry such as beetles, weevils, flies, moths, cockroaches, and ants.

Keep your benchtop spotless

Place aluminium foil (or baking paper) on your benchtop when you peel vegetables or cut the raw fish. This will safeguard the benchtop from possible stains.  Once the peeling task is over you can put the aluminium foil or the paper into the garbage. You can save time cleaning the becnhtop after use. 

Avoid bad smells while cooking 

Are you getting trouble with bad cooking smells while preparing cauliflower or cabbage?

Putting out a saucer of cotton wool soaked up in vinegar will absorb the bad odour in the kitchen. 

Keep coffee accessories next to the machine 

How do you make coffee in the morning?

After getting up in the morning, walking to the pantry to get the coffee, then taking out the grinder from a lower cabinet to grind the beans, then walking across the kitchen to add the ingredients in the coffeemaker? Don’t you think this disturbs you in the morning and is also more time consuming?

What you can do is to keep your coffee beans, the grinder, sugar, spoon and mugs in one cabinet right above the coffeemaker, or somewhere close to it.  Try it and you will feel the advantage! This can be applied to your breakfast paraphernalia and other drinks makers too.

Keeping your microwave clean and sparkling

Steam can do wonders to loosen the oil, starch and other food debris stuck on the internal walls of your microwave. Make a ball out of a damp cloth and put it in the microwave, then heat it till it emits steam. Once the steam has fully spread inside the microwave, wait for one minute and open the door. Now wipe all the stubborn stains and food particles easily.

Fridge maintenance tip

Check your fridge daily or at least on a weekly basis to ensure that it is clean. Keep food away from the back wall of the fridge. This is to avoid food particles getting absorbed by the ice dews at the back of the fridge. This contaminated ice forms mouldy water when melts and becomes unclean and smelly.

How to make your sink smell better

Clean the sink with a mixture of ice and lemons or vinegar and baking soda to avoid stinking of the sink. While cleaning the sink, ensure to scrub the underside of the rubber gasket thoroughly with a scrub brush to remove mouldy, smelly food particles left over there.

Cleaning tips for silverware

Take a large container, line it with aluminium foil and put some cooking salt inside. Fill the container with water and dip all your silverware in the water. The aluminium foil and salt will react chemically to remove all persistent dirt on the silverware giving it extra shine and sheen.

Remember, there are some people who know all these tips and more: your trusted home cleaning service in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Christchurch and Wellington.

Three Routine Bedroom Cleaning Tips from Select Home Cleaning Professionals

There are many people who tend to ignore cleaning their bedrooms as they mostly think they are never in there except for the night to sleep. What they fail to realise is that there is perhaps one-third of the dust of their homes in that single room itself. There can also be the possibility of mould too. This means when you are retiring to bed and fall asleep, you are inhaling about one-third of the dust in your house daily. It is time for you to wake up! 

Select Home Cleaning Tips for a Cleaner and Healthier Bedroom

Select Home Cleaning is one of the best and most trusted home cleaners in New Zealand and Australia.  The experts here are highly skilled and they are experienced in all segments of house cleaning chores. They state that although home cleaners are here to take care of your house cleaning needs, it is important for you to do small things to keep the dust and grime at bay. 

The following are some simple routine things you can do to keep the mould and dust away from sleeping with you in your bedroom-

• Tip 1: Dispose the things you no longer need- You can do away with old clothes, accessories and things that clutter the bedroom. Check for clothes you have not worn for at least three months and do away with them. You should keep the laundry in a separate place. Do not keep worn clothes lying here and there in your bedroom.
• Tip 2: Keep things in chests and drawers- It is prudent for you to be organised in your bedroom. Make good use of the chest and drawers and ensure you keep stray jewellery, clips, combs and more other such items inside. There are some really good drawers available in the market that has multiple chambers. You can buy them and use them for keeping your bedroom tidy. When you are using things, it is very important for you to keep everything back to their original place. This will make the room look neater and you do not have to fumble for things anymore to find them.
• Tip 3: Clean your room at least once a week- It is very important for you to clean your bedroom and vacuum it at least once a week. If you have carpets on the floor, ensure that they are cleaned regularly to prevent dust mites and other microscopic germs from accumulating.

It’s thus evident that if you remember the above three simple tips to keep your bedroom clean, you will not only improve the look of your room but you will also improve the quality of air when you sleep. If you have space, you can also keep green plants in the room to soothe your eyes. However, ensure that they are cleaned regularly too. 

In case, you do not have the time or inclination to clean your bedroom or for that matter any other room of your home, call in professional home cleaners Wellington like Select Home Cleaning today. They are trained in the latest cleaning techniques, certified and ensure you get affordable cleaning packages for a safer and healthier home- contact them now on 0800 000 907 for home or office cleaning in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Tauranga and Hamilton!

Speed Cleaning Your Kitchen in New Zealand – Hassle-Free Tips by Select Home Cleaning

It is very important for you to take care of your kitchen. The kitchen should at least be cleaned daily to ensure it is free from grease and oil. It should smell fresh and be sparkling clean- after all you cook your food here and you do not want it to be unhygienic do you? 

Cleaning the kitchen can be something tedious especially if you are a busy professional. Of course, there are professional home cleaning companies like Select Home Cleaning experts in New Zealand with affordable rates to help you in the task. But there are times when you accidentally spill something and it needs to be cleaned right away or else the stains and odour will set in. Later you can call the home cleaning professionals to sort things out and give your kitchen the shine and sheen it deserves.  

After getting your call, the expert home cleaners at Select Home Cleaning in New Zealand will come in and clean your kitchen in no time without hassles. They are thorough professionals devoted to their work and that is why they have a good repute in the area.

Select Home Cleaning team will also counsel and guide you in housekeeping tips and here are some special speed kitchen cleaning tips by their home cleaning professionals:

• When you are cleaning the kitchen, you should always begin with the sink. It should be empty and shining all the time. Most people tend to place all the used and soiled plates in the sink with the intention of cleaning it later. The result is a bad odour and unclean bundle in your kitchen. Remember, your kitchen sink shows how tidy and hygienic you are. When you begin with the sink, you naturally will load the dishwasher and keep the kitchen counters, refrigerators, stove and doors clean and free from grime and grease.
• Every day you should take a minute or two to clean the sink, wipe it after loading the dishwasher, wipe the stove free from oil and leftovers, the kitchen counter and the refrigerator. You should take at least a few minutes to sweep or even vacuum the floor.
• Every week, you should mop the floor, wipe the kitchen cabinets, wash your dish rack, wipe the switch boards and your phone, if you have one in the kitchen and clean and wipe the inside of the garbage can.
• Every season, empty and scrub the refrigerator inside out, empty and clean the inside of the drawers where you keep your utensils and clean the hood filter of the stove.

Speed cleaning your kitchen is so simple. However, if you still feel that it is too much for you, you should call in professional home cleaners Hamilton and they will take up the task to ensure your kitchen is cleaned well.

If you are based in and around the areas of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Tauranga and Hamilton, you can call in the professionals of Select Home Cleaning who will do the task for you. They have daily, weekly and monthly home cleaning packages that are affordable for every household. Therefore, if you are really too busy or just too lazy to clean your kitchen, call these experts today on 0800 000 907 for a free quote! 

Affordable and Hygienic Home Cleaning Service in Your City

Home cleaning is not an easy affair. The premises you clean should be free from dirt and the contamination of germs. For you, life is busy and work constraints prevent you from devoting time in cleaning your precious home. Your home’s accumulated dirt and dust give rise to the birth of germs that infect your family with diseases. What you desperately need here are the services of a devoted home cleaner who will take the onus of removing every inch of dirt and dust from your house in a hygienic and safe manner.

The Importance of Hygienic Home Cleaning

It is important for you, as a house owner, to prevent the spreading of infections at home with the aid of good hygiene. Many people make the grave mistake of thinking that the chances of getting an infection at home are low.  They prolong house cleaning and believe the root of all illness and disease are brought from outside. This is wrong. Many modern medical and healthcare workers are of the opinion that home cleanliness is the most important thing you should keep in mind to prevent infections and diseases. Good hygiene means less patients and antibiotics. House cleaning is crucial and should be done regularly. Even if you do not have time to clean your home in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington or Christchurch, it is wise to call in daily or weekly home cleaners to do the work for you.

House Cleaning Services in New Zealand

If you live in New Zealand and are looking for professional home cleaning services, you will find that there are many service providers. However, just opting for the first service provider that comes your way is surely not a wise decision. Credentials, job license and safety are some basic protocols you should take into consideration when you are conducting research for home cleaning companies. The sanctity and security of your home is another factor you have to take into account when you are hiring strangers to clean the home for you. The cleaning service company must have good track records and reliable experts for you to trust. On top of this, the home cleaners you select should not cost you a fortune. Service and price comparison on the Internet will give you the names of affordable home cleaning companies in and around your home.

Choose Select Home Cleaning in New Zealand for Unique Cleaning Needs

Home cleaning is made easier if you bank on dedicated specialists like Select Home Cleaning. This affordable team of experienced home cleaners provides regular services to Hamilton, Christchurch, Wellington, Tauranga and Auckland. The professionals are trained in the latest cleaning methods. They deploy state-of-the-art tools and equipment to quickly free the area from dirt, dust and grease. Their experts are verified and they come from credible backgrounds. With them, your lovely home and its premises are safe and free from dirt.  The Select Home Cleaning experts also guide and counsel you on how to maintain the cleanliness of your home. The products they use are non-toxic and safe for pets, children and elderly people. To contact them, please visit the Select Cleaning website. 

Get Rid of Cobwebs from Your House Completely As You Prepare for Christmas

There is nothing else that makes your home look more old and creepy than cobwebs! They dangle from the ceiling and make the room look dingy.  You will often find the presence of cobwebs around window beams and corners. If you have a textured ceiling, you will find many cobwebs there too. It is hard to get rid of them most of the time. In most houses, cobwebs are found in places that are difficult to reach and clean. Any attempt to clean them can risk an accident. It is here that you need to resort to a professional home cleaner that will use the right equipment and materials to get rid of these messy eye sores.

What is a Cobweb? How's It Different from a Spider Web?

There are many people who are not aware of what a cobweb precisely means and how they are different from fresh spider webs. They mistake it to be just a spider web. This is true only to some extent. A cobweb is the remnants of a spider web that is no longer used by the spider. The cobweb stays after the spider dies or shifts to a more fly filled locale. The web attracts dust and other debris. The web disintegrates and dangles from the ceiling hanging making them look ugly and creepy. The cobwebs that are generally cleaned by professionals are not light like the fresh webs made by the spider. They are thicker and have a deep tangled look. The fresh spider webs are woven with the intention to catch flies and bugs for the spider to eat. They have elaborate patterns as they are like a home to the spider. Fresh webs are light and not sticky in comparison to old cobwebs.  If you take a look at the two, you will find a clear difference. However, as a home and business premises owner, no one would like these cobwebs to be around. This is why professional cleaners are called in to destroy them and keep your home clean.

Opt for Professional Home Cleaners to Remove Cobwebs

From the above, it is evident that as a home or business centre owner, it is not possible for you to safely and completely clean cobwebs on your own. You may be in a position to clean cobwebs on walls that are within your reach but trying to destroy them on ceilings and corners is a risky affair. You have to climb on ladders or chairs. The broom or brush has to be right for the area to be cleaned. In case, you are not an expert home cleaner, you face the risk of falling down and injuring yourself.

Call in the Experts…

Therefore, if you are looking for a clean and cobweb-free home this Christmas season, it is prudent to call in the experts for the job. There are affordable home cleaning services in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington & Christchurch area that are willing to come over and make your home free from cobwebs. For example, the Select Home Cleaning is an affordable and very professional service provider. This means you can call them regularly and get a clean home without burning a hole in your pocket! 

When guests come to visit you for Christmas parties this year, they’ll be happy to see a brighter home than last year, and so they are sure to appreciate your sense of cleanliness. Warm Christmas greetings to you!

Must-Know Cleaning Tips for Every Household

Here are some important house cleaning tips you should keep in mind before venturing out to clean it all by yourself. These must-know facts will keep you safe, and also save you time and energy while doing a home cleaning task.

Cleaning Preparation

Before starting the house cleaning task, prepare all the cleaning materials, tools and accessories (clean rags, paper towels, rubbish bag for emptying wastebaskets, etc.) together in a cleaning trolley. This way you can save time and energy running around the house for taking right tools and other items during the cleaning process. 

Cleaning an entire house

Start cleaning from the top floor and move your way down. This will avoid passing through the area you have already cleaned.

Cleaning a room

First do the cleaning works around the ceiling area, for example, clean the fans, lights, cobwebs on the wall etc. Then clean windows and wall hangings; next work on furniture and lastly the floor. This method has the advantage that any dust shaken loose from high up does not settle on something you've already cleaned below. Same way clean the windows and mirrors from top to bottom as the cleaning liquid drips down carrying dirt from top to bottom.

General House Cleaning Tips

First do the dry cleaning methods such as dusting, sweeping and vacuuming, and then proceed to wet cleaning. This makes the job easy as most of the dust particles are removed which otherwise would have stuck to the wet surface. 

It’s much easier to clean up spills and stains as and when they happen rather than delaying it for another day. The spills slowly seep into the inner layers of carpets or stone surfaces and then set down permanently making it very difficult to remove later.

Good to get organised well and do the cleaning job in a time saving and wise way. It is advisable firstly to spray cleaning chemicals on the objects and then do another easy job while the cleaner fully soaks in to the surface. This way you get the area cleaned well without the need for heavy scrubbing.

Using Cleaning Products or Chemicals

Manufacturer’s instructions or tips for cleaning are to be strictly followed for everything from toasters to silk blouses and quilts to blinds. When you purchase a new appliance, rug or other household item, keep the cleaning procedures safely and refer to it for periodical cleaning.

Some cleaning liquids when sprayed directly on a computer screen or a framed artwork can cause damage. The liquid dripping into your electronics or cleaner soaking the mount of a painting can be harmful. It would be safe to spray the cleaning liquid on a cloth and then use it to clean the electronics items or framed photographs.

The chemical ingredients of all cleaning products are by large harmful to human being - it can affect the skin, eyes, lungs etc. So, if you are not taking the services of a professional cleaner, make sure that you have all the protective items before starting a house cleaning work. Use aprons, head scarf, rubber gloves and protective safety glasses while you attempt the house cleaning. Also ensure that the room you’re cleaning is properly ventilated.

House cleaning tasks are often boring and tedious, but we shouldn’t forget the great satisfaction that one gets from living in a clean home. The cleaning tips provided above will make your work safer and simpler.

The Rise Of Household Help

Have you ever noticed that we seem to be getting more and more of our regular work around the house done by outside services? 

Did it ever occur to you that maybe this was nothing new?

It seems to me that 150 years ago it was common for people - especially the middle & upper classes - to have servants who did all the daily chores - like cleaning, cooking, washing, serving, driving, car cleaning etc. In fact I have been surprised when looking at our family who migrated to NZ, Australia & US in the mid to late 1800s at how many traveled with one or two servants.  And most of those families would not have been considered wealthy.

With the changes that went on around and after the first world war the use of servants dropped off for many and it became normal since then for most families (apart from the wealthy) to do most of those day to day chores themselves.  Maybe that was what drove the development of the automatic washing machine!

However, if you look at what has happened in most large cities over the last 30 years you will note the growth of businesses that are offering the services that were once provided by servants - home cleaning, lawn mowing, window cleaning, oven cleaning, car cleaning etc etc.

Have a look around the people you know and count how many are now using a service that would once have been provided by a servant -  I think you will be surprised by the number who are.  The shear growth in these businesses gives testament to the call for these services.

We may have all the "mod cons' but the one thing we are still short of is time. So rather than having a servant who "lives in" we have people coming in regularly to do the work.  We have a lawn mowing guy who mows the lawn every 2 - 3 weeks, we have a cleaner who cleans our house every 2 weeks, we take our cars to a car valet service every month for full detailing, we have the house washed once a year and so forth....

So maybe the day of the servant has not gone....just transformed.

Winter cleaning

With the dropping temperatures and rain over most of the country we are starting to see winter closing in. This means more time inside and darker days.

There are a few things you can look at now that will brighten up the house for winter and also spread some of the deep cleaning you need to do each year out a bit.

• Give all your lights a good clean - there will be a build up of dust on some of them so now is a good time to clean this up and let the light shine. If you can take shades off them soak them in warm soapy water before wiping down and drying thoroughly. If you cannot take the shades off the use a damp microfibre cloth dipped in warm soapy water to clean the fittings. Be sure to not use too much water and make sure the lights are off......you do not want to get any water around the electrical fittings. If you have intricate chandeliers or such then you may need to call in an expert - talk to the guys at the shop you purchased the light from.
• Wash all your inside windows and frames. Winter is when you can get a build up of mold and gunk. Getting rid of any build up at the beginning of winter can help keep the build up down.  A good tool for the frames is a denture brush - these are often bigger and stiffer than a toothbrush and have an angled head on the top. They are great for getting right into the corners.
• Have  alook at all the high places in the kitchen inclusing the ceiling. In winter you are more likely to be cooking with the windows shut so you are going to get more residues on the ceiling and top of cupboards etc.  This stuff needs to be cleaned of 2 or 3 times a year and winter is a great time to do one of these cleans. Keep on top of this and you will have an easier job.

Of course if you have a home cleaning service now is a good time to get them to give you a price to do all of this. They will have all the right equipment and will get the job done quickly and efficiently.

Remember also that you should be talking to your cleaner regularly - if you think they are not doing the right things tell them.  I do not come across too many cleaner who do not want to please the customer. So make sure you are talking to them regularly.  If your cleaner will not listen then you have the wrong cleaner and you should either talk to the cleaning company and ask for a replacement or seek a new cleaning company.

Your relationship with the person cleaning your home is really important. be prepared to work on this but also realise that if you cannot get this running smoothly within the first 6 - 8 cleans then you won't be able to and you should look for alternatives.

Autume home cleaning

As we head into Autumn now is a good time to be looking at a few extra things you can do in your home to set the house up for winter.  We have had a great summer so why not take advantage of the good weather to get some of theses extra chores done?

Here are a few extra things to might want to think about (assuming that your home is being cleaned regularly):

• Move heavy furniture and clean under and behind (don't forget the cobwebs on the back of the chest of drawers!)
• Turn all the mattresses in the house - end to end and front to back. This will help to even out wear.
• Wash all the bed coverings - duvets, blankets, pillows etc
• Get the carpet cleaned while the weather is still fine and the carpet will dry quickly. You should think about doing this twice a year - it will help to make the carpet last longer.
• Clean all light fittings - if the coverings will come off take them down and wash them in warm soapy water.
• Clean out kitchen cupboards - move everything out and wash down the shelves.  If you have some sort of shelf protector replace the worn ones.
• Move the stove and fridge out and clean behind & under them.
• Clean out the lint etc from the dryer (if you use one)
• De-clutter - get rid of the "stuff" you are not using. Either put it in storage or get rid of it altogether.  You will be amazed at how much you can get rid of and how much easier the normal cleaning of your home will be.
• Clean out the pantry - through out all old food.

Okay - too much! Sure but remember - it's all about planning. Don't try to do it all at once. Work out a plan on what you will do over the next two or three weeks then break it down into daily tasks. I would suggest no more than 1 hour at a time.  You will be surprised how much you can get through in small spurts.

Have fun....

Of course the other option is to prepare a plan with your cleaner and get them to do it....maybe a whole lot less stress this way!

Some simple cleaning ideas

We are always looking at the best ways to clean a house. Over the years we have found a few simple things make all the difference.  Whether you are doing you cleaning yourself or using a service like ours I think the following ideas may be useful:

1. Always work from top to bottom and left to right - start in the same place in each room and try to only go round once and then do everything in the middle.  A systematic approach to cleaning means you can do it quicker and still not miss anything.
2. Think carefully about using wet cloths.  If you find this easier then you must go over a cleaned area with a dry cloth to make sure no water marks are left.  Better, I think, to use a slightly damp cloth and only go over the area once....saves time!
3. Glass (showers & mirrors etc) are really hard to get right. When you have finished make sure you look at the surfaces from different angles so you can see anything you might have missed.
4. Use your eyes to work our whether a surface is dirty - only clean what is dirty. There is no point in wiping a door if there are only marks around the handle.  BUT this takes practice.  You must get this right otherwise it is just an excuse to cut corners
5. Make sure you take everything with you that you need to clean a room. Use your cleaning apron and have plenty of spare cloths as well as white pads etc.  Again, not having to return to your cleaning bucket saves you time.
6. Try to look at the job from the point of view of someone who has come in to check the job (E.G. The Customer!). What do they see when they first enter the room?  What will the lady of the house see when she is sitting on the toilet?  The "visuals" are really important.
7. When you have finished the job walk around the house in the opposite direction that you cleaned in looking for anything that does not look right. Take a cloth with you.  Clean anything that is missed. Pick up any bits of fluff etc that stand out on the floors.

Have a go and see what time you can save by following the above - you might be surprised.

Getting along with your cleaner

They come, they clean and then they go......so how should you be dealing with your cleaner? Over the years we have found that home cleaning customers sometimes struggle to get the relationship running smoothly so here are  a few ideas to think about

I guess the first thing to remember is that the cleaner is there to do a job for you so be prepared to give them feedback regularly....and then think about the following:

1. Be professional - your relationship should be similar to one you would have with an employee. Treat the cleaner with the same respect you would someone in your work place. Try not to get too chatty or personal as this can get in the way of the cleaning work. Try not to be too bossy.
2. Call them by their names - this is a normal courtesy.
3. Try not to watch every move they make - a watched kettle never boils!  You know how things always go wrong when someone is watching.  Show them around your home when they start then try to keep out of their way.  If you are at home when the cleaners come(most people like to go out), try to keep out of their way and let them get on with it.
4. Cleaning issues - if you think your cleaner is not doing the job properly or not to your liking tell them as quickly as possible - the longer you leave it the harder it becomes to resolve the issue.  If you are a SelectCleaning customer leave a friendly note in the communication book explaining how you would like things done. If you feel up to it see the cleaners before a clean and show them what you mean. This can be hard but it is worth trying - in my experience most cleaners we see now are migrants and they rely on your feedback. Equally, if they are doing a great job - let them know.  If you get to the stage where you do not think you can get them to do what you want then the advantage of using  a system like SelectCleaning is that you can always contact head office and ask for their help.
5. Serious problems - never accuse your cleaner of a serious crime unless you have solid proof. I have seen many times in various businesses where a contractor has been blamed for stealing something only to find that someone else has moved the item.
6. Recognise good service - if your cleaner is doing  a great job it is okay to give them a small gift or a bonus at Christmas. If your cleaner does something out of the ordinary thank them.

The key, I believe, to building a good working relationship with your cleaner is to be specific about what you want, be prepared to talk to the cleaner about any issues and to treat them with respect and courtesy.  Get this right and you will have every chance of having a long term cleaner dedicated to your service who understands what you want.

Good luck

Here we ago again heading into Christmas....far too early again!

I don't know about you but every year Christmas seems to come earlier & earlier.  And I never seem to be fully ready!

One of the things that often causes a lot of stress is getting the house ready for all the family that descend at this time of the year.

Many of us are now using some sort of home cleaning service - normally because no one has the time for this sort of thing any more.  If you do have  a cleaner coming in regularly then now is a great time to be making extra use of them.  Every year part of my budget is to cover the cleaner (on the ESSENTIAL side of the list!).  When I go on holiday I normally do not get Mike & Kim in but I still budget a yearly amount because I get them to do a few extra things around this time - in the weeks leading up to Christmas they will clean the oven & the fridge inside.  I also get them to sweep out the garage because that is where I try to shunt my sisters husband so no one has to speak to him.....

For Mike & Kim this is a great bit of extra income to cover the 2 weeks they do not clean for me while I am away.  For me it is a few extra things I do not have to worry about.

So, my suggestion at this time of the year is to see your cleaners as stress relievers not cleaners - get them involved in making your life a little easier.

Now, where was that bottle of wine....