



cleaning tricks
The SoulThe Soul1. Have a System
Speed-cleaning expert (and maid service owner) Debbie Sardone says that cutting your cleaning time in half starts with a system. That means cleaning the house in the same order every time: Working one room at a time, starting and finishing at the same spot in a room so that you don't waste time running back and forth.
"To get the time down, you have to be consistent—that's the whole premise," Sardone says. "You do the same thing every time you clean, so it is a routine. The routine is the method, and that is an inherently better way to clean because the speed comes from the method instead of from hurrying. You really can clean your house in half the time. It's not a gimmick."
2. Clean Top to Bottom, Left to Right
Don't start a room by wiping the coffee table, then clean the blinds, and seeing the dust from the blinds coat your newly clean coffee table. Sardone says to start at the top of the room, such as dusting a ceiling fan, and work down to the floor to eliminate redundant work.
Likewise, cleaning left to right ensures that you cover the entire room instead of darting from place to place.
"Most people see something and clean it, then they look up and see something else and clean it, and the dirt falls down on what you just cleaned," Sardone says. "If you work top to bottom and left to right, you're working once instead of cleaning areas you've just cleaned."
cleaning companies
Housemaid Vacancy . Job overview
The average hourly wage for housekeepers is $9.76
It’s a physical job; you’ll have to be a hard worker
You’ll have to be able to do a good job without supervision
What do housekeepers do?
Do you love to clean? I mean LOVE to clean. If the sound of a vacuum motor really gets you revved up and you live for that squeaky-clean feeling, chances are you’d make an awesome housekeeper. Whether you work as a maid, house cleaner or housekeeper, you will be scrubbing, sweeping and folding your way into a brighter, cleaner world.
Hotels and cleaning companies will expect you to be efficient and hardworking with a good eye for detail. You’ll have to work well without direct supervision, whether you’re working solo or with a team of other housekeepers.
You shouldn’t assume this will be the perfect job for you just because you like to clean your house once a week. Housekeepers and maids clean up other people’s messes for their entire shift, so you’ve got to really love the satisfaction that a freshly made bed and a stack of bleached towels brings to your life. Often you will be on your hands and knees, and you’ll need to be able to lift things (up to 50 lbs.) on a regular basis, so being physically fit will be important.
You’ll have to sweep up every speck of dust, so if you have allergies, this might not be the right job for you. It’s also good to remember that if you’re in someone else’s home or hotel room you’ll probably have to interact with their pets, so being an animal lover won’t hurt.
How much do housekeepers make?
While the work might be dirty, the pay is far from it. According to the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), the average hourly pay for maids and housekeepers is $9.76. Depending on where you work, who you work for, and how much experience you have, you could make as much as $15.98 per hour. On top of that, many housekeepers are tipped for a job well done.
What are the education requirements?
While a high school education isn’t required, it certainly doesn’t hurt. You should be able to perform simple arithmetic and be able to follow instructions. Employers often look for bilingual team members so that could be a huge advantage (especially Spanish/English fluency). Most training will be provided by the employer, including how to use equipment safely.
Career paths for housekeepers
From an entry-level cleaning position, you’ll usually be promoted into a supervisor or team leader role. If you discover you have a passion for cleaning and an entrepreneurial spirit, you could even become your own boss with a cleaning franchise like The Maids Home Services, Maid Pro or Maid Brigade.
The future of housekeeping jobs
While housekeeping positions are expected to grow, this growth is closely linked to the economy. Think about it: if people are worried about spending money, luxuries like maids and vacations are typically the first to go. You’ll have to prove your worth and be a very hard worker to keep this job long-term.