Have You Worked (Or Work) for a Cleaning Company?

I did it full time - the company I worked for mainly did new construction, but some homes and office cleaning as well.
I hated it - I don't like cleaning anyway and it was no more pleasant just because I was getting paid for it.
Plus it left me too tired to clean my own house.

I lost my job a few years ago.
It was my dream job - it was perfect - worked from home, 4 days a week, was considered full time (had all the benefits), was really flexible, and paid pretty great.
And then I turned 50 and my job was off-shored to India.
In order to earn some money and work around our son's school/activity schedule I'm currently working food service at his school.
The work is certainly a work out and it does get me out of the house.
But if I won a lottery I'd be out of there like a shot.
The lack of money really becomes something that digs into your flexibility.
I have absolutely NOTHING in common with my co-workers.

You're looking for a way to escape your stressful job.
You might do better to find another comparable job to your current profession.
The best time to find work is while you still have a job.

I have two friends who clean - one cleans homes, the other businesses.

They both have husbands with very high paying salaries, but they were stay at home moms who wanted something for themselves. Both of them work with friends - kind of pair up to clean.

They both do it part time only. I think if it was full time they would not enjoy it.

Neither own a business - they work for others.

They really like it. They like the flexibility, that they are home on time for kids, that they can pick which places to clean (they have some say), if they have a house they don't care for (owners) they can request not to do it - the pay actually worked out quite well for both of them, because they cleaned quickly. One of them takes the summers off to be with her kids.

The one thing I heard was that it has to look clean as well as be clean, so it's a little different than cleaning your house, where you're more concerned it's just clean. So it takes a bit more effort.

I'd go for it if you want the freedom, working independently, and it works with your schedule. By the time they factored in all the costs incurred from working in an office, and travel etc. they found cleaning a very good alternative.

Good luck :)

first off, be sure that you really WOULD have more freedom and flexibility. it would suck to leave a decent-salaried job to take one with more drudgery, less pay and less perks.
the next thing to think about is how you're wired. i find housework to be pretty blerg no matter the circumstances, so it would never work for me. however i can clean stalls and barns and horses and saddles all day long.
my little mumsie had her own housekeeping business. she loved it because she was one of those people who takes enormous satisfaction in setting things to rights. she would get SO irritated at clients who 'cleaned for the cleaner' because it stole all her sense of satisfaction when she couldn't see a measurable improvement after she worked.
if this is just a temporary gig, why not put some time into thinking NOW about what you actually want to do, and seek it out?
khairete
S.

My Mom used to own cleaning companies so it was one of my first jobs. I actually enjoy cleaning...my own home. It's awful cleaning other people's homes. You're not just cleaning the usual spots, but all those places that most of us hate to clean and thus they are usually filthy in other people's homes - think blinds, windows, baseboards, the really grimy parts of the stove, mold, mold and more mold. I was shocked at how dirty so many people are. They usually expect miracles in the short time frame that they paid for when it could take you all day just to clean their kitchen. And, yes, it can be weird and uncomfortable being in someone's home especially if they're in the home while you're cleaning.

If you decide to do it, here are some tips:
-Bring some of your favorite cleaning items that you KNOW work miracles. If you have non-toxic formulas, even better. I used to have this cleaning paste by Shaklee that worked miracles on tough, grimy sinks, stoves, etc. It would save me so much backache when all the person would provide was spray cleaner and expect me to get years worth of gunk off. Bring your own squeegee for glass shower doors.

-Treat their home not just like you're own, but like they're getting something special done (even if they're regulars), like they're in a hotel. Some people don't like it when you fold the toilet paper, but it's usually a nice touch. If you want you can bring little candies to put oh their pillows, or print out sweet/zen sayings on cards and put on their pillows. Little things that show you care to go the extra mile.

-Research good tips and tricks. For example, lemon oil swiped on a glass shower door after it's been cleaned will help the water bead off and not create as many water spots.

-Learn the proper order to do things (dust first, vacuum last) and think of time management. For example, don't wait to put the bedsheets in the laundry, that can be one of the first things you do, then get going on everything else while those wash and dry so you can put them back on, or fold them nicely without having to wait or be rushed at the end.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

My sister in law worked for a company--small one, owner operated type. She worked her butt off. There really is not any flexibility and you can get some really jerk customers. Not sure what kind of freedom you are looking for. She worked 6 days a week, no pay if she did not go for whatever reason (sick, kids sick etc) and there is no down time except lunch and going from one location to the next.

I cleaned for years during grad school. I started cleaning for my SIL's sister, and then that clients mother, and three of her friends. It was great. I made a reasonable amount of money and I got to work when I wanted to work, so I could work on my dissertation.

I love cleaning. I find it very satisfying to see things get clean. I don't mind cleaning toilets, etc. Dirt doesn't bug me. If it doesn't bug you, then go for it.

Never did it full time.
After college I realized (when my apartment's heating bill was more than my rent) that I needed extra weekly cash.
I cleaned the townhouse of a single business owner for gas and grocery money.
So it was not my FT job. It was O. half day per week in addition to.
I like to clean.
I like to clean other hones more than I like to clean my own house I think! Lol
If you could find private clients--enough to make GOOD money? Maybe.
But to work for a cleaning company? You're going to make around minimum wage. I would not do it.
If you just want out? There are less strenuous ways to make minimum wage.

Hi. I've never worked for a cleaning company before so I won't speak to that. However, I will share my nagging thought. Be careful shifting fields mid career. I left a clnical position to start my family and the gap between doing that and reentering my field of choice has kept me from pursuing previous career goals. I am gainfully employed currently but working on the admin side of the medical field and wonder sometimes what could have been if I'd stayed networked with my previous clinical chapter of my career, so to speak. It's difficult and even more so as a woman. Be absolutely sure you have a reentry plan when you're ready to recomit to your current field. My 2 cents. Best of luck to you and yours. S.

Try it. It may make you extremely grateful for your old job. Either way, it will give you some perspective. Yes, I cleaned for a co. back in my college days. Its weird if you make it weird. I would never want to go back to this kind of work. Its very solitary work. If you don't like working around people, it might be your gig. Most people who hire serves are very busy people and aren't often even home. There was one thing i did really enjoy about cleaning though, and that was starting with a problem (dirty house) and solving it in a matter of hours. My career had me problem solving projects that lasted months and even up to a year. So there is much more gratification in completing your task daily as opposed to taking months and months to complete a project.

I have been in the cleaning business in one way or another for 29 years. I started out cleaning rooms in a hotel. I did that for about 9 years,then moved to a hospital. Then a job coach,then cleaning in businesses. I currently am a supervisor for a temp company at major international company. If you want to go into cleaning as a temporary job,do it for one that cleans offices. It is not nearly as hard as houses or schools. Most of that type is at night and part time.

Good luck!