Hello:)

Hello and welcome to the My Star Cleaner blog! My Star Cleaner is a domestic cleaning agency dedicated to connecting local householders with self-employed cleaners.   Our primary focus is on providing excellent service while upholding strong ethical and environmental values.

Our Mission:

We understand the importance of a clean home and the positive impact it has on the well-being of its occupants. We also understand the importance of fair pay and dignity in work. By connecting great clients with great cleaners, we strive to create a mutually beneficial relationship that promotes a cleaner, greener, fairer future for all.

Our Core Values:

1. Community Building: We aim to strengthen local communities by connecting householders with dependable, professional cleaners in their area. This fosters a sense of community and support for local businesses and individuals.
2. Fair hourly rates: We believe that fair compensation for cleaners is essential in promoting a more equitable and sustainable cleaning industry. By advocating for fair hourly rates, we empower our cleaners to provide the best service possible.
3. Ethical Partnerships: We seek to work with suppliers and service providers whose business practices align with our commitment to sustainability, fairness, and social responsibility.
4. Eco-Friendly Practices: We try to use environmentally friendly suppliers for our business and encourage the use of environmentally-friendly cleaning products.

What to Expect from Our Blog:

In this blog, you’ll find a information related to cleaning, sustainable business trends, and the experience of running a small, locally focussed business that strives to be of benefit to both our cleaners and our clients. We’ll share practical tips for maintaining a clean and healthy home, highlight our successes, and provide updates on our progress as we try to play our small part in building a more sustainable and inclusive economy.

Stay Connected:

Please follow our blog and twitter account to stay up-to-date with our latest news and insights.   We hope it’s going to be an interesting journey!

We love a good To Do list here at HCC2 HQ.   Keeps the mind focused.  Saves hours of procastination.

Some people say To Do Lists don’t work (and done lists do!).  But we are practical people here at My Star Cleaner and  have no truck with this kind of fashionable nonsense.

When it comes to getting the best from your cleaner a good old school To Do List is the way to go.

You are probably think writing a To Do List is as easy as rolling off a log.

Respectfully, we beg to differ – not all To Do Lists are created equal.  A well written list is a thing of beauty (especially if you have fancy handwriting and some nice coloured pens).  A bad list  simply stresses and depresses.

So without more ado here are a few golden rules on How To Write The Perfect To Do List For Your Cleaner.

Rule Number One: Be Clear

Remember that your house is your house.  You live in it and you likely know it backwards. You know exactly which room you mean when you say ‘side bedroom’. Your cleaner, on the other hand, probably doesn’t.

So give your cleaner a fighting chance:

Do write:  Dusters are on the bottom shelf of the kitchen cupboard to the right of the fridge.

Don’t write:  Dusters are in the big cupboard.

Do write:  Please hoover carpet in bedroom with the blue door and biscuit crumbs by the desk.

Don’t write:  Please hoover the carpet in Tom’s room.

Remember – if your cleaner can’t find something, they can’t use it and they can’t clean it!

Rule Number Two: Prioritise

Your cleaner may be very talented at a lot of things, like dancing the Viennese Waltz or balancing an ice cream scoop on their nose without licking it (the scoop, that is).  Some might even be able to do both and clean at the same time.

But t almost certainly your cleaner will not be  a mind reader.    Ask them, just in case by all means.  But if you want our advice then if  you value some tasks more than others your best plan is to tell your cleaner your priorities.

Tell them what must be done,  and make it clear that anything else they can fit in after that is a welcome bonus.

The most important thing in your world might be that all your kitchen glass surfaces shine like a cherub’s cheeks.  Fair enough – we all have our little pecadilloes.  All we are suggesting is make sure your cleaner knows this.  Safe in this knowledge they can focus on buffing and shining and not on removing cobwebs from the dusty neglected corners where you never look and where their fine work will not generate any improvement in your sense of wellbeing.

Rule Number Three: Be Realistic

Most often a cleaner is  not a magician  any more than a  mind reader. Time is finite so you need to be realistic in the tasks you set for them to do, in the time you have agreed upon.

Don’t expect them to keep working after their time is up or rush around in the time available to get everything done.

This is why prioritising is so important. If you effectively prioritise, only giving your cleaner a list of top tasks that can definitely be completed in the time they have, you won’t run into trouble.

Rule Number Four: Be Polite

It’s nice to be important.  But it’s more important to be nice.   One of the easiest ways to ensure everything on your list gets done, and done well, is to make it a polite list.

If you abide by these four simple rules, you can’t go too far wrong.

Need A Little Inspiration?

Check out the services cleaners regularly provide for our clients to give you a good idea of the tasks your cleaner should be completing for you. Looking for a cleaner? Get in touch, we’d be delighted to introduce a great cleaner to you who can take care of your To Do List……

To find the perfect cleaner, you need to consider your lifestyle, and the specific qualities you would like your cleaner to possess. The odds are you have a long list of ideal attributes, and while we would never discourage you from seeking someone that checks every box, we know from experience that certain qualities conflict with each other, making it incredibly difficult to find someone genuinely ‘perfect’.

We have, however, noticed a trend where cleaners and customers are concerned, in that certain types of cleaners are best suited to clients with certain types of lifestyles. This means that, while you may not be able to find a cleaner that does everything, you can easily find one that does the things that are most important to you incredibly well…

The Social Cleaner

A lot of our clients don’t just want a cleaner, they want a friend. Someone who will spruce up their home while simultaneously providing a little conversation. The Social Cleaner is the chatty type, the comforting type, the sort of lovely person you happily welcome into your life and don’t really want to leave when their time is up.
Sure, they clean, but you value them just as much for their ability to put you at ease, make you feel safe, secure and comfortable, and ensure your life is just a little happier.
The Perfect Cleaner For…
Social Cleaners are very popular with our older clients. They’re ideal for individuals who are in the house while the clean is being done, and don’t want to feel like there’s a stranger in their home. If you’re retired, experiencing poor health, or work from home, and spend a lot of time alone as a result, the Social Cleaner’s role is far more than simply keeping things spick and span. They’ll put you at ease, chat with you as they work, and brighten your day.

All that socialising takes up time and concentration. For that reason, Social Cleaners are more suited to light cleaning duties. If you need someone to run the hoover round, give everything a good dust, and clean the toilet, they’re perfect for the job. If, on the other hand, you place more value on a thorough clean, you may have to sacrifice the social elements.

The Hardcore Cleaner

If you’re dreaming of a spotless, pristine home, that’s sparkling from top to bottom without you having to lift a finger, the Hardcore Cleaner is for you. They are busy little worker bees who will come in, get cracking, and keep working until everything is  perfect.

Your home will be polished to perfection, and your cleaner will be as inconspicuous and hassle-free as possible. No pointless chatter, no distracting questions or small talk. In fact, aside from the occasional whir of a hoover, you won’t even know they’re there.

The Perfect Cleaner For…

Hardcore Cleaners are perfect for young professionals who are out all day and want to return to a radiantly clean home. They don’t care about socialising with their cleaner, because they’re not home to see them. If they are home, they don’t want the distraction. If you work from home and need someone swoop in and do a bang up job, without ever bothering you, this is the cleaner for you.

Hardcore Cleaners are also popular with parents who like their home to be clean but are fighting an uphill battle in that regard due to their children and/or pets. When you have a family you want to devote as much time to them as possible – having a cleaner blitz the place gives you more time for your children.

The Elusive Polymath Cleaner…

Everyone wants a Polymath Cleaner, an empathic wonder capable of intuiting your every mood and whim. They talk your ear off when you’re lonely, keeping schtum when you’re busy or feeling anti-social, act as your counselor, friend, confidant, and surrogate parent, while simultaneously baking you fresh cookies and ensuring your house is utterly pristine – all in a record amount of time for a low price.

The Perfect Cleaner For…

Unicorns and other mythical beasts.

A polymath is capable of checking every box you have and some you haven’t thought of yet. They do exist, but sightings are few and far between. It’s rare to find one, and they are so in-demand that even if you do manage to track one down, the likelihood is they won’t have space in their schedule for a new client.

How To Find The Perfect Cleaner For Your Lifestyle…

When new clients get in touch we always ask them what they’re looking for in a cleaner. Our cleaning staff are varied – some are social, others are hardcore, some are more suited intense, occasional work. We always do our best to find the perfect cleaner for you, but it’s useful if we know your priorities.

If pristine cleanliness is top of your list, we’re happy to oblige, but an exemplary level of cleaning will require your cleaner to completely dedicate themselves to the task at hand, leaving little time for conversation.

If, on the other hand, your top priority is having someone to brighten your day and keep you company while they work, we’ve got just the cleaners for the job, but splitting their focus between you and your home may mean a little less gets done.

If you’re hunting for the perfect cleaner, get in touch and let us know exactly what you feel is the most important quality your new cleaner should possess. Already have a cleaner? What’s great about them? What’s not so great? Comment below and let us know…

Unless you live in a bacon-free household here’s how to clean up that splattered grease.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.thekitchn.com

Organize and clean your kitchen with these simple tips so that you can spend less time cleaning and decluttering and more time eating!

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.lifehack.org

Raise your hand if you feel like, despite your very best intentions, your kitchen is messier than you’d like it to be. I’m right there with you. And it makes sense! The kitchen is the very center of your house. No matter how comfy your living room is, chances are people are always hanging out in the kitchen — or helping themselves to food from the fridge — which leads to major messes. There are, however, a few little things you can do throughout the day to stay on top of things. Follow this plan to keep the space a little cleaner than usual.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.thekitchn.com

At CES in Las Vegas today, the firm presented what it says is the ‘world’s first flying air cleaner,’ using a drone-based system to remove dust, pollen, and other harmful particles from inside your house.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.dailymail.co.uk

To make this holiday season a little less stressful. Here’s a list of crafty Christmas tips to help keep your home clean and tidy.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.dailymail.co.uk

Now the weather is getting colder family pets will probably be spending much more time indoors. And that means more cat and dog fur will find it way on the carpets, upholstery, and even clothing!

Here are a few tricks I’ve learned to keep that added pet hair burden under control this season, and make your home a neater, healthier place.

A little grooming goes a long way
Make the time every day, or at least several times each week to sit down with your pet for a good long brushing session. Many pets absolutely love the attention. Others of course aren’t so keen. I’ve got one of each! If your pet is reluctant start with short session and reward them with a favourite treat. And build up the time slowly. Every little helps and crucially you will be collecting the hairs that would have fallen off over the course of the day and disposing of them all at once (before they find their way onto your favourite black jumper).

Washable furniture covers are a godsend
Either invest in washable seat covers for your (and your pet’s) favourite pieces of furniture, or just use every day fitted sheets to do the same job. I went for the sheets, myself. Once a week just toss them in the wash. This is also a perfect ‘quick clean-up’ solution for when you expect company.

Throw rugs protect your pet’s favourite part of the carpet
Whether it is right in front of the fire, next to the radiator, or that really inconvenient spot in the middle of the front room (I’m lookin’ at you, fuzzy), your pet probably has at least one favourite spot to lie down. Place a washable throw rug in all of these spots, and your pet will do a large part of their shedding there.

Autumn is here again – the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. And apparently a great time for a spring clean!

Increasingly, experts are saying that it is more important to give your home a deep clean in the autumn months than in the spring. Especially in the UK, the autumn and winter months are spent with the windows tightly closed to keep in the heat. The combination of less air-flow and heat and moisture from radiators can make a closed-up home a haven for dust mites, allergens and bacteria.

They say that carpets are a particularly vulnerable spot during the winter, as all the dust (mostly made of shed human skin, remember), dirt, food particles and other unpleasantness that have collected there since the spring clean suddenly become exposed to warm, wet and stifling conditions. You don’t want to be closed up in the house all winter with that!

The essential parts of an autumn clean

1) Vacuum thoroughly with a powerful and well-maintained vacuum cleaner.
One with a strong motor and good suction is vital to clearing out all the dust from a carpet before it becomes the dust mites’ winter larder. I have an older model Dyson that still does an excellent job. Be sure to move all the furniture and vacuum under that, not just tables and chairs but also bookcases, desks and other large items.

2) Dust your hard surfaces and give everything a good polish
Remember that all of the pollen that was helpfully donated by Mother Nature over the summer will still be hanging about. A bit of furniture polish and a soft cloth will keep it from staying for the winter. Also, people associate the smell of furniture polish with a clean room!

3) Overhaul the kitchen cupboard
This is the perfect opportunity to pull everything out of the kitchen cupboards and shelves. I also take the opportunity to clean all the dust, crumbs and tiny spills out. While you’re at it, make sure you don’t put anything back that is out of date. If that paprika is old enough to drive, it isn’t doing you any good!
Just doing these three things before winter really sets in will make your home much more pleasant for the months when you’ll be spending more time than ever inside!