Scrubbing floors on hands and knees is an old-fashioned way of cleaning. Yet some homeowners still request scrubbing floors on hands and knees by their maid.
Today we Ask a House Cleaner if scrubbing floors on hands and knees is a good way to market your cleaning business. Will it make you stand out, or does it make you a fool?
Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru dives into maid service training with tips for a savvy cleaner.
Listen: Scrubbing Floors on Hands and Knees
Watch: Scrubbing Floors on Hands and Knees
Hey there, I’m Angela Brown, and this is Ask a House Cleaner. This is a show where you get to ask a house cleaning question, and I get to help you find an answer.
Question: Is Scrubbing Floors on Hands and Knees Expected of Me?
Is scrubbing floors on your hands and knees even still a thing? We’re going to talk about that today.
Today’s question comes from a house cleaner who went to bid a job at a customer’s house. When she got there, the customer asked her if she would scrub the hardwood floors on her hands and knees? And the house cleaner wants to know: “Is scrubbing floors on your hands and knees even still a thing? And am I supposed to say yes?”
Answer: Scrubbing Floors on Hands and Knees is Your Choice
That’s an awesome question and the answer is: Yes! It’s still a thing because you have hands and you have knees. So if you choose to scrub hardwood floors on your hands and knees, then it is still a thing. But you as the business owner get to decide.
You can decide to go with newer methods, systems, and products. You do not have to get down on your hands and knees.
I Choose No!
I have been in this business a long time and I don’t scrub floors on my hands and knees. Guess why? Because I’m 5’8.” There is a huge distance between me and the floor. And so if I can use a mop or a steamer or something that’s more conducive, I’m going to do that. That just makes sense to me.
Can You Use the Wheelie Thing to Change My Oil?
Now, switch the script for a minute. Let’s pretend that you are going to go to the car dealership to have your oil changed. As the customer, you don’t get to walk in and say, “Oh, I’d like to have my oil changed. But I will only give you my business if the guy will use a little wheelie cart to wheel under the car to change the oil.
Ummm… No!
You don’t get to decide that, right? The car dealership decides. Thank goodness there is new technology. They have what’s called a lift.
You drive your car in and it lifts your car up in the air. The guy walks underneath your car and unplugs it. He replaces the oil filter, plugs it back up, lowers your car and you drive away. Boom! Using Technology Is More Efficient
It costs the same amount of money. It took less time and was more efficient and guess what? You didn’t have to wait in line for six hours because the guy could only get under one car at a time. You have people that can just wander under and do it in no time flat. Boom, you’re out the door.
Using Technology for Scrubbing Floors
The reality is, technology has changed also for hardwood floors. They make steamers now that get up dog slobber, spider nests, mice feces and all kinds of stuff. It cleans all that stuff up so you don’t have to scrub hardwood floors anymore on your hands and knees. They are awesome! I’ll put links in the show notes just so that you can see pictures of what I’m talking about, but it is cool. It’s the new technology.
Why Would They Ask Me to Do This?
So, if a customer is asking you, “Will you scrub the floors on your hands and knees?” What are they asking?
Are they asking you to replace a technique that gets their floors clean?
Or is it the result of having the floors cleaned by someone on their hands and knees?
It could be that a house cleaner that they loved did the floors on their hands and knees. And they are trying to replace them with you by asking you to use the same techniques?
Could it be any of those three things, or is it something different? You need to find out.
Ask the Customer
The best thing for you to do is ask the customer some questions.
“Would you be open to a new technique that provides your floors just as clean? Would you be open to a new technique that has the same results as scrubbing the floors on hands and knees? Or “Would you be open to a new house cleaner, that uses new technology to give the same results? ”
Same Question in Different Ways
It’s kind of the same question but asked in three different ways. “Would you be open to that?” If the persons says, “Well yeah, I mean I guess so.” The result is the same.
Same Result, Less Wear-and-Tear on Body
It’s like getting your oil changed. It doesn’t need somebody on a little wheelie cart underneath the car. If the oil gets changed, the result is the same. It makes no difference if it’s on a lift or whether the guy bangs his head going underneath your car to change the oil. The result is the same. But it’s less wear-and-tear on your body than for you to get down on the floor.
This is also true for using new methods and technology to clean floors, as opposed to hurting your body by going down on your hands and knees.
My Promise to You
I promise you this: If you are in business for a long period of time, your body will take a toll. You have to protect yourself at every move.
Just because a customer demands that you do something a certain way, is it a thing? Yeah, it’s a thing. But you’re the business owner. You don’t have to do it.
All right, so that’s my two cents. Until we meet again, leave the world a cleaner place than when you found it.
Disclosure
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Resources For This Episode
SKG 1500W Powerful Non-Chemical 212F Hot Steam Mops & Carpet and Floor Cleaning Machines (6- in-1 Accessories & 3 Microfiber Pads Included) – Steam Cleaners – http://amzn.to/2xWV1s7
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Rubbermaid 1858818 Professional Plus Microfiber Twist Mop – http://amzn.to/2xfafFl
Houseables Flip Mop Refills, Replacement Pads, 3 Pack, 18 Inch, Dual-Action Microfiber Floor Mops, Dry/Wet, Machine Washable, Double Sided Velcro Flat Sponge, 18″ L X 6″ W, All Surface Cleaning – http://amzn.to/2yGZPzA
Bissell SpinWave Powered Hard Floor Mop, 2039A – http://amzn.to/2xWO9uN
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Shark SK460 Steam & Spray Professional Steam Steamer Mop w/ Wood Floor Cleanser – http://amzn.to/2xf7V6d
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