Meet Corina
Why did you choose to work with Housekeep?
"I found Housekeep is the easiest way to get lots of great customers.
Before Housekeep I was working with another cleaning company. I tried Housekeep to see how it compared. Because I had lots of great cleaning experience Housekeep was the quickest and fastest agency to help me find work.”
What do you find most rewarding as a Housekeeper?
“I love just to keep the house clean - and I’m the kind of person who loves to make customers happy. They learn a lot of things from me. In the pandemic, I had a customer I didn’t go to due to social distancing. She used to call me a lot just so I could explain to her how to clean, for example, which products to use. So yeah, every single day it’s something new, you learn something new, you see something new.”
After cleaning with Housekeep for almost 10 years, what has been your greatest accomplishment so far?
"My customers are like family. I’m going there, I’m asking them how they are. I mean, we are basically like friends. I see them having kids, their kids grow up, and they’re going to school now. It’s just amazing.”
What is your favourite cleaning task?
“Cleaning the bathroom! The bathroom is my favourite because I believe it should be clean all the time - it should be spotless.”
What do you enjoy doing when you're not cleaning?
“I love to cook, especially baking! My favourite thing to bake is cakes. I mean, a lot of cakes, birthday cakes, apple cakes, cakes with raspberries and stuff.”
Corina’s on-the-job tips
Describe your cleaning process and how you start.
"When I arrive, I greet the customer of course. I always start by cleaning the messiest room first, which is usually the kitchen. I’m spending a lot of time on the bathroom as well, as in my opinion, the kitchen and the bathroom are the most important.
I clean top to bottom. So I start at the top of the cupboards and then the floor is the last thing I do.
When I finish cleaning, I ask the customer to check my work and make sure there’s nothing I’ve missed.”
You’ve cleaned for some of your customers more than 350 times. What’s the secret to getting a job with a new customer off to a great start?
“With a new customer, I start by walking around the home to see what needs the most attention and check they have all the products and equipment I need. If a few products are missing, I share with the customer which products I recommend they provide in the future."
How do you organise your day when you have a busy schedule?
“In the morning, I always check the TfL website or Citymapper, to see if there are any travel delays. If there are delays, I’ll let the customer know, and make sure to set off earlier.”
Corina's expert cleaning hacks
What are your top tips for cleaning?
“For limescale in the kettle, I prefer not to use cleaning products from the supermarket. Just use one part vinegar, one part boiling water, and leave it for a couple of minutes before rinsing.
For stinky drains, boil some water, add baking soda and vinegar, leave to sit for a couple of minutes, and rinse with cold or hot water - it doesn’t really matter. They then don’t smell after for a couple of weeks!
A good money-saving tip is to just use a damp cloth when cleaning mirrors and windows. Water is amazing for mirrors as it gets them shiny.
When cleaning the microwave, heat a bowl of water inside, and let the steam help loosen any grime. This makes it so much easier to clean.”
Check out our step-by-step guide for cleaning microwaves here, as well as our other cleaning guides for more handy tips & tricks.
Working with Housekeep
Which of your skills benefit you the most as a Housekeeper?
“Ironing! I love to iron, it’s quite relaxing for me. And guess what? Two years ago, one of my customers asked me to iron his shirt for his wedding day. I’m still cleaning for him every Friday!"
If you want to brush up on your own ironing skills, learn how to iron a shirt like a pro here.
What is the most helpful feature in the Housekeep professionals app?
“The most helpful feature in the app is being able to call or chat with the customer. You can get in touch with your customer if there are any issues getting inside or if you have any questions about the job.
It's also really helpful to be able to see all of your customers' cleaning instructions in your app.”
What advice would you give a new Housekeeper starting at Housekeep?
"Communication is really important. Make sure to ask your customer if they’re happy with the clean once you're finished. If you have any problems, try to call them or if they aren’t home, leave them a note."
What is great about Housekeep?
"I've met some really amazing people, and I’ve learned a lot of things from them - I get emotional when talking about this.
Also the flexibility - you can choose how many hours you want to work each day and take time off when you need it."
It was a pleasure catching up with Corina this week, and getting to know the person behind so many fantastic reviews.
Watch this space for more Housekeeper spotlights soon…