Category: NEWS

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NEWS

Local, women-owned small business celebrates 30 years in business

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Promoting Work/Life Balance by both providing residential house cleaning services to clients along with being a compassionate employer offering growth and opportunity throughout the years has been owner, Stacie Sutton’s, driving force.

LYNNWOOD,WA  – November 3, 2022  – Clean and Simple Cleaning, a residential and commercial cleaning company celebrates their 30th year in business.  Owner, Stacie Sutton, embraced her entrepreneurial spirit and her desire to serve others and started cleaning houses full time after leaving her corporate job.  ‘Going all in – can be scary, but I wanted to take control of my future and knew I had both the drive and work ethic to make this business work,’ reflects Sutton, ‘I wanted to find my own work/life balance, however, my passion to serve and help others has always been significant.’

Over the years, Clean and Simple Cleaning grew in size and Sutton hired employees to do the cleaning and spent most of her time on marketing and human resources.  ‘There is a great responsibility as an employer, especially in the service industry to be fair and compassionate and ensure quality and trustworthiness on both the customer and employee sides.’  Sutton is most proud of her integrity and continued growth and success as she has balanced both.

Her success is evident not simply because Clean and Simple Cleaning was able to sustain itself through two recessions and the height of the covid pandemic, but several of the clients from day one are still with the company and Sutton often hears from past employees expressing gratitude for their time at Clean and Simple.  ‘It is a joy to watch people grow and thrive both at Clean and Simple and beyond,’ states Sutton.

One of those employees, Ezra Rash, believes what he learned during his Clean & Simple journey enabled him to propel himself to being a semester away from graduating law school. Rash shared, ‘Clean and Simple provided me support and encouragement. Having people believe in me when I wasn’t ready to fully believe in myself yet, encouraged and empowered me to pursue dreams that I otherwise wouldn’t have believed could be for me.’

“Clean and Simple Cleaning at its base level is cleaning houses, but truly it is so much more.  It’s providing a service that promotes healthy living and time for families to spend together and to enjoy the activities they love,” shares Jen Hoerber, Business Manager. “We believe in its importance and strive to always improve.”

Work/Life balance allows for a more sustainable and healthy lifestyle which has even become more prevalent after pandemic life.  Clean and Simple Cleaning was built on this foundation and has grown over the past 30 years and Sutton along with her employees believes and is motivated to keep growing and thriving in service to their employees and their clients.

Clean and Simple CleaningTM

Clean and Simple Cleaning is a woman-owned, local small business that has been serving Snohomish County for 30 years.  Our personalized residential and commercial service is backed with a 24-hour quality guarantee.  To find out more about our residential recurring service, one-time cleanings, move-in/out or commercial cleanings, visit www.CleanAndSimpleCleaning.com.  Call today to discuss our services in detail or book your cleaning at 425-673-4733.

Jen Renee Hoerber
Business Manager, Clean and Simple Cleaning
425-673-4733
jenrenee@cleanandsimpleclean

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COMMUNITY EVENTS NEWS

Clean and Simple Honors Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Cleaning For A Reason

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Group of women with silk ribbons on sofa against brick wall, space for text. Breast cancer awareness concept

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month — get ready to start seeing pink everywhere! For the month of October, some organizations donate part of their profits from pinked out items to Susan G. Komen or other cancer awareness and treatment societies.

Second only to skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in the United States. Knowing the symptoms, self-examinations, and screenings with your doctor are of vital importance to the prevention and fight against breast cancer. Because this cancer is so prevalent, The American Cancer Society doesn’t just want you to know what you can do to help fund research; they feel it’s important for you to understand how you can help on a more personal level..

Clean and Simple Partners with Cleaning for a Reason

At Clean and Simple, we’re proud participants in Breast Cancer Awareness month; however, our involvement doesn’t stop with raising awareness. We are partnered with Cleaning For A Reason, a nonprofit organization that provides free home cleaning services to women who are going through cancer treatments. Clean & Simple has been partnered with Cleaning For A Reason for years— we always have a warrior woman we are cleaning for on our schedule.

Cleaning For A Reason was started by Texas cleaning company owner Debbie Sardone. Debbie was once notified by a prospective client that she would not be able to afford the cleanings because she had to undergo cancer treatment. At that moment, Debbie decided she there was something she could do to help this client and others like her; going forward, she made it her company’s policy to give free cleanings to anyone going through cancer treatments.

As word of her mission spread, so did the free cleanings. Before Debbie knew it, more than 1200 cleaning companies had joined the movement. Today, these companies with a heart have donated more than $10,000,000 worth of cleaning to women who are too busy fighting the battle against breast cancer to worry about cleaning.

Cleaning for a Reason Lifts Spirits

There are testimonials from women who are fighting the fight of their lives and received cleanings from one of the many partners across the country who work with Cleaning For A Reason. These show exactly how important this service is to those women who are in the middle of cancer treatment.

From Jaimie in Texas, “Thank you! Thank you! She already called me and my first cleaning is this Wednesday, which happens to be my surgery day! It will be super nice to come home to a clean home!!!! Thank you! Thank you!”

Patients who have experienced a clean from Cleaning For a Reason partners will tell you the physical and emotional relief that they feel to not have to worry about the cleanliness of their home.

Imagine that you’re going through cancer; naturally,  your friends and family want to come and spend time with you during your recovery. But the thought of allowing people into your home causes you stress— after all, your home isn’t looking like it normally does. You just don’t have the energy you need to get up and clean to your usual standards. Thanks to Cleaning For a Reason, these women know their home will be the place of comfort and health it has always been while they concentrate on the more important task at hand.

Giving Back Just Feels Good!

One of the benefits that people who partner with Cleaning For A Reason experience is a tremendous sense of satisfaction in knowing that they are making a painful situation a little bit more bearable for someone else.

Maria Roberts from Wisconsin says, “I’ve been with Cleaning for A Reason for 5 years now and I enjoy doing what I do and will always believe that my extra hands have helped someone and put a smile on their face and a sense of relief…..I’ve had my cleaning business for 17 years and couldn’t wait to join this wonderful foundation and offer my services…..”

Clean and Simple is a charter member of Cleaning For A Reason. We are proud to give back to the community in Snohomish County, Washington. In fact, Clean and Simple goes even further and takes nominations each year from the friends and family of cancer patients and chooses a person to give one free year of cleaning to.

If you know someone or are someone, who could use cleaning services while undergoing cancer treatments, contact Cleaning For A Reason to be matched with a cleaning service in your area. Clean and Simple knows we cannot fight this fight for you, but we can make it just a little easier to recover from.

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FAMILY NEWS

Words Of Wisdom for the Graduate

graduates

We have, once again, arrived at that time of year. When students across the country don their caps and gowns and arm themselves with a big grin as they march across the stage to receive their diplomas. Whether a student is finishing up middle, elementary, or high school, graduation is an important milestone in their learning journey.

Students want their graduation to be a special memorable occasion. We, from Clean and Simple Cleaning,  want to inspire and motivate them to reach their goals.  So, We have compiled a list of inspiring words of wisdom you can work into any speeches you may be giving this season, write in student yearbooks, or simply share with students as their final days in your class come to an end.

We hope this list of inspiring words of wisdom will come in handy when you’re struggling to think of just the right words to speak or jot down

It is impossible to live without failing at something unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default. ~J.K. Rowling

If your uniform isn’t dirty, you haven’t been in the game. ~Ben Bernanke

And now go, and make interesting mistakes, make amazing mistakes, make glorious and fantastic mistakes. Break rules. Leave the world more interesting for your being here. ~Neil Gaiman

For the most important decisions in your life, trust your intuition, and then work with everything you have, to prove it right. ~Tim Cook

It’s harder to build than destroy. To build is to engage and change. In jazz, we call progressing harmonies changes. Changes are like obstacles on a speed course. They demand your attention and require you to be present. They are coming…they are here….. and then they are gone. It’s how life comes. Each moment is a procession from the future into the past and the sweet spot is always the present. Live in that sweet spot. Be present. ~Wynton Marsalis

You cannot authentically live anyone’s life but your own. That is the deal life offers us. ~Gabrielle Giffords

Congratulations to the Class of 2016!

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FAMILY NEWS

Prepare for the New Year

Stacie And Amber reading form a binder in a kitchen

As we start celebrating the ending of one year and the start of another, there are three actions we can do to help make the new year the new beginning we desire.  Reflect, Repent and Renew are the 3 R’s that are recommended to prepare for the new year.

As a company, we do a version of this too.  It helps to look at our strengths and weaknesses and set goals and see how we best move towards them and the roadblocks that are in our way so we can determine how to remove them best.  We also celebrate our successes and the people who help make Clean and Simple Cleaning™ the company that it is.

Reflection is critical because it allows you to take a moment to sit back and see the positives and negatives of the past year.  The past is an indicator of the future, after all, so we need to consider and learn from our past.  Think about the major incidents of 2014 and ask yourself:

•What did I do to contribute to my successes and my failures?

•What will I most fondly remember about 2014?

•For what am I rightly proud?

I know it doesn’t sound like a fun thing, but repentance helps us see our shortcomings and take accountability for them.  Don’t be too hard on yourself but ask yourself these questions and try to answer honestly.

•What are the areas I need to improve?

•Who and what is truly important and worthy of my dedicated attention in 2015?

Taking time to renew and recharge yourself for the new year allows you to focus on the future.  Go into this New Year with hope and determination.  Ask these questions of the world:

•Who will be my inspiration this year?

•What new adventures are ahead?

•Where are the new lessons to learn?

•How will I be able to contribute in a significant manner?

When we Reflect, Repent and Renew than we can apparently look at where we have been and took steps to go where we want to go.  Prepare for the new year and make 2015 your best year yet.

Happy New Year!

Categories
HOUSE CLEANING SERVICE NEWS

Are all House Cleaning Companies the same?

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The short answer to the question..’Aren’t all house cleaning companies the same?’ Is no.  But, let me expound.  House cleaning is a true-professional service that requires training, a knowledge base, and an understanding of both techniques and solutions.

There are different types of housecleaning companies and their goals, abilities and services vary greatly.  There are individuals, independent contractors, franchisees or independent companies ranging in size. Furthermore, of course, there are benefits and risks to each of these options.

Here are some items that one should consider when choosing a housecleaning company. Which, will certainly affect experience and value received.

Proper Training Program

Ask about training. Consumers want to make sure their homes actually get sanitized.  There are proper protocols. If not followed properly, the home might just smell clean but not actually disinfected. Furthermore, there are different cleaning solutions that one can use on certain surfaces. All to fully clean or protect it against damage.  You want to make sure your cleaning technician knows and understands all the fundamentals of cleaning not just how to wipe down a countertop.

Do they have any HCT Certified Cleaning Technicians on staff?  HCT Certification consists of attending a House Cleaning Technician course which provides a knowledge and understanding through the application of science and proven methods for proper cleaning maintenance of a residential home. To earn the certification an exam must be passed.  

Dedication to the Industry

Dedication to your trade says a lot about how you are going to approach customer service and level of quality.  The only national professional association for owners of residential cleaning services is ARCSI.  Membership in this organization demonstrates a commitment to the ethical standards of ARCSI and providing the most professional service possible for the purpose of improving the standards of quality work and service in the residential cleaning industry.

Flexibility/Consistency with Scheduling

When receiving regular house cleaning service, there will be times when you will have special requests, need to change your cleaning schedules yet you will always want your cleanings consistent.  This is a reasonable expectation.  Verify that you will easily be able to reach someone and communicate with them about all cleanings.  Also, find out how often a company initiates rescheduling of cleanings and what their policy is on all rescheduling; company and customer initiated.

Quality of Service

It is important that the quality is present in every single cleaning.  Ask how they monitor quality and about employee incentives.  If a company is taking care of their employees then their employees will take great care of your home.  Homes should be quality checked from time to time and training should be on-going.

Is their a guarantee on the work completed?

Comparing companies using these criteria will quickly make consumers realize that not all cleaning companies are the same.  Decide what is important to you, research a few companies and you will have an easier time to figuring out the right house cleaning service for you.

If you are in the north King county or Snohomish county, give Clean and Simple Cleaning™ a call.  We would love to tell you about our company.  If not, check out the ARCSI Member Search.

Categories
CLEANING TIPS IN THE GARDEN NEWS

Spring Cleaning for Outside Your Home

outdoor cleaning clean and simple cleaning lynnwood wa
outdoor cleaning clean and simple cleaning lynnwood wa

It’s spring and as the sun decides to show itself more and more, you will want to start getting the outside of your home ready to enjoy.  Spring cleaning for outside your home is important in the general maintenance of your home and will help prevent damage over time.

You will first want to tackle your windows.  Check your screens for any holes or damage. Then, repair or replace it as needed. If the conditions of your screens are good, take them off and gentle rinse outside with a hose.  You can gently rub them with a soft brush. Then, use some soapy water if needed.  Clean the outside of glass windows before inside. As it helps see dirt and smudges more easily.

Spring Cleaning for Outside Your Home includes cleaning your gutters. It is another chore that one should do as part of outside spring cleaning. As it will lessen your chance of water damage.  Use a stable ladder, to climb up and remove all leaves, twigs, and other debris that has made its way into your gutters.  Make sure to wear gloves for protection and consider using some sort of a scoop.

Take a look at your shutters, trim, and doors and decide if they need to be freshened up. it is because the weather can take a toll on paint jobs.  Consider a new bold color or adding new light fixtures or a new mailbox to help increase the curb appeal of your home.  Make sure to check with your homeowner’s association if applicable before major changes or additions are done.

Tackling your garage may be a big project but will make a big difference once complete.  Organize your garage by assigning zones for different types of storage and/or uses.  Install cabinets, shelves, or hooks to help store things efficiently and make sure to get rid of anything you no longer need or use.

Spring cleaning isn’t just for the inside of your home, but the outside as well.  Spring is the perfect time to prioritize many of the chores that one needs to do. Moreover, it will help you get ready to enjoy the warmer weather and summer parties.

Categories
NEWS

Owner to serve on ARCSI Board of Directors

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Clean and Simple Cleaning™, Inc is with great pride announces owner, Stacie McMillan, will serve a 3-year term on Association of Residential Cleaning Services International – ARCSI board of directors starting January 2014.

ARCSI consists of residential cleaning companies, both large and small, new and old and representatives of our Industry Partners. The members are dedicated to continually striving to reach new levels of professionalism. Additionally, personal success and helping others do the same.

ARCSI holds conventions each year which McMillan and several members of her staff have attended since the first one in 2004.  She has also attended over half a dozen executive leadership conferences sponsored by ARCSI.

“The networking and education at conventions and conferences have had a direct impact on our growth over the last 6-7 years. We have tripled our gross sales. Moreover, during the process have been able to offer more competitive wages and benefits to our employees,” states McMillan.      

The association is a valuable resource for networking and changes in the house cleaning industry.  McMillan claims, “ARCSI’s membership is one of the best I have experienced in my work history. The business owners are transparent and the friendships developed over the years and across the nation are priceless!”

ARCSI President and proprietor of Custom Maid in Virginia, Allison Palmer, look forward to the massive agenda this year.  “Stacie McMillan will be playing a vital role in our plan.  We will be presenting our Executive Leadership Conference in San Diego February 28 through March 1. Furthermore, this summer we will be taking our show on the road to six cities: Tampa, New York, St. Louis, Washington, DC, Portland Oregon and San Antonio.  The Summer Success Series will aim at smaller, newer house cleaning businesses who want to improve their level of professionalism.”

Palmer adds, “Stacie has been very interested in the Association for many, many years. Including massive support in our convention committees. Also, I look forward to serving with her and our other board members from across the country.”

“I think being elected to the board will be a great adventure. Additionally, I am looking forward to participating in keeping up with industry changes and having input in directing our association toward the future,” states McMillan. “I am proud to be able to be giving back to the association that has given so much to our industry.”

About Clean and Simple Cleaning™

For over 20 years, Stacie McMillan, proprietor of Clean and Simple Cleaning™, and her crew have had deep roots in the communities of South Snohomish and North Kings Counties, Washington. In this age of big box stores and corporate franchises, Clean and Simple Cleaning™ is proud to be an independent. And locally-owned house cleaning business that prides itself on excellence.

About the Association of Residential Cleaning Services International (ARCSI)

ARCSI was built to assist residential cleaning service owners and professionals in starting, promoting, building and expanding their residential cleaning businesses. ARCSI is committed to providing valuable information to ensure the growth and development of our members’ businesses.

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HEALTHY LIVING NEWS

10k Run Training Challenges

10k run
My second week of the 10k run training is in the books, and I am thankful that I started the 12-week training session with more than 12 weeks before the Inspiring Hope Run as my week did not go as planned. 

Some of many 10k Run Training Challenges of week 2 was that my kids were sick, so my time was cut short. Another one is that I was not able to leave my house to run due to other reasons. Finding time is a constant struggle for me especially being a single, working mom.  I am determined though to make myself and my health a priority. Also to make time, but when the kids are sick, there is not too much I can do.

There were two times this past week when I was called home in the middle of a run/walk and cross training at the gym.  (Of course, my son called me back on the run where I was feeling great. My feet were like feathers and not the one where I felt like I had bricks tied to my feet.  It always works out that way, right?)  Besides the couple workouts that were cut short, I also had a run scheduled but couldn’t leave the house due to my youngest being at home.

I have decided to redo week 2 of the 10k run training this week. It is to make sure I am ready to move on.  Also, I think it will be best to take it slow at the beginning. Additionally, to only push myself later in the training if needed.  I don’t want to get frustrated with myself or worse get injured.

Even though I am scratching the week, I did have a win.  I didn’t go as far as I was supposed to, but I did run, and the day I wasn’t able to go on a run, I did a workout at home to replace it.  The first sign of determination and the fact a habit might be forming is a win, so I am taking it and will run with it this week.

The healthy living program is having a redo week this week too.  Last week’s challenge was to write down everything we eat so we could track our decisions and portions.  There wasn’t a lot of success with it, so we are trying it again this week.  Tracking food intake is important. It is because it allows us to see what we are eating. Additionally, sometimes it might even influence us to make better decisions.

Leave a comment with a tip for food and activity tracking. We will send you a copy of our tracking booklet.

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HEALTHY LIVING NEWS

Healthy Living Program – 10k Run Training

meet stacie owner owner presiden

Our owner, Stacie McMillan, started a healthy living program at the beginning of the year.  She has given us weekly healthy lifestyle challenges and discussed the benefits to adopting healthy habits into our lives.

Since we are sponsoring the Inspiring Hope Run in Mukilteo again this year in May, Stacie passed out 12 week  5k and 10k run training programs last week.

I personally have wanted to get back into running, (its been about a year and a half since I was regularly running), so I eagerly took the 10k run training guide and decided this was the time.

I will be honest, that same eagerness was not present the next day when it was time for my first run.  It was 5 min intervals of walking and running for only 30 minutes.  To help with the motivation, I decided to take my puppy with me.  That was a mistake as even though she is pretty good with walking (and even on short jogs) on a leash with someone, she could not handle the change in pace and was pulling me all over the place (She is a beautiful 62lb. black lab) causing my upper hip on one side to really hurt.  I made it home and called a trainer friend for stretching recommendations.

The next days were every other day cross training (rode stationary bike at the gym) and walk/run intervals.  I was sore, but kept going as I had already told everyone at work and my two sons my plan to run the 10k.  I couldn’t quit something I had barely started just because I was sore.  Accountability is key when starting a new exercise plan.  Building new habits is hard, but having support and encouragement makes it easier.

After the first week of training, I feel mostly positive.  I get irritated with the fact that I am unable to perform at the same level as I did before.  Stacie reminded me this week to ‘focus on where you are now, don’t worry about fitness levels in the past or future’ which I keep repeating to myself when my runkeeper app goes over my average pace at the end of each run.

Even though, I have recently not been exercising regularly, am not one who loves to exercise and am a single, working mom of two boys, I am going to do this.  I know I am not ever going to be the fastest nor will I ever be able to take every stride with ease, but I will keep putting one foot ahead of the other and run.

If you want to train along with me, please email me at je******@cl********************.com and I will send you the entire 12 week training plan for either the 5k or 10k.  I will keep posting weekly about my training along with the progression of our Healthy Living Program.

Categories
NEWS

Healthy Living with Clean and Simple Cleaning™

stacie sutton clean and simple cleaning 1

Getting fit and being healthy is one of the most common new year’s resolutions. So, our Clean and Simple Cleaning™ team is starting this year off with a Healthy Living Program too.

New Year’s Resolutions are a fun way to set goals and start the new year off thinking about how to improve yourself. Whether it be your physical self, your attitude or actions or the world around you.  Our owner, Stacie McMillan (who completed an Ironman last year), is leading our team to meet our goals and live a healthier lifestyle.

Even though the percentage of people who keep their news years resolution is a low 22%, I am staying optimistic.  One of the best ways to accomplish your goals or change habits is to write them down and being accountable. It is what our Healthy Living Program is all about after all.

Some of us want to lose a few pounds, others want to learn about healthy portions and recipes, and others want to complete a race whether it is a 5k, half marathon or a triathlon.  Our goals are individual. However, collectively, we want to be healthier and are looking forward to doing it together.

Each week we will have a challenge and health focus.  This week our challenge is to love water and drink at least six glasses a day.  Each week we will build on previous weeks healthy habits.  Our goal is that everyone from our company will be able to participate in the Inspiring Hope 5k/10k Walk/Run we sponsor in May.