Did they clean under your couch?
Well, of course they did? Right?
The truth is the outcome may depend on the type of couch you have in your home.
Is it a recliner sofa?
Is it a sectional?
Is it a hide-a-bed?
To clean under some heavy furniture can be challenging for most of us.
Some people opt to just slide them back and forth but that’s not going to remove all the stuff underneath.
I shriek at the thought of paying someone to clean my living room space and find out hours later that they did NOT move the couch, or even clean between the cushions.
Worse yet,
They may have moved the couch, sliding it backwards thinking that that is an acceptable way to clean under the couch.
Truth is, if it’s a recliner sofa, it probably has a steel frame.
In a busy household with children, you are likely to find most of the cookie crumbs, bits of chips, lego pieces and hardened play-dough right there - underneath and between the cushions.
As a professional housekeeper (meaning you are getting paid for your cleaning services), you should know how to properly clean the furniture… AND be willing to do so.
One big issue here, working alone would make it difficult - and sometimes impossible - to complete this task successfully.
why, you ask???
You need to tip a recliner sofa, or regular sofa, slightly backward to clean under.
[NOTE: for a sectional, it’s easier. You can separate the unit at the corner and tip it forward.]
For recliners, someone has to support it from the back. It’s not usually a really heavy task, just awkward for one person.
If you are a professional cleaner, do you work alone?
If so, Why?
To not know how to actually clean a recliner sofa can be a problem - assuming your client would probably expect you to clean under ALL the furniture - including the couches.
I don’t like misunderstandings!
And I don’t like excuses when it comes to cleaning!
When it comes to expectations, a conversation including a CHECK LIST can minimize the frustrations after the fact. BE clear from the start.
-France, Owner, Domestic Goddess Housekeeping, Ft, McMurray, AB
COMMENTS in Spanish:
Ha... El sofá fue nuestro agujero negro durante muchos años. Cuando se perdía algo, después de mucha suerte y trabajo lo encontrabas allí ... y limpiarlo era un verdadero desafío... estoy muy feliz de que nos salimos de él.
Teníamos que reconocer que ésta era una operación de dos personas que requería planificación, por que teníamos que sincronizar nuestros movimientos y tirar o empujar de manera segura. ¡Fue una buena oportunidad para aplicar nuestras habilidades de buena comunicación!
Ha…The sofa was our black hole. If you lost something it was there… during many years of cleaning, it was a real challenge at my home for many years, I am so happy that we get rid of it.
We need to recognize this was a two-person operation with proper planning so we synchronize our movements and pull/push safely. It was a good opportunity to apply our communication skills!!
-Lily Beltran, Ft. McMurray, Originally from Colombia
COMMENTS IN FRENCH:
J'ai encore des fauteuils inclinables aujourd'hui et quand je veux nettoyer en profondeur, j'ai besoin de l'aide d'une autre personne, car les meubles sont plus lourds.
Quand j'utilisais les services d'entretien ménager, les employés déplaçaient les meubles lors du nettoyage, car j'avais des fauteuils inclinables, ce qui rendait leur tâche plus difficile.
Pour le professionnel, dans ce cas-là, c'est important de discuter avec son client, car cela implique qu'il doit y avoir 2 personnes.
Avec des fauteuils réguliers, ce problème ne se pose pas. Une bonne discussion évite toujours des frustrations.
-Denise Lavoie, Quebec City