Our Awesome Employees at the 2011 Sponge & Sparkle Holiday Party

At Sponge & Sparkle, we employ the golden rule as part of our company’s culture. Treating others as you want to be treated, however, doesn’t stop at the way we treat our customers.

We believe our employees should be treated with the same consideration and care. How can we expect our cleaning technicians to treat our customers well if they are mistreated by our office staff?

Is Employee Engagement Worth It?

Common sense and research also show that a caring work environment leads to motivated employees who put forth their best. This, in turn, has a positive impact on a company’s bottom line.

The contributions our team members make play a big part in Sponge & Sparkle being Atlanta’s oldest independently owned house cleaning service. In an industry (house cleaning) where the average employee turnover is 4-5 months, our average employee turnover is 5 years!

What Customers Say About Sponge & Sparkle Employees

I am so grateful for the hundreds of customers who have trusted us to clean their homes for the past 30 years.  Here’s what they have to say about Sponge & Sparkle cleaning technicians.

The Dream Team!
The dream team came!  This was the cleanest my house has ever been!  Kitchen floor was cleaned as never before.  Great job, girls.  K. ROSS

Outstanding Cleaning, Wonderful Employees
I want you to know what a pleasure it has been to have been your customer these last few years. The cleaning services you provide have always been outstanding and your employees have been wonderful. C. MUSE

Great Job and Trustworthy

It is so nice to have someone who not only does a great job but someone you can trust. J. SAXON

So Fresh, So Clean
Camille did a great job cleaning our house in Decatur last week! Everything looked and smelled terrific!

 A+ Extremely Professional, a Delight to Work With

KAREN cleaned our home for the first time last week and she did an incredible job! The cleaning was very thorough, she took her time and made my home “sparkle”! she was a delight to have in the house and she was very accommodating to my “work from home” needs. I look forward to having her back. A+!

Very Fast and Very Thorough

We’re really happy we went with Sponge and Sparkle. The cleaners Mabia and Jared are fast but very thorough, and are always on time. We have a converted loft that gets dingy and dusty very easily, and it always looks and feels brand new after they’ve cleaned. Highly recommended.

Resources to Improve Employee Engagement

If you are looking to institute a caring company culture, one that takes care of your employees and customers, here are two resources that will help you on your journey.

• Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh, founder of Zappos. Companies like Zappos are an inspiration. They encourage employees to be authentic, creative, take the reigns, learn and grow.
• This article by Paul Siegelman, “Why a Caring Workplace Matters.” In this article, Siegelman lays out the 4-part methodology his company uses to demonstrate they care.

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About the author:

Raina Raflo owns Sponge & Sparkle, Atlanta’s oldest and most reputable independent maid and house cleaning service. (404) 633-9662.

The Benefits of Clearing Closet Clutter

The benefits of cleaning the clutter out of your closet include:

• Less dust and dirt accumulation.As Atlanta house cleaning experts, we see it all the time – clutter is a dust magnet.
• More energy. Clutter weighs you down. Most of us have to find something to wear on a daily basis, and having to face a mess each day can be a drain.
• Discover new clothing. Many people find that once they clear and organize their closets they end up with more, rather than fewer things to wear. Once they are able to see what they have, it is easier to put together outfit combinations.
• Help someone in need. The clothes clogging your closet are probably just want someone else needs. Donate your new or gently used clothing to someone who can use it.

Our Closet Clearing System

Here’s a simple system for clearing out your closet. Take everything out of your closet. Put the clothing that you know fits well and looks fabulous back into your closet.

What if you can’t decide? Granted, most of us don’t have the iron will to get rid of everything that we don’t wear. So, here’s a compromise. Once you’ve removed all of the clothes you can bear to part with, put the rest in the closet with the hangers all facing one way. When you wear something, place it back in the closet with the hangers facing the opposite direction. At the end of the season, you will have a clearer picture of the clothes you don’t wear.

Wondering What to Do With Your Clothes?

Sell your unused clothing to a consignment shop or better yet, donate them to charity. Here are few non-profits in Atlanta that accept new and gently worn clothing.

• Dress for Success – Atlanta
• Cascade House for Women in Transition
• Atlanta Day Shelter
• Decatur Cooperative Ministry Women’s Shelter

Once you’ve experienced the zen of having an un-cluttered closet, consider calling us for a top to bottom Atlanta house cleaning.

Please click here to get Sponge & Sparkle blog updates via email.

About the author:

Raina Raflo owns Sponge & Sparkle, Atlanta’s oldest and most reputable independent maid and house cleaning service. (404) 633-9662.

Photo Source: ofeverydaylife on flickr

Culprit #1!

Now that I am the slave to 2 fuzzy cats, I am appalled at the amount of fur, dander, and dust generated by these guys!  Of course it is all totally worth it, but it can get disgusting and doesn’t take much to spiral out of control.

I felt like I was approaching that downhill slide – just too much to do  and not enough time.  Arghhh – I hate that feeling because I love a clean house, and know how important it is.  But something had to suffer it seemed , so it was the house.  One thing I know for sure (yes Oprah this is the one thing I know for sure)  is that dirt is determined and relentless.  It wants nothing more than to  reproduce itself in all it’s varieties as quickly as possible! And once something gets a little dirty, it quickly escalates into a lot of dirt.

But today, I was the recipient of an unexpected sparkling from SPONGE & SPARKLE.  We had three cancellations this morning due to clients being sick,  so to give one of our teams a  not so bad day/paycheck, my house was put on the schedule.

Coming home a little while ago was…..delightful.  No visible cat fur, just  sparkling  clean everywhere.  It made me happy.

Please click here to get Sponge & Sparkle blog updates via email.

About the author:
Raina Raflo owns Sponge & Sparkle, Atlantaís oldest and most reputable independent maid and house cleaning service. (404) 633-9662.

Since we have gotten 2 calls this week from old clients who had to cancel service, but now want to resume service again in January,  I can clearly see that having a home that is clean, beautiful, tidy, and healthy is intrinsic to happiness.  It is a basic component to making our lives work better.

When our house is neglected and dirty, it is not only unhealthy,  it is a subtle (or not so subtle) drag on our energies, and we feel stressed and anxious.  Usually these feelings are below  our radar, and we don’t often realize the actual source of our low grade discontent.

Contracting  with a maid service in the new year could  be the absolute best thing that you can do for your happiness  and  ease. Do it for yourself; you deserve it.

Please click here to get Sponge & Sparkle blog updates via email.

About the author:
Raina Raflo owns Sponge & Sparkle, Atlantaís oldest and most reputable independent maid and house cleaning service. (404) 633-9662.

One of the most troublesome areas is the kitchen. You need to use the kitchen to prepare the holiday feast, but you want it to be clean and orderly when your guests arrive.

Here are six quick kitchen cleaning tips to help you quickly clean up so that you can spend more time with your guests.

Tip # 1 – Keep your counters pristine

Cover the counter with butcher or wax paper before making a mess; and just fold up the paper with the scraps and toss it away when you’re done.

Tip # 2 – Prep your dirty dishes on the go

Fill your sink with hot soapy water – as you work, toss in the tools and dishes you’ve used and let them soak. When it is time to load the dishwasher, a quick drain and rinse is usually all that is needed.

Tip # 3 – Keep scraps out of the way

Keep a bowl beside your cutting board. (If you compost, use two bowls – one for compostable, and another for non-compostable scraps). Toss scraps into your bowl(s) as you work. When you are done, empty your scrap bowl(s).

Tip # 4 – Clean in stages

Once you are done with the food prep stage, put your dishes into soapy water. Put away any items you don’t need for the cooking stage. Do a similar deck clearing at each stage to make working easier and buildup lighter.

Tip # 5 – Stave off stickiness

Line your baking and roasting pans with foil or parchment paper to save scrubbing later. Coat measuring utensils with non-stick spray so sticky ingredients like honey and peanut butter will slide right out and clean up easily.

Tip # 6 – Use your downtime wisely

While the water is boiling, the oven heating, or onions are softening in the pan, handle those small-dose kitchen cleaning tasks like loading or emptying the dishwasher, wiping spills, or sweeping.

Remember, as host or hostess of holiday gatherings, you don’t want to be locked in the kitchen. Use these tips to get your kitchen clean quickly so that you can socialize.

Would you like a quote on general or detail cleaning services before your holiday gathering? Contact Raina Raflo at http://www.spongeandsparkle.com or call (404) 633-9652.

Please click here to get Sponge & Sparkle blog updates via email.

About the author:

Raina Raflo owns Sponge & Sparkle, Atlanta’s oldest and most reputable independent maid and house cleaning service. (404) 633-9662.

Photo Credit: Plage Vinilos y Decoración’s

• Clutter attracts dust bunnies.
• Cleaning around clutter is very tedious and time consuming.
• Clutter makes you unhappy.

As Gretchen Rubin notes in the Happiness Project blog, “outer order contributes to inner calm.” In her article, “Test Yourself: Do You Have Clutter Mentality?,” she lists the reasons people use to justify accumulating clutter, and a link to an article on fighting clutter.

Would you like to get your Atlanta home sparkling clean? The Sponge & Sparkle team would love to help. Call us at (404) 633-9662 or click here to request a quote for Atlanta house cleaning services.

Please click here to get Sponge & Sparkle blog updates via email.

About the author:

Raina Raflo owns Sponge & Sparkle, Atlanta’s oldest and most reputable independent maid and house cleaning service. (404) 633-9662.

Photo of cluttered fridge credit: WmJas on Flickr

Raina accepting ARCSI 2011 Newsletter Award

Having just got back from the Association of Residential Cleaning Services  2011 conference  in Las Vegas, I have so many new ideas and plans to implement.  Being a member of this organization  helps any maid service become better, stronger and more professional.  Even though we have been in business for 30 years, I am always learning something new.

OSHA guidelines and  government regulations change, cleaning products  are perfected, new technologies need to be learned.  Education is an absolute must in this business just to keep up with all the new developments in  running our businesses and in dealing with our clients and employees.

One of our speakers was Tom Peters, the author of the classic,  In Search of Excellence.  He has a new book out which I am looking forward to reading titled  Retail Superstars.  One of the things that resonated with me was when he said that for your staff to give good service, you have to give good service to your staff.

Since our company creed is the Golden Rule , we have always tried to be cognizant of treating everyone kindly, fairly, and respectfully.  We have had some success with this,  I believe, since employee turnover has not ever been a big problem for our company. In an industry where the average turnover is 300%, this is no small feat!

Looking forward to our next conference in Orlando!  Oh – and our newsletter was awarded the 2011 Professional Image Award , as a bonus!

Please click here to get Sponge & Sparkle blog updates via email.

About the author:
Raina Raflo owns Sponge & Sparkle, Atlanta’s oldest and most reputable independent maid and house cleaning service. (404) 633-9662.

This article on the Passionate Homemaking blog gives two effective recipes: one for controlling fruit flies, and another for taking care of ants. Not only are these natural, they incorporate items you probably already have in your kitchen.

Remember, if you need an Atlanta house cleaning service that uses natural, non-toxic ingredients, give us a call at (404) 633-9652.

Please click here to get Sponge & Sparkle blog updates via email.

About the author:
Raina Raflo owns Sponge & Sparkle, Atlanta’s oldest and most reputable independent maid and house cleaning service. (404) 633-9662. Photo Credit: Passionate Homemaking.

This recipe for a lemony dust cloth (via care2.com) is a winner. It’s frugal, simple (only 2 ingredients) and effective. Give it a try.

If you happen to have more lemons than the cleaning recipe calls for, you can use the surplus to make lemonade or freshen up your glass of water.

A cleaning ingredient you can actually consume? You wouldn’t dare try it with a traditional cleaner, but it’s one of the benefits of green cleaning.

Please click here to get Sponge & Sparkle blog updates via email.

About the author:
Raina Raflo owns Sponge & Sparkle, Atlanta’s oldest and most reputable independent maid and house cleaning service. (404) 633-9662. Photo Credit: Aurora Michele

This article by Victoria Bender, Are We Cleaning Ourselves to Death, offers some sobering facts on the toxicity of traditional household cleaners.

Did you know:

• Federal and state government agencies only regulate outdoor air, not indoor air?
• EPA studies show that indoor air may be 3 to 70 times more toxic than outdoor air?
• Cleaning products that contain toxins and carcinogens do not have to  list these items on the labels because we don’t consume (eat or drink) them? Evidently, ingesting the fumes through our eyes, skin and sinuses is not considered consuming. That’s quite a loophole!

Knowing these facts makes me glad that Sponge and Sparkle uses non-toxic cleaning products.

Here’s a quote from one of our customers:

I always love to come home after they’ve been here cleaning. They use natural products that smell good and get the job done.

Please click here to get Sponge & Sparkle blog updates via email.

About the author:
Raina Raflo owns Sponge & Sparkle, Atlanta’s oldest and most reputable independent maid and house cleaning service. (404) 633-9662. Photo Credit: Alicia Nijdam