Confessions of a Cleaning Business Owner

  Louise Trehearn and Diane examine lessons from the UK COVID-19 care-sector inquiry and what cleaning businesses can do differently in a future outbreak. They connect early failures around PPE, ventilation, infection-control guidance, and financial support to practical preparedness, while discussing the cleaning sector’s role in supporting vulnerable people.  keywords cleaning business, COVID-19 lessons, care sector inquiry, cleaning safety, PPE, ventilation, infection control, business resilience, domestic cleaning  key  topics The hosts reflect on the COVID care-sector inquiry’s findings and the discharge of older patients into care homes without testing or a workable isolation plan. They recall shortages of PPE, gloves, cleaning products, and reliable guidance, especially for smaller agencies and self-employed cleaners. Early infection-control efforts focused heavily on surface transmission; the conversation highlights the later importance of ventilation and airborne risk. Louise recommends ventilating rooms, distinguishing routine detergent cleaning from targeted disinfection, and respecting product contact times on high-touch surfaces. They discuss reusable mops and vacuum equipment, filtration, bagged vacuums, and laundering cloths and mop heads between visits. Preparedness measures include maintaining suitable PPE and virucidal products, identifying vetted suppliers, and considering a 60-day stock buffer. Contract clauses for illness disclosure, no-penalty cancellations, and risk categories for homes can reduce exposure during outbreaks. The hosts share the financial and staffing toll of lockdown, furlough, inadequate support for some self-employed workers, and the need for business reserves. They argue cleaning services can help older people remain safely at home and are part of a wider care ecosystem, not simply a luxury.  takeaways I want every window open that morning. I want full ventilation before I go in and say the afternoon. It is about going right, this is what I'm going to clean and this is what I'm going to disinfect. Every product has a contact or dwell time. It only disinfects if it's wet on the surface for that dwell time. Solo cleaners and small agencies should build an emergency buffer or short term illness contingency. You need a buffer, you need to build a buffer if you're going to employ people and take on that responsibility. I think we do need some systemic changes. And I don't think it can all be down to the business owners. For a lot of older people, we're the sort of first step before they get carers. We become the ability to keep them at home.  guest  name Diane  key  frameworks Traffic-light risk classification for homes: green, orange, and red Two-step cleaning: routine detergency followed by targeted disinfection  action  items Build a financial buffer or illness contingency so staff are not pressured to work while sick. Review client terms for advance illness disclosure and penalty-free cancellation during suspected infection. Plan ventilation as part of each visit, including opening windows where appropriate and confirming the home is unoccupied. Separate routine cleaning from targeted disinfection, and follow each product’s stated dwell time. Review PPE and cleaning-product stocks, expiry dates, supplier reliability, and contingency levels. Create risk-based procedures for occupied, empty, and isolating households. Set protocols for laundering cloths and mop heads and for maintaining vacuum filtration and equipment hygiene.  sound bites "I want every window open that morning." "They've called it suspension triggers." "There is a fine line between clean and care." Chapters 00:00 Why a care-sector inquiry matters to cleaners 01:56 Care homes faced impossible isolation and PPE shortages 03:32 Surface transmission, masks, gloves, and early guidance 06:54 How cleaning-sector training and communication helped 08:09 Uneven financial support and the risks of working sick 11:16 Ventilation, targeted disinfection, and dwell time 12:38 Reusable equipment, vacuum filtration, and laundering 14:21 Stockpiling PPE and making illness disclosure policies 17:16 Risk categories, isolation rules, and illness buffers 19:12 Lockdown’s financial and staffing aftermath 22:05 Why business resilience also needs systemic change 24:40 Cleaning’s role in helping people stay at home 26:04 Clean-and-safe training for cleaning businesses

Cleaning business owners Louise Trehearn and Diane Greenwood discuss why cleaning prices need to rise as wages, employer costs, travel time, and overheads climb. They also talk about household preparedness, business uncertainty, and celebrate the podcast nearing 140,000 downloads from 87,000 different listeners.  keywords cleaning business pricing, cleaner hourly rates UK, cleaning business costs, solo cleaner pricing, cleaning team rates, business resilience, cleaning industry  key  topics Rising wage and employment costs, including tax, National Insurance, holiday pay, pensions, and cleaning products, put the cost of supplying a cleaner at around £20 per hour. Louise and Diane recommend that solo cleaners charge at least £25 per hour to account for travel and unpaid business time; charging £20 can leave a self-employed cleaner earning little more than minimum wage. For businesses employing a team, they discuss £30 as a minimum and suggest many businesses may need to charge closer to £35 or more to cover overheads and build sustainable operations. Travel between domestic cleaning jobs reduces billable hours: a school-hours workday may contain six hours available but only about five paid cleaning hours. Higher prices can fund stronger employee terms, management support, quality checking, and more sustainable businesses. They compare cleaning prices with everyday spending such as fish and chips, takeaways, groceries, and haircuts to challenge perceptions that cleaning is overpriced. The conversation shifts to emergency preparedness, a recent power cut, and practical household vulnerabilities such as reliance on electricity for freezers and business operations. They discuss how uncertainty can make business investment and expansion feel risky, while suggesting contingency planning and stable foundations can help owners make calculated decisions. The hosts reveal the podcast is approaching 140,000 downloads, with 87,000 different listeners.  takeaways If you're charging less than that, you're just not going to cover the rest of your overheads. Why would you work for yourself for minimum wage? The reality is you may as well go and work for somebody else for minimum wage. You really do have to be charging twenty five pounds an hour to make it worth going out. If you've got a team, you've got to be running at thirty. If you want the nice, more relaxed life whereby you've got a management team, you've got to charge more. We need to normalize this. We can prepare and we can put contingencies in place. But other than that, we don't have any control anyway. I try not to worry about things that I can't control. Charge more and be confident.  key  frameworks    action  items Review hourly pricing against the full cost of wages, employment on-costs, products, travel, insurance, and other overheads. Solo cleaners should consider rates of at least £25 per hour; businesses with teams should assess whether £30-£35 or more is needed for sustainable margins. Account for unpaid travel and administration when calculating the effective hourly earnings of a working day. Build contingency plans for disruptions such as power cuts, and base expansion decisions on a stable financial foundation.  sound bites "Maybe £35 isn't that expensive." "We need to normalize this." "Charge more and be confident." Chapters 00:00 Why cleaning prices are rising 01:15 The £20 hourly cost of sending a cleaner out 02:14 Why solo cleaners need to charge at least £25 04:13 Self-employment versus working for an employer 05:26 Why cleaning teams may need £30-£35 rates 09:51 Comparing cleaning prices with everyday spending 13:18 Normalizing higher prices to build sustainable businesses 16:47 Preparedness, power cuts and household risks 22:03 How uncertainty affects business owners and investment 26:04 Building resilience with calculated, stable growth 27:26 Celebrating 140,000 podcast downloads

In this episode, Louise and I explore the qualities of a good business owner, the importance of self-awareness, and how to model leadership for your team. We discuss how personal traits influence business success and the value of resilience, boundaries, and self-improvement.  keywords business owner, leadership, self-awareness, resilience, team management, personal development, business growth, leadership qualities  key  topics Self-awareness and honesty in leadership The importance of modeling behavior for your team Resilience and tenacity as core business skills The challenge of balancing personality traits in leadership The role of boundaries and consistency in team management Learning from mistakes and continuous self-improvement The impact of personal values on business decisions The importance of being a role model for reliability and trust Understanding your natural behaviours and adapting as a leader The emotional skills required for effective business management  takeaways Business owners should honestly assess if they are the leader their business needs. Modelling good behaviour and setting boundaries is crucial for team trust. Resilience and tenacity are essential skills for managing a tough role. Self-awareness helps leaders adapt their natural traits for better team management. Consistency in applying policies builds trust and fairness. Learning from mistakes and seeking feedback are vital for growth. Balancing personality traits enhances leadership effectiveness. Being a good boss involves continuous self-improvement. Personal values influence decision-making and team dynamics. Effective leaders understand the emotional side of managing people.  sound bites "The goal is to make myself redundant as a business owner." "I can switch from being quiet to salesy in seconds." "Am I a good person or a bad person? Probably not black and white." Chapters 00:00 Introduction: What it means to employ yourself in your business 01:54 Would you pass an interview for your own business? 03:46 The importance of self-awareness and honesty in leadership 05:55 The goal of making yourself redundant as a business owner 07:48 Modelling behaviour and setting boundaries for your team 09:57 Understanding natural personality traits and their impact on leadership 12:12 Learning to adapt and develop emotional skills as a leader 14:08 The importance of consistency and fairness in team management 16:05 Handling mistakes, feedback, and personal growth 18:08 Balancing personality traits for effective leadership 19:58 The challenge of maintaining boundaries and standards 22:04 Reflections on decision-making, values, and being a role model 23:06 Conclusion: Striving to be the boss you would want to work for

  In this episode, Diane and Louise discuss the challenges and solutions for taking time off as a cleaning business owner, emphasizing the importance of systems, delegation, and mindset shifts to achieve work-life balance.  keywords cleaning business, time off, delegation, systems, business growth, work-life balance, entrepreneurship, business management  key  topics The importance of planning and systems for time off Delegation and trusting your team Handling sickness and emergencies in absence Practicing time off gradually to build confidence The mindset shift needed to accept imperfection and messiness The role of control and standards in delegation The impact of business size on taking leave Strategies for managing staff and customer expectations The benefits of practicing short breaks before long vacations The importance of clarity on business goals and personal priorities  sound bites "If you haven't got anyone to cover, that's what I'd seriously be looking at" "You don't want to ignore inquiries, but they can be put on hold" "Sometimes I would somebody slightly worse than me into a position if I thought they'd deal with it better" Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Why Taking Time Off Matters 02:05 Common Challenges in Taking a Week Off 04:05 Strategies for Managing Sickness and Emergencies 07:09 Preparing Your Business for Absence 10:07 The Role of Systems and Delegation 13:10 Practicing Time Off Gradually 15:53 The Mindset Shift: Accepting Mess and Imperfection 18:52 Building a Business That Can Run Without You 21:52 Conclusion: Achieving Balance and Growth

In this episode, we explore the common mistakes cleaning business owners make and how to avoid them. Diane and Louise share practical insights on marketing, customer service, systems, and growth strategies to build a profitable and sustainable business.  keywords cleaning business, business mistakes, marketing, customer service, systems, growth, profitability  key  topics Pricing strategies and value over cost Importance of professional online presence Effective marketing and customer acquisition Systems and technology in operations Recruitment and team building Customer reviews and reputation management Route planning and scheduling efficiency Recurring services and customer retention Business mindset and leadership  takeaways Customers value reliability and quality over price. A professional, homely website can attract more clients. Consistent marketing is essential for steady growth. Simple systems and processes improve efficiency. Hiring slowly and training thoroughly prevents issues. Always confirm appointments to reduce no-shows. Focus on profit, not just activity or busy-ness. Continuous marketing sustains long-term stability. Think like a business owner, not just a cleaner.  sound bites "Be authentic, not just corporate." "Ignore reviews at your peril." "Profitability is what truly matters." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Common Cleaning Business Mistakes 02:16 Pricing Strategies: Value Over Price 03:45 Online Presence and Professional Image 07:00 Marketing: The Starting Point, Not the Finish 10:18 Recruitment: Hiring the Right Team 11:26 Handling Customer Reviews Effectively 12:30 Systems and Technology in Business 14:49 Profitability vs. Busy-ness 16:00 Consistent Marketing for Stability 17:46 Thinking Like a Business Owner