Castle Clean

31/05/2026

Today I was shouted a lovely afternoon tea and meal by one of my long-term clients, and it made me realise something...

After years of cleaning for her, I actually knew very little about her personal life.

That might sound strange, but when I'm working, I've never felt it's my place to delve too deeply into my clients' private lives. In fact, half the time I don't even know exactly what people do for work. I may hear the odd whisper around a small community, but generally speaking, I prefer not to know.

For me, the relationship is professional, respectful, and above all, discreet.

It was lovely to sit down outside of work and share a little more about ourselves beyond the usual conversations. My safe topics are generally the weather, kids, animals, gardens and the occasional good gas bag. I love a chat, but I'm also pretty good at reading the room.

The older I get, the more I realise that a big part of this job isn't just cleaning.

It's knowing when someone wants to talk and when they don't.

It's understanding that some people want a friendly catch-up, while others simply want to come home to a beautifully cleaned house and a little bit of peace.

It's being trusted in someone's personal space and respecting that trust.

We often say that cleaning is about more than cleaning. If we can make someone's day a little easier, lighter, or happier, then we've done our job well.

And if I'm honest, I look forward to seeing many of my familiar clients each week too, so we must be doing something right.

I'd love to know—if your work involves people, how do you navigate the balance between being friendly and being professional?

And what do you do when you meet someone who loves a looooong conversation... or when a worker starts oversharing? 😅

28/05/2026

28/05/2026

Satisfying BBQ plate clean 😌

28/05/2026

Some houses become more than just houses.Today we completed another move-out clean on a little home that has quietly stayed connected to my life for around 15 years now. Years ago my grandmother and aunty lived here, and over time I ended up caring for the home professionally through owner after owner. Today marked the fourth owner I’ve cleaned for here — and it honestly feels like the end of an era.

What makes it even more special is watching the different lives that have passed through these walls. Each owner arrived on Waiheke with their own story, their own dreams, and their own reasons for trying island life. Some stayed for years, some moved on sooner than expected, but every one of them left a little piece of themselves behind in this home.

It’s funny how certain houses stay attached to you.My daughter Janelle grew up spending time here too, and after so many years I know every little quirk of this place like the back of my hand. I’ve always cleaned and cared for it as if it were my own.

There’s a strange mix of nostalgia and curiosity today — wondering who the next owners will be, what memories they’ll create here, and whether one day I’ll get the call to continue looking after this sweet little house once again.

Some homes really do hold stories. 🤍

26/05/2026

The dirtier the better!

26/05/2026

These are my daughter’s newish jeans 😭

I nearly died when I found them in a pile on her bedroom floor covered in grass stains.

This week I decided to try Sunlight Soap after a few clients recently asked us to clean using only it. I remembered it from when I was a kid, so I thought… oh well, let’s give it a go.

First of all, the packaging gives me the biggest nostalgic feeling — it’s so retro and I absolutely love it. But honestly… I was shocked at how good it worked on the stains.

Apparently Sunlight Soap has been around since the 1800s and women have been using it for generations for everything from laundry to stain removal. Safe to say I now understand the obsession 😂

Now I’m walking around the house looking for more stained items to clean.

OCD much?

17/05/2026

I got over 30 reactions on one of my posts last week! Thanks everyone for your support! 🎉