01/21/2026
Here’s something I wanted to talk about, but also avoid like the plague; boundaries.
Something I’m really good at setting but haattteeee enforcing.
Here’s the thing about boundaries; they can feel mean or personal, they may make you feel called out, they may make you feel like you’re being punished. But the truth is; boundaries that I set forth are to protect my peace and from burnout, and to maintain the integrity of your clean and our working relationship.
Boundaries are meant to be clear and concise- what I will or won’t do. What I do or do not expect. What you need, what I can give. When they are respected our relationship can be built on trust and integrity, and run smoothly for years. However, once they are crossed and if I don’t implement them; resentment builds, burn out flares, communication lacks, and it’s not very comfortable to be around eachother. Both of us don’t know what to expect from the other, trust diminishes, and eventually our relationship is cut short and we are both looking for replacements. And I LOATHE looking for replacements.
That’s why I send a contract that requires you to read and acknowledge before services begins. It lays out every single boundary I have learned in four years. It communicates my wills and wants, my dos and donts, and can/nots. & it is important that you read them and consider them before moving on with services. I don’t like giving surprises.
So here are a few examples of boundaries I have to protect my peace and the integrity of doing business together.
Lists- I like lists, I find them helpful. But please give me these lists before I show up to your door. It gives me a flicker of panic when I’ve left enough time to do my cleaning job and now I need to rush to make sure your list is complete too. Give me a list at least a day ahead and I know what to expect and can plan accordingly. Otherwise I have to do what I need to do first & will catch up on your list if I have time.
Deep vs. regular cleans- there are items that are not included in a regular clean. Even small items that you think will only take a couple of minutes, can throw off my workflow and put me behind for the day. Things like: vacuuming couches, cleaning the inside of your fridge, scraping the bottom of your oven, washing your cabinets, changing your bed linens; are deep clean items. Will they take only a few more minutes on their own? Yes. But I have a strict schedule in order to make it to school pick up on time. If you need any singular items that are not a part of a regular clean, give me a holler ahead of time and I will make sure to leave enough time to do it.
Cabinets/closets/ hidden items- if I am in your house, I consider myself a guest. And normally guest don’t go through your private spaces to find something they’re looking for. So if you have trashes, appliances, bedding etc. in your home that you expect to be cleaned or used; they need to be set out in plain sight. I will not go digging through closets or drawers or cabinets looking for your trash, vacuum cleaner, mops, brooms etc. that makes me extremely uncomfortable and let’s be real some of us forget what we also put in those spaces and I don’t want to find something I’m not supposed to.
I am here to help you with those pesky tasks that make life less enjoyable, and I do it with my whole heart and wellbeing in mind. In 4 years I’ve had work take me way longer because of lists and not allocating enough time, I’ve accepted last minute requests to pull apart an oven to scrape last years thanksgiving turkey off the bottom, I’ve found things o really didn’t want to find while pulling out wastebaskets and mops. If we can respect eachothers boundaries we can work closely and efficiently which is the name of my game. My boundaries are never personal, to be difficult, to get out of doing something o don’t want to. They are to allow me to be clear, work efficiently, and to maintain the integrity of my work…
Thanks for coming to my TEDTalk 😅
