OC Cleaning Helps Clients Stay Safe and Clean During COVID
Helen George got her first job at a cleaning company when she was 18. “I learned a lot,” she remembers, “but I knew there was room for improvement.” While the company she worked for was more of an in-and-out cleaning service, George noticed that many of her clients wanted something more out of their cleaners.
“People want someone they can trust to look after their home or let them know when something breaks — a service they can have a relationship with,” George explains. In 2003, along with her mother and brothers, the family started their own cleaning company based around the principle that they would treat their employees and their clients as part of the fam.
“We’ve had some clients where we’ve watched their kids grow from preschool to now, graduating high school,” says George with a smile. “It’s been such a great experience.”
At OC Cleaning, the owners come to every job. Not because they don’t trust their employees, but because they know that having a personal connection with a client is central to providing a quality service personalized to their specific needs.
“Our clients appreciate the personal touch,” explains George. “They know we’ll take care of their house as if it were our own.”
In every instance, OC Cleaning goes above and beyond the call of duty to take care of their clients. “Sometimes we’ll also play the role of the handyman,” George shares. “If we notice something like a leak in the bathroom, we’ll notify them right away. More often than not, if we didn’t bring it to their attention, they never would have realized it and it could have become a much bigger issue.”
In addition to taking care of their clients, OC Cleaning always makes sure their employees are well provided for. “We did struggle a bit those first few months during the pandemic. A lot of clients canceled their services because they were afraid of having people in and out of the house,” George admits. “But many of our clients continued to support us because they know our employees depend on the income. So we never had to lay off anyone.”
After the initial hurdle, George and her team quickly pivoted to adapt to the pandemic.
“We follow all CDC regulations,” she says. “Everyone wears a mask and gloves, and we disinfect all of our equipment between jobs so we’re not bringing other people’s germs into homes.”
The pandemic has even allowed them to expand their business as they’re now offering full disinfecting services in addition to deep-cleaning, tidying, and window-cleaning and have seen an uptake in commercial clients.
When it comes to disinfecting, OC Cleaning is painstakingly detail-oriented. Rather than using harsh chemical products, they have their own solutions (made with organic scents and natural disinfectants) to keep surfaces clean without leaving them sticky or odorous. “My mother makes all our solutions and people love them. Clients will often ask what we use, and we’re always happy to leave a free bottle for them to use in-between visits.”
While some are still wary of hiring a cleaning service during this time, George assures that it’s safer than ever. “It’s reasonable that people are wary, but it’s actually much safer to have someone come and regularly disinfect your space than to leave it all to yourself.”
There are always things you might miss that a professional cleaning service wouldn’t and that in and of itself can be a safety hazard. “I had a client who actually postponed her service for six weeks, and when we came back there was mold building up,” George warns. With weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly services, OC Cleaning works with each client to determine what is best.
Still, George understands that not everyone can afford the extra expense of hiring a cleaning service right now, so she shares some of the cleaning tips she’s learned over the years: “Focus on the most trafficked areas, like doorknobs, light switches, kitchens, and bathrooms. And use vinegar… it’s a great natural disinfectant that we use in all of our products!”
Maintaining a clean space isn’t just a luxury, but a necessity for your health and wellbeing. With OC Cleaning, you can rest assured that your home, office, or place of business is as safe and clean and possible, all while supporting a great local, family-owned business.
For a full list of their services visit their website at occleaning.com or call 714.389.9997 to book.
Carlisle Huntington was born and raised in Dana Point California. She received her B.A. in English and Creative Writing from The University of Puget Sound and has been featured in business and lifestyle publications such as South Sound Magazine, 425 Magazine, South Sound Business, and 425 Business Magazine.