To Our American Colleagues

This morning I had notification that one of my articles had been picked up by a new directory that I had not come across before so I went to have a look at this. It seemed rather extensive so I did a search for cleaning articles to see if I could come up with some unique content. One article I found was entitles ‘7 Steps to Setting Up A Successful Cleaning Company’. Intrigued I took a look at this article. I found it to be puerile and anything but informative. The author was a Khali S, obviously a pen name. So I went to his listed website, domain name, office-cleaning-business.com expecting to find a cleaning company. But no it was a site selling a ‘How To Book’. One Sam Rodman was the author of this book. There were a number of glowing tributes about this book from supposedly satisfied customers. Finally I found that Sam owned and operated a cleaning company in South West Florida called Edison Office Cleaning. So I went in search of this company and after extensive research turned up absolutely nothing. Well perhaps he has ceased trading as he makes more money out of his book? So I researched his site more thoroughly. One claim on there was that someone after taking his advice had set up a cleaning company which was now turning over $12 million per year. Quite a large concern? Why could it not be named? Not a single reference on this site could be traced. However if you buy his book for an amazingly low $37.95 then you too could be developing these riches! I suspect that the nearest Sam has been to a cleaning company is as a cleaner and all he is ‘expert’ at is taking people’s money. I would be only too happy to hear from anybody demonstrating that my suspicions are unwarranted. What I would say to people out there who come across this site is be very cautious and do not part with your money until you have thoroughly checked out ‘our Sam’, if you can. If anybody does know of this cleaning company in Florida then do please let me know.

January Looks Like Being The Busiest Month Yet

For the previous three years January has been incredibly quiet in the cleaning business. The phones have stopped ringing, new contracts have been impossible to obtain, the only work was the regular contract cleans. This January however has already seen a complete turnaround. The phones have not stopped and enquiries are coming in thick and fast and we are working to full capacity every day. All aspects of our cleaning are being utilised from the stone cleaning to ventilation cleans. From carpet cleaning to oven cleaning. What can this be attributed to? I would not suppose that people have actually changed their habits. What I would imagine it to be is that we are now reaching the market place with a much bigger profile. Potential customers now find us more frequently than our competitors. This can only be attributed to our greater presence on the Web. Our search engine placement is now higher than ever before. We are on the first page of the majority of the search engines for the majority of our important key phrases such as 'cleaning services, and the local searches. Long may this exposure continue and the increased business it brings in. As following on from that will be the other methods of attracting new business, in particular customer recommendations.

Natural Stone Cleaning/Polishing/Refurbishing

Over the past two months we have and continue to receive a large number of requests from householders who have had marble, granite, limestone or slate tiles recently fitted and are experiencing problems. These problems vary from incorrect laying of the tiles to damaging the tiles (scratching etc) whilst laying them or by not protecting them afterwards with building work still going on. By far the biggest problem however seems to be in the sealing process. Either incorrect sealant has been used or it has been applied incorrectly, both result in discolouration of the tiles. We are then called in to rectify the problems. It would seem that people purchasing natural stone tiles or work surfaces are not always given good advice by the sellers, the tilers used are not experts in the laying of natural stone and then the wrong sealant is used on the stone. There would appear to be a general lack of understanding of the properties of natural stone amongst the building fraternity and general public alike. If you are considering having marble, granite, limestone or slate fitted into your property then it is most important that you research the subject yourself and only employ known professionals in the stone field to fit your tiles. Correct fitting and sealing of your natural stone from the outset will save you money in the long term and should be followed up by a suitable maintenance programme which any good stone worker will happily provide you with. Well maintained stone floors and surfaces are immensely attractive and hard wearing, badly treated ones can be a nightmare! Do not be one of the individuals caught up in this nightmare and do not assume that because a company sells natural stone they are experts in its care and maintenance. Many are, but a few are not and are simply after the profits that can be made from selling natural stone and are not interested in what happens after you have made your purchase.

Happy New Year

Sparkle Cleaning Services takes this opportunity to wish all our customers, potential customers and readers a happy and prosperous new year.