We are back!   The summer weather is great, but the time has come to put the gripping novels aside, and get our cleaning caddies out again. We have all been eager to get back to clean our clients’ homes and offices but to do so safely has meant many hours on the computer and the phone checking guidance, researching products, assessing each client and team member and producing the risk assessments. We’ve topped up our cleaning caddies with products, and repacked them with cloths, toothbrushes, scrapers and scrubbies and PPE, and we’re now ready to go.

With all the differing opinions on sanitising and PPE, we decided to go with those who know best – Public Health England, WHO and HSE. Whilst our main focus is the protection of our clients and ourselves against this coronavirus right now, we feel it is important that we don’t go in with unnecessarily destructive chemicals and kill the good things too. There are many bacteria that protect us and are necessary for the environment, and whatever we use to clean with eventually finds its way into the waterways, air or soil having a knock-on effect outside. We are really pleased that we can continue with the products that we have always used, because the Delphis Eco sanitiser is BS EN1276 compliant, so certified effective against enveloped viruses, including Coronavirus. Good to know that our client’s homes were being sanitized against this Coronavirus before we even heard of it in this country. We get a lot of pleasure from confirmation that what we are doing is right for the safety of our clients, right for our team, and as right as we can manage for the planet. When trying to kill the viruses and bacteria that do us harm it is inevitable that some others will also be harmed – no solution is perfect – but we try to be as gentle as we can.

Aside from the work, there are a few additional things to enjoy when we go to clients homes or offices; we get to know the clients, so it is always great to see them, and the other thing is the gardens.   All sorts of gardens – blowsy borders, patios with brights pots, lawns with beautiful shady trees, quintessential English country garden, and even prairie style.   We left them with daffodils and have returned to roses and peonies – beautiful.   We have even been entrusted with garden watering when a client goes away – what a treat!   So we will continue to follow the guidelines, and modify the way we work as things change – and whatever that brings, we are SO happy to be back.

After nearly 8 years, Angela has worked her last day today. I still can’t quite believe this day has come, it’s like the end of an era.  She has been such a joy to us, taking care of all the details every day, going the extra mile for so many clients, caring for pets and plants!

It is through her loyalty, integrity, genuine care for others, and a jolly good sense of humour, that we have been able to keep running Splash Clean whilst I am in Zambia. She is going to be missed, but we are so excited for her as a new opportunity has come up, on her doorstep.

Shelley, my dear mother, is taking over Angela’s role.  Shelley has lived in England for 18 years, and has had various managerial and admin roles in the past which lend well to this role.  She eventually left her office desk to be a carer and companion to elderly people in the area, because that is the loving, caring person my mother is! I am thrilled that I was able to convince her to join us now at Splash Clean.

We are still a small team of just 10 part time cleaners, we have no desire to become a large business.  We take our values and beliefs seriously at Splash Clean, we are not just about numbers and getting jobs filled.  We are a group of people, doing our best to offer a quality service, caring for our clients homes and offices, not just cleaning them, whilst being aware of our impact on the environment.  This takes teamwork, patience and love!

I thank God daily for the gift of this business, and each person who makes it what it is.  As it is not just a gift to me, but to each team member. Mothers and fathers, students, entrepreneurs, all trying to boost their incomes and reach their goals.

We look forward to many more years in Alresford and Winchester.

Following our blog post introducing Angela, we thought we would introduce Colleen. She started Splash Clean in 2010 whilst living in the Alresford area.  She has been working remotely from South Africa for 4 years, before moving to Zambia last year.

Read her completely unbiased opinion on why you should join Splash Clean, and find out more about how she spends her time.

Why would you encourage someone to join the team? I have seen the positive impact, time and time again that our work schedules offer. There are not many opportunities available where you can work for just 2 or 3 hours in a location that suits you, at a flexible time that suits your lifestyle. Also, how many companies do you know of run by a Mrs Brown and a Mrs Black?!

Where is your favourite spot for a cup of tea/coffee? Unfortunately my nearest coffee shop here in Zambia is a 35 minute drive along dirt and very pot holed roads! Bit different to when I lived in Alresford. So my favourite spot is now my veranda, with coffee beans that are grown, harvested & roasted 1 hour from where I am living.

Where exactly do you live? I grew up in South Africa, but as I have a British passport, I lived in England for 10 years, during which time I started Splash Clean and became obsessed with The Archers. In 2013 I moved back to South Africa, but decided to keep the business going. In 2018, my husband’s work brought us to Zambia, so we are currently expats. I work remotely from my veranda in Zambia, dealing mainly with all payroll and invoicing.

What do you do in your spare time?  I keep myself occupied at home with gardening, birdwatching, reading, researching travel plans! I also share about our expat life and sustainable living on Life Lived Simply.

BBC The Archers

Zambian roads

Lucy

Travel plotting

Bill Bryson At Home

Colleen Black

Do you have a favourite walk in Alresford/Winchester? I used to regularly walk along the River Arle and Drove Lane, such a beautiful spot.

What is your favourite podcast/book? Favourite podcast is The Archers, without a doubt. Too many books to mention, but a recent one was At Home by Bill Bryson, and I am currently reading The Africa House by Christina Lamb.

What is your best tip for keeping your home clean or organised? Put everything where it belongs, straight away; it is much easier to maintain a tidy home. Tidy House, Tidy Mind.