Linda's Country Cleaners - A Heartfelt Testimonial On Wednesday February 13th, 2013, I received two written letters - one from the landlord of the apartment building that I have lived in for about a dozen years and one from the township. For numerous reasons, a thorough inspection of the building's exterior was to be conducted six days later, on Tuesday February 19th. Also, every apartment - occupied or vacant - would be subject to a walkthrough by township inspectors and the landlord. That meant I had less than a week to convert my oft-neglected apartment into something at least passable. I looked up cleaning services on the Internet and (thankfully!) found the page for Linda's Country Cleaners. It said she had been in business for 30 years, that she answered the phone herself whenever possible - no matter what time of day or night - and that she guaranteed satisfaction, no matter how big or small the job. Little did she know how big the job ahead of her would turn out to be. Linda and I spoke on the phone for almost 30 minutes that evening. I described the apartment - a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom - as best I could. I also added that though there was much dust and cobwebs to be cleaned, it was the bathrooms that were in the roughest shape of all. Linda asked when she could visit the apartment - that way, she would know exactly what type of work needed to be done and how many people should come out for the initial cleaning. I told her that there was no way I could meet her ahead of time; she was persistent and explained gently that the best way to gauge what sort of work needed to be done was for her to come over prior to the actual cleaning. My stubbornness won out and we agreed that two members of her crew would come out Monday morning, the day before the (dreaded) township inspection was due to occur. Two women from Linda's office arrived on time - as promised - on Monday morning with many buckets and numerous cleaning supplies in hand. However, "the bathrooms are in rough shape" turned out to be an understatement on my part. In fact, there was significant mold in both bathrooms and there was no way that the cleaning crew was equipped to handle the job ahead of them. This was not at all their fault - had I accepted Linda's offer to visit ahead of time, she would have known what to expect in terms of staffing and supplies. As it turns out, Linda DID come to the apartment an hour after the cleaning crew got here. Linda did a walkthrough and kindly explained to me that a more intense cleaning was required than they were prepared for. She immediately contacted a mold specialist and he met me at the apartment several hours later. "I have good news for you," the mold specialist said after examing both bathrooms. "You have surface mold." You know that it's been quite a tumultuous day when the GOOD news is that you have surface mold. But it was good news, because it was cleanable - not the hazmat, mask wearing, Police Line/Do Not Cross yellow-tape scenario. I relayed his prognosis to Linda in a call that afternoon. Unsure of how I could possibly have the apartment cleaned in such a short time (now less than 24 hours until the deadline), Linda assured me that someone would be heading over within the next hour or so to begin Bathroom 1. The next morning, someone else - maybe two people - would come out to complete the job. I can't say that I was skeptical, but I was admittedly unsure how all of this could get done so quickly. And sure enough, Monday evening brought Michelle to the apartment. Armed with the right cleaning equipment and a positive attitude, Michelle scrubbed and scrubbed and bleached and scrubbed that first bathroom. A few hours later, she was done. The bathroom, which had been in horrendous condition prior to her arrival now smelled clean, looked clean and WAS clean! I could not believe it. I thanked her about a hundred times, I think. The next morning, Michelle returned to the apartment with Emily C. Emily's job was to tackle the second bathroom while Michelle worked on cleaning the rest of the place - clearing cobwebs, washing floors, clearing more cobwebs... In fact, Michelle and Emily even did some Feng Shui - rearranging the little bit of furniture that I have in a much more aesthetically pleasing way. When I returned home late Tuesday afternoon, the apartment was nearly unrecognizable to me. I don't know how they did it, but they did it. Now there were two clean bathrooms, two clean bedrooms, clean floors, a clean kitchen, clean walls - it was my old apartment but it looked and smelled like a brand new place to me. My initial thanks go to Linda, who talked to me on the phone with endless patience the first night I called. Then, she came to the apartment on Monday to see how severe the situation was. (Oh, it was.) Linda contacted a mold specialist for me that same day. And later that day, she sent Michelle here to begin the cleaning. Michelle - Endless thanks to you for all of the incredible work you did Monday evening and again for the many hours you spent cleaning the rest of the apartment on Tuesday. Your cheerful attitude and phenomenal work ethic are beyond description. I am so grateful for all you did to get this place back to an apartment again. Emily C. - Not only did you make that second bathroom sparkle, but you tirelessly worked on much of the rest of the apartment on Tuesday morning/afternoon as well. You even commented to me when I apologized for the initial condition of the apartment that you saw when you first walked in: "You know what? It wasn't that bad. I've seen places that were 100 times worse - believe me." Those words were very helpful; it is embarrassing to neglect a living space for as long as I had neglected mine. With the help, kindness and hard work that Linda, Michelle and Emily displayed, I felt better about my apartment - and about myself. I would highly, highly recommend Linda's Country Cleaners to anyone who needs the best cleaning services available. A few helpful hints from me to you: 1) when Linda asks to see your apartment/house/business ahead of time - so that she can provide you a time and price estimate, LISTEN to her and invite her in. Don't argue with her - she knows what she's talking about; 2) ask for Michelle and Emily C. - if they are available. They are two of the nicest and hardest working women I have ever met. I'm sure that everyone who works for Linda is extraordinary, but I'm biased toward the two people who saved me; 3) you should feel deserving and worthy of having a clean place in which to live. The most important lesson that I've learned in the past week is this - it is so much more comforting to come home to a space that looks, smells and feels clean. If you don't take care of where you live, then you simply aren't taking care of yourself. I promised Linda, Michelle and Emily that I would not neglect my apartment again. To help me achieve that goal, I look forward to continuing on with their services for a long time to come. As a footnote to this story, the apartment inspection -- the thing that brought me to Linda in the first place - got postponed. It will happen in the next few days or weeks. But, that's fine with me because whenever it does get rescheduled, I'll have an apartment that building inspectors won't want to run away from as soon as they walk in. Everything I've stated above is 100% true, unsolicited and completely sincere. Thank you Linda, thank you Michelle, thank you Emily C. -- there is NO WAY I could have done it without you!!!