Free Yourself from Housework with CottageCare {Giveaway and Discount Included!}

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Growing up, my mom did it all. She stayed at home with three kids, made three meals a day, kept the house in running order and even found time for “small” side projects … like wallpapering the kitchen or making a flower girl dress by hand.

For some reason, I feel so much less effective and efficient than she was. I only have two kids. I do work full time outside of the home and after school is filled with Tae Kwon Do for my son, and physical therapy appointments for my daughter. So, when I considered a cleaning service for my home, why did I feel so guilty?

At first, hiring someone to clean my home gave me the feeling that I wasn’t living up to expectations … that I couldn’t do it all like my own mother had. But, after thinking about it, it’s really just delegating a small, but important portion of my responsibility as a wife and mom to make our life more manageable.

I was thrilled to learn about the Columbia CottageCare and try out their services. I spoke with them on a Thursday afternoon and they described in detail what they were going to do for my house: bathrooms (full scouring and sanitization of sinks, bowls, shower, tub and mirror), kitchen (counter tops scrubbed, sinks scoured, general cleaning of appliance and cabinet exteriors), floors (vacuumed then hand washed), carpets (vacuums) and furniture (dusting and cleaning). We scheduled an appointment for the following Monday. A day later, a CottageCare representative called my phone on Friday to confirm the appointment.

Home page link: Crowe Horwath company logo

I couldn’t wait to arrive home on Monday to a clean house. One I didn’t have to bribe my kids to help pick up. One I didn’t have to clean in stages because there’s not enough time after work and between school activities to take care of in one set amount of time. One that allowed me to focus my attention on my family rather than worry about dirty dishes left from the morning rush or the trash that needed to be taken out.

When I opened the door that afternoon, the house looked amazing!

The first thing I noticed was no harsh, overwhelming smell of chemicals that inevitably would have irritated my respiratory tract. CottageCare avoids fragrances and odors in their cleaning supplies to assist those, like me, who are sensitive to chemicals.

The second thing that really stood out was the bathrooms, one of the hardest areas to keep clean in my house. All evidence of child teeth brushing were virtually erased from the counter tops and sink. Moms, you know what I’m talking about … the pink Barbie toothpaste dried up in the corner. The spit that contains chocolate and crackers that you don’t want to touch, but the water pressure from the faucet won’t take care of it on its own. And the little pieces of hair from your hubby’s daily shaving ritual. (Wait, does this only happen in my house?)

Not to mention the bathroom floors. You would think a room that is dedicated to cleaning yourself … would stay clean. But somehow all the dirt and debris from the day just ends up collecting on the floor (white floor nonetheless). And that’s the LAST thing I feel like cleaning up after a long day. CottageCare was able to make my floors sparkle!

CottageCare before and after bathroomWhen I headed downstairs the counters were shiny, the floors swept and clean, the rugs had those adorable little lines that meant someone vacuumed like a painter on a canvas. There were no “little people” prints on the TV or the glass top coffee table. And the cabinets … they really did clean the cabinets. I now realize after a year living in this house that my cabinets were white, not off white. My bad.

I then went upstairs to the bedrooms. Now, previously I had tidied up each bedroom so the cleaning professional could focus on the rugs and not cleaning up. I’m embarrassed to say that the cleaning process was so meticulous that I arrived home to some goodies on our beds. Goodies that had fallen in, around, or on the side of the bed. Yes, they even cleaned under the bed. So, an added thank you for finding my spare pair of glasses.

My son's bedroom. Nothing makes me feel better than those vacuum lines!
My son’s bedroom. Nothing makes me feel better than those vacuum lines!

No detail was left unnoticed. We have a closet in the master bath that becomes dirty with the leaves and dirt from our shoes. The cleaning professional even vacuumed the inside of the closet.

CottageCare before and after closetI could finally … RELAX. Thoughts of what needed to be done around the house faded away … because there wasn’t anything to do but enjoy time with my family.

CottageCare did such a great job, I seriously began revisiting my budget to figure out how I could work the service in on a regular basis. And they make cleaning affordable by offering services a la carte. This means you can hand off the evil twins, kitchen and bathroom, to one of their cleaning professionals (a win-win!).

As a final touch, I found a nice note on the counter asking for feedback, and a place to leave any areas of improvement along with a pamphlet of frequently asked questions. I was pleased to see that CottageCare not only pays their workers above minimum wage but also has a philanthropic focus as they support the Widows And Orphans Relief Fund in Rwanda. This is a company I feel good supporting because their business goes beyond the bottom line.

Just For You!

Speaking of generous, CottageCare is offering 25% Off First-time Home Cleaning for Columbia SC Moms Blog readers! Talk about perfect timing with the holidays right around the corner or for the mom who is stumped on what she wants for Christmas. Here’s how what you need to know to take advantage of the offer:

  • Call CottageCare at 803-799-0150 to schedule an appointment
  • Say “Holiday Blogger Promotion” to receive 25% off a full house cleaning
  • Promotion does not include vacant, hourly and special cleanings
  • Must be a first time customer

Exclusive Giveaway for our Readers!

The Columbia SC Moms Blog will be offering a FREE full house cleaning to one overworked, over-scheduled, overwhelmed yet lucky mom! This service is valued at over valued at $200 so make sure you enter because freedom from housework … it’s a fabulous feeling! Giveaway will run until Friday, December 19 at 11:59 p.m.

Full House Cleaning from CottageCare (Value $200)

** Disclaimer: Columbia SC Moms Blog was compensated for this post, but all views and opinions are proudly our own.

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