I Don’t Just Clean Homes. I Witness Real Life

To do this job well, you need more than a good vacuum and a checklist. You need a genuine curiosity about people—not in a nosy way, but in the quiet, respectful way that wonders: How do others live? What brings them comfort? Cleaning gives me a rare window into that. I walk into spaces most people never see, and somehow that changes how I see everything.

A Different Kind of Intimacy

It’s funny—I’ve never seen the inside of some of my closest friends’ homes, but I’ve stood in the middle of a stranger’s bedroom. I’ve wiped down nightstands filled with journals, old birthday cards, or a baby monitor still plugged in. I’ve seen closets bursting with clothes, and ones with just a few carefully chosen items. And no matter what I walk into, it always reminds me of this simple truth: we’re all doing life the best way we know how.

We all have our quirks. Our piles. Our sacred clutter. The box of who-knows-what under the bed. The art that means something to us, even if we’re not sure why. And it’s all okay. These things don’t make us messy—they make us human.

The Privilege of Trust

When someone lets me into their home, they’re not just booking a service. They’re extending trust. That’s something I never take for granted. I’m stepping into a space that’s private and personal—where they relax, cry, work, make memories, and just live. And even if they never say a word, I feel the weight of that trust every time I walk through a door.

There’s something almost sacred about that kind of work. I’m not there to judge or critique. I’m there to help someone feel more at ease in their own space. Sometimes that means scrubbing a tub. Sometimes it means straightening a stack of books someone never quite got to. Whatever it is, I’m there to help bring order and comfort—not just cleanliness.

What the Mess Teaches Me

Here’s something I wish more people knew: every home has its own version of “a mess.” Even the picture-perfect ones. The laundry chair. The dishes in the sink. The dog hair that won’t quit. And that’s not failure—it’s proof of life.

That’s what I love most about this job. The reassurance. The shared humanity. The reminder that we’re all juggling a lot, and that we all need help sometimes. No one has it perfectly together—and no one needs to.

More Than a Profession

Cleaning, for me, isn’t just about scrubbing or dusting. It’s about noticing without intruding. It’s about walking into a space and understanding that what I’m really being asked to do is help someone breathe a little easier.

So if you ever feel nervous about hiring someone—worried about what they’ll think, or whether your home is “too far gone”—let me just say this: I don’t see a mess. I see someone who’s trusted me enough to ask for help. And to me, that’s beautiful.

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Posted by Joanna H. She is one our top cleaners at Indy House Cleaners. She lives in Broad Ripple with her 2 children, husband and poodle named Muffy.

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