7/10/25

Riley Recommends: When the Full Moon Cleans You Out Too

Riley Recommends: “Howl at the moon-it’s really fun! And also… listen to my mom this time, because she has a lot of important stuff to say.”

That’s what Riley would tell you. And honestly, she’s not wrong.

You’d think that being a professional cleaner means my own house is spotless, right? Yeah... no. I’m here to tell the truth. My fans still had the dust from the last tenant on them. I let my sink fill with dishes until I can’t use it anymore. I don’t unload the dishwasher until I absolutely have to load it again. Laundry lives in the dryer or piles up in baskets until I’m out of clean clothes. I walk into other people’s chaos and bring peace-and then come home to my own chaos and sometimes just shut the door on it. Not because I don’t care, but because I’m exhausted. This is the side of the industry people don’t always see.

When you spend all day cleaning other people’s homes, it’s hard to come home and clean your own-especially when you’re a single mom. But this full moon? It flipped something in me. I became another version of myself. It wasn’t about surface-level clean-it was emotional decluttering. I found myself putting away things I hadn’t touched since I moved in back in February. Suddenly, I couldn’t ignore the piles anymore. It was like the moon pulled it all to the surface-physically and emotionally.

Every lesson I’ve been avoiding came up to greet me. Lessons about facing hard things instead of running. About finding balance while growing. About honoring your limits while still challenging yourself. And about how growing isn’t always soft and quiet-sometimes it’s loud, messy, and filled with tears.

Amid all this chaos, one thing stood out: somehow, I still showed up for Riley. With more patience than I’ve ever had. That’s how I know I’m growing. Because patience? That’s something I’ve always struggled with. And Riley deserves better than that-and she’s getting it. She’s the calm in my storm and the proof that the work I’m doing on myself is showing up where it matters most.

And it’s not just personal-it’s business too. My Maid Pinellas has grown from just me to a team, and with that comes a shift. I used to be so flexible with clients because I could be. But now? I’m responsible for other people’s paychecks. That changes everything. Policies aren’t about being cold or corporate-they’re about creating a system that allows people to count on us. Clients count on us. My team counts on me. If I don’t create structure, we all fall.

Most professional cleaning companies have strict policies: cancellation fees, minimum service frequencies, extra charges for special cleanings. And there's a reason… those policies protect the business and the workers behind it. You can’t grow without boundaries. Flexibility is a gift, but if it comes at the cost of my team’s livelihood, I have to draw a line. And that's hard when you're used to saying yes to everything.

Being a cleaner doesn’t make me immune to overwhelm. If anything, it makes me more sensitive to it. I spend my day fixing what’s broken, making things feel safe, and bringing order to chaos. But this moon reminded me that I deserve that same care. My home. My heart. My business. All of it deserves intention and love.

So if you’re feeling thrown off this week, just know you’re not alone. The energy is heavy. The lessons are real. Even the maid needs a moment to let the dust settle-literally and emotionally.

Take care of your space, but take care of your heart too.

– Amber from My Maid Pinellas