This podcast is powered by Klean Freaks University.com — where real cleaners build real empires. From mop buckets to million-dollar systems, we teach you how to clean smarter, lead stronger, and scale faster.

In this episode of Cleaning Business Life, Shannon Miller and co-host Jamie Runco dig into the stereotypes that have followed cleaners and domestic workers for decades — and how today’s cleaning business owners are rewriting the story.

From movies like Maid in Manhattan and The Help to sitcom punchlines and mystery novels where “the maid finds the body,” the media has quietly trained the world to see cleaners as less-than. Shannon and Jamie trace how that narrative formed, how the Fair Labor Standards Act finally recognized domestic workers, and why COVID-era “essential worker” status still hasn’t translated into the respect cleaners deserve.

They also share practical ways to reclaim your professional identity:

• Why problem clients and non-payers are the exception, not the standard
• How pricing, premium rates, and boundaries protect your business
• The power of systems, booking platforms, uniforms, and online presence
• Red flags in “high-control” clients and underpaying jobs
• Why mentorship, education, and collaboration over competition are game-changers

Shannon also shares details about the annual Structure Scale & Profit Cleaning Academy scholarship, a $4,500 value including one-on-one coaching, created to give one cleaning business owner a serious leg up in the industry.

If you’re ready to stop accepting “just the cleaner” vibes and start showing up as the 23rd trade professional you really are, hit play, subscribe, and leave a 5-star review so more cleaners can find this conversation.

Here is the link to apply for the scholarship

https://forms.gle/c122YU6oNRG7Tic19

Support the show

Thanks for tuning in to Cleaning Business Life, the show where we pull back the curtain on what it really takes to start, grow, and scale a thriving cleaning business without burning out.

Every episode is packed with tips, stories, and strategies you can put to work right away—because you deserve a business that works for you, not the other way around.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, make sure to follow the podcast so you never miss a new release. And if you got value from this conversation, share it with another cleaning business owner who could use the encouragement and practical advice.

Let’s stay connected! You can find me online at:
📌 Facebook: facebook.com/themaidsnetwork
📌 Instagram: instagram.com/kleanfreaksuniversity
📌 YouTube: youtube.com/@kleanfreakstv
📌 Website: kleanfreaksuniversity.com

Want to go deeper? Join the Maid to Prosper membership inside Klean Freaks University and get access to my library of 55+ courses, live coaching, and the support you need to build your dream business. Visit kleanfreaksuniversity.com to learn more.

Until next time—keep showing up, keep sh...