How onboarding works

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What Airbnb hosts in Calgary should know about turnover timing

Kleanly Team · 4 min read · Oct 4, 2026

Same-day turnovers look simple on a calendar — until weather, traffic, or a late guest turns a two-hour gap into zero.

Why the gap is smaller than it looks

Checkout times aren't always honoured exactly. A guest running twenty minutes late, a slow elevator in a downtown high-rise, or a locked storage closet with the extra linens can eat into your window before the cleaner has even started. Add drive time between properties if you're managing more than one unit, and a five-hour gap can become a ninety-minute cleaning window in reality.

What Calgary specifically adds to the mix

Winter is the obvious one — a cleaner scraping a windshield or navigating icy sidewalks loses time that a summer turnover doesn't. Less obvious: Calgary's weather swings mean guests sometimes linger indoors past checkout waiting out weather, which pushes your whole schedule back without anyone doing anything wrong.

What actually goes wrong when timing is tight

It's rarely one big failure. It's usually a chain: the cleaner arrives a bit late, rushes the linen change, misses a restock item, and the next guest's first photo of the space is a half-empty coffee pod tray. None of that shows up as a formal complaint — it just quietly shows up in your reviews as "clean but felt a bit rushed."

Building buffer in without losing bookings

You don't need to block out a six-hour gap between every stay to protect yourself. A few things help more than blanket buffers: setting checkout at 11am instead of 10am if your guest profile skews toward slower mornings, blocking same-day back-to-back bookings only for properties with a cleaner who's confirmed availability, and building a standard checklist so a rushed clean still hits the guest-facing basics even under time pressure.

How this shows up in Kleanly

This is the exact problem the calendar sync in the app is built around — turnovers get scheduled against your actual checkout time, not a generic slot, so a cleaner is confirmed before the gap gets tight rather than after.

Kleanly cleaners are trained for short-term rental turnovers, and choose their approach based on your checkout window and what each stay needs. Book a clean

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The real cost of a missed cleaning: a host's guide

Kleanly Team · 5 min read · Oct 3, 2026

A missed cleaning costs more than the clean itself. It shows up in your ranking, your reviews, and your next three bookings.

The immediate cost

A late or missed turnover often means a delayed check-in, an apology message, sometimes a partial refund or a discount on the stay to smooth things over. If it's bad enough, it's a same-day cancellation and a scramble to find the guest alternative accommodation — which on most platforms, you're paying for.

The cost you don't see right away

Booking platforms track cancellations, late check-ins, and guest complaints as signals, and they factor into how often your listing gets shown. One bad turnover rarely tanks a listing on its own, but a pattern of near-misses — even ones that technically got resolved — quietly erodes visibility over months. By the time a host notices bookings have slowed, the cause is often three or four small incidents back.

The cost that compounds

A guest who checks into a property that wasn't ready doesn't just leave a review about the cleaning. They review the whole stay through that lens — the WiFi that was actually fine reads as "unreliable," the check-in process that was actually smooth reads as "stressful." One rough start colors everything that follows in the guest's account of the trip, and that's what future guests read.

Why "good enough" cleaning coverage isn't the same as reliable coverage

Plenty of hosts have a cleaner they trust. Fewer have a backup plan for when that cleaner is sick, stuck in traffic, or double-booked during a busy weekend. The risk isn't usually the cleaner's competence — it's the single point of failure when there's no confirmed backup and no way to know a job is actually happening until someone shows up (or doesn't).

Reducing the exposure

The fix isn't necessarily more cleaners — it's visibility before the gap closes. Knowing a job is confirmed hours ahead of checkout, not assumed, is what turns "I think someone's coming" into "I know someone's coming." That's the gap Kleanly's confirmation step is built to close — a host sees a job confirmed before the guest checks out, not after something's already gone wrong.

Kleanly cleaners are trained on short-term rental standards, and choose the right level of clean for each turnover. Book a clean

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How Kleanly vets every cleaner before their first job

Kleanly Team · 3 min read · Oct 2, 2026

Every cleaner goes through identity verification, a background check, and a guided orientation on our cleaning standards before their first job.

Step one: applying

A cleaner applies with basic information and their service area in Calgary. This isn't a long form by design — the friction that matters is verification, not paperwork.

Step two: identity and background verification

Before anyone is eligible for a job, their identity is confirmed and a standard background check is run. This is a hard gate, not a formality — no orientation happens until this step clears.

Step three: orientation on the checklist, not a lecture

Rather than a long manual or a mandatory training video, orientation is built around Kleanly's actual guided checklist — the same photo-based, step-by-step format a cleaner will use on every real job. The idea is to teach the standard by walking through it in the format it'll be used, so what's learned in orientation is exactly what shows up on the first real turnover.

Why photos instead of a lengthy manual review

Kleanly uses a guided checklist with clear photo prompts for the areas that matter most. Video walkthroughs reviewed by a person or automated assessments of cleaning footage add friction without adding much reliability. The checklist helps reduce disputes by showing both the cleaner and the host exactly what "done" looks like, without turning onboarding into a bottleneck.

What this means for a host

A cleaner showing up to your property has cleared identity verification, a background check, and has walked through the same checklist format they'll use on your job — before they were ever matched to it. It's not a guarantee nothing will ever go wrong. It's a floor, and it's the same floor for every cleaner on the platform.

Kleanly cleaners are trained in the cleaning techniques covered across our blog, and choose their methods based on the type of cleaning and what each job needs. Book a clean

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Linen management 101 for short-term rental hosts

Kleanly Team · 6 min read · Oct 1, 2026

Guests notice linens before almost anything else — here's how to keep par levels, laundering, and wear tracking from becoming a recurring headache.

Why linens carry outsized weight with guests

A guest's first real physical contact with your property is usually the bed. Crisp, clean linens read as "well cared for" almost instantly — and the reverse is just as fast. It's one of the few things nearly every guest evaluates without needing to be prompted.

Par levels: how many sets do you actually need

A common rule of thumb is three full sets per bed: one on the bed, one in the wash, one in reserve for same-day turnovers or a laundering delay. For a property with frequent back-to-back bookings, two sets often isn't enough buffer — a single late laundry cycle can leave a turnover short.

In-house laundering vs. outsourcing

Washing linens yourself is cheaper per cycle but adds a time constraint to every turnover — someone has to be available to run and dry a load between guests, which is exactly the kind of tight-timing risk covered in our turnover timing post. Outsourcing to a laundering service removes that constraint but adds a per-cycle cost and one more vendor to coordinate. Most hosts land somewhere in between: in-house for slower weeks, outsourced for high-turnover stretches.

Spotting wear before a guest does

Linens degrade gradually — thinning fabric, faint staining that doesn't fully wash out, elastic wearing out on fitted sheets. A quick visual check during folding (not just after washing) catches most of this before it reaches a guest. A simple rule that works well: if you'd hesitate to use it in your own home, retire it.

How this fits into a Kleanly turnover

Linen and towel reset is a standard part of every Kleanly turnover checklist — not an add-on you have to remember to request — with a photo confirmation showing the change was completed. Restocking and wear-flagging (if something's visibly past its useful life) are logged as part of the same completion report.

Kleanly cleaners are trained in linen and towel resets, and choose the right process for each turnover. Book a clean

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The five rules behind every good clean

Kleanly Team · 3 min read · Jan 6, 2026

Most cleaning mistakes come down to doing the right things in the wrong order. These five rules fix that.

Good cleaning isn't about working harder. It's about order and patience. The same five rules apply whether you're turning over a short-term rental in 90 minutes or doing a Saturday reset at home.

1. Work from top to bottom

Dust, crumbs and drips fall. Start with light fixtures, shelves, frames and counters, and finish with the floor. If you clean the floor first, the next thing you dust undoes it.

Within a room, work in one direction too, say left to right, so you never wonder what you've already done. Across the home, start with the hardest rooms (kitchen and bathroom) while your energy is highest, then do the easier ones.

2. Dry before wet

Dust and vacuum before you spray or mop. Wet dust turns into smears and mud, and a mop pushes loose grit around the floor and can scratch it.

The usual order is: declutter, dust, vacuum or sweep, wipe, then mop.

3. Let the product do the work

Most cleaning products need time on the surface to break down soil. This is called dwell time, and skipping it is the main reason people end up scrubbing harder.

• Spray, then move on to something else for a few minutes.
• Heavy build-up (oven grease, soap scum) needs longer. A baking soda oven paste, for example, is left on for 20 minutes or more.
• Don't let a product dry on the surface unless the label says it's fine.

The labelled contact time on a disinfectant is part of how it works, not a suggestion. We cover that in post 8.

4. Clean first, then disinfect

Cleaning removes soil. Disinfecting kills germs. Dirt shields germs and uses up the disinfectant, so a disinfectant sprayed over a dirty surface does much less.

Clean the surface, then apply the disinfectant and keep it wet for the contact time on the label. Prioritize high-touch spots (handles, switches, taps, remotes) and bathrooms. Not every surface needs disinfecting every time, and using it everywhere adds cost and fumes without much benefit.

5. Right tool, right surface

The wrong product on the wrong surface causes more damage than dirt does. A few examples:

• Acids such as vinegar and lemon etch natural stone.
• Abrasive pads dull glossy finishes and scratch acrylic.
• Too much water damages laminate and unsealed wood.

When you're unsure, test in a hidden spot first, and start with the gentlest option that could work. The rest of this series covers which products and tools suit which surfaces.

Finish with a walkthrough

Before you leave, walk through each room and look at it from a low angle with a window or lamp to the side. Streaks, smears and dust catch the light from there, and you'll miss them looking straight on. Close cupboard and closet doors, check that bins have fresh liners, and ask what the room would look like to someone arriving for the first time.

A written checklist helps here. It's what makes the tenth clean as consistent as the first.

Next in the series: post 2, the cloths and sponges that do most of the work.

Kleanly cleaners are trained to work this way, top to bottom and dry before wet, and choose the method and product for each surface based on the type of clean and what your home needs. Book a clean

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Microfiber, sponges and cloths: which to use where

Kleanly Team · 3 min read · Jan 20, 2026

The humble cloth does more of the work than any product. Here is how to choose, colour-code and care for yours.

If you only upgrade one thing in your cleaning kit, make it your cloths.

Why microfiber works

Microfiber is made of extremely fine synthetic fibres. They have a large surface area, so they lift and hold dust, oils and a lot of bacteria instead of pushing them around. That's why a damp microfiber cloth often cleans well with little or no product, and why it's gentle enough for most surfaces.

Use it for: dusting (a lightly damp cloth traps dust better than a dry one or a feather duster), wiping counters, polishing stainless steel and chrome, and buffing glass.

The trade-offs

• Care matters. Wash microfiber without fabric softener or bleach, since both clog the fibres. Dry on low heat or air-dry. Cloths that feel slick or smeary are often clogged and need a wash.
• Lint and shedding. Never wash microfiber with towels or other lint-heavy laundry.
• Microplastics. Synthetic fibres shed tiny plastic fragments in the wash. A washing-machine filter or a laundry bag reduces that, and washing less often at full loads helps.
• Rough hands snag it. Dry, cracked hands catch on the fibres, so moisturize and wear gloves.

Colour-code your cloths

Cross-contamination is the biggest hygiene mistake in home cleaning: the cloth that wiped the toilet then wipes the counter. A simple colour system prevents it.

The exact colours don't matter. Consistency does. Keep a separate set for each, and never swap.

Sponges and scrub pads

• Cellulose sponges are good for sinks and wiping up spills but hold moisture, and bacteria grow in them. Replace them often (every week or two with regular use) and never use the same sponge across the kitchen and bathroom.
• Non-scratch scrub pads are the safe default for pots, sinks, tubs and appliance racks.
• Abrasive green pads are for tough baked-on soil on surfaces that can take it, like steel pans and some sinks. Never use them on non-stick, acrylic, glass cooktops or glossy finishes.
• Melamine sponges (the "magic eraser" type) work like very fine sandpaper. They remove scuffs well but can dull glossy paint, polished surfaces and some finishes, so test first and keep the pressure light.
• Steel wool is rarely the right answer indoors. It scratches and leaves particles that rust.

You'll sometimes see advice to sanitize a sponge in the microwave. The evidence for that is mixed and it's a fire risk, so replacing the sponge is simpler and safer.

How many cloths do you need?

More than you think. A cloth that's full of soil spreads it, so a good rule is to swap for a clean cloth when the current one is grey or damp through. For a two-bathroom home, six to ten cloths in rotation covers a full clean.

At Kleanly, cleaners bring their own supplies and equipment, so cloths and tools are part of their kit, not yours to provide.

Next in the series: post 3, brushes.

Kleanly cleaners are trained in choosing the right cloth and tool for each surface, and choose based on the type of clean you've booked and what the job needs. Book a clean

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A guide to cleaning brushes

Kleanly Team · 3 min read · Feb 3, 2026

Grout brush, toothbrush, bottle brush, toilet brush: what each is for, and which bristles damage which surfaces.

Brushes reach what cloths can't: grout lines, seals, crevices, corners. Picking the right bristle for the surface is the difference between a clean result and a scratched one.

Bristle types

Start with the softest brush that could work. Move to a stiffer one only if the first doesn't shift the soil.

Brushes worth owning

• Old toothbrush or small detail brush. For fridge door seals, window tracks, taps, drains and around handles. It's the single most useful brush in the kit.
• Grout brush. A narrow head with stiff bristles, sometimes angled. Work along the grout line, not across it.
• Long-handled scrub brush. For tubs, showers and floors, so you're not kneeling.
• Toilet brush. Stiff and with a flared head to reach under the rim. Give it a dedicated holder and replace it every few months or when the bristles splay.
• Bottle brush. For narrow glassware, vases, travel mugs and sports bottles.
• Dish brush. Better than a sponge on pots because it dries out between uses.
• Duster or soft paintbrush. For vents, blinds, picture frames and anything delicate.

Technique

1. Apply the cleaner and give it time to work. Dwell time (post 1) saves scrubbing.
2. Use short, controlled strokes, with the pressure from your wrist and not your whole arm.
3. Wipe away the loosened soil as you go so it isn't rubbed back in.
4. Rinse the surface, and rinse the brush too.

The limits

• Grout wears. Aggressive brushing on unsealed or old grout wears it down. If grout is crumbling, cleaning won't fix it. It needs re-grouting or sealing.
• Bristles don't fix stains that have soaked in. If a stain stays after proper dwell time and a gentle scrub, more force usually damages the surface without lifting it.
• Don't use one brush for everything. A brush that's been in the toilet shouldn't touch the kitchen. Colour-code, as with cloths.

Caring for brushes

• Rinse well after use and shake out the water.
• Let them dry with the bristles down or hung up, so water drains out and doesn't sit in the base.
• Disinfect the toilet brush after cleaning by soaking it briefly in disinfectant, following the label's contact time. Then let it dry before returning it to its holder.
• Replace any brush with bent or flattened bristles.

Next in the series: post 4, baking soda.

Kleanly cleaners are trained to match the brush to the surface, and choose the right one for the job instead of scrubbing harder. Book a clean

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Baking soda: what it does well and where it falls short

Kleanly Team · 3 min read · Feb 17, 2026

A gentle abrasive and a mild odour absorber. Useful, but not the miracle cleaner the internet makes it out to be.

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is cheap, widely available and gentle enough to be safe around most homes. It's useful, but it has real limits.

What it actually does

• Mild alkalinity. In water it's a weak alkali, which helps loosen light grease and oily film.
• Gentle abrasion. The fine crystals are softer than most household surfaces, so a damp paste can scrub without much scratching.
• Odour absorption. It neutralizes some odours, both acidic and alkaline ones, rather than just masking them.

It does not disinfect, and it's too mild to cut heavy grease on its own.

Where it works well

• Oven interior. Mix about half a cup of baking soda with enough water to make a spreadable paste. Spread it inside (avoiding heating elements), leave it for at least 20 minutes or overnight for heavy build-up, then wipe with a damp cloth. A light vinegar spray at the end neutralizes any residue and leaves a streak-free finish.
• Grout and tile. Use a paste with a stiff brush. For best results, scrub the paste in first and spray vinegar after (see post 12 for why the order matters).
• Sinks, tubs and stovetops. Sprinkle on a damp surface and scrub with a cloth or non-scratch pad. It lifts light stains without harsh fumes.
• Fridge odours. An open box absorbs some odour, but the effect is modest. The real fix is removing the source: clean the shelves and seals, and throw out what's gone off. Most makers suggest replacing the box about once a month.
• Carpets and upholstery. Sprinkle a thin layer, leave it 15–30 minutes, then vacuum. Use a light dusting, since thick layers clog vacuum filters.
• Smelly containers. A paste or a soak in baking soda and water refreshes plastic containers and travel mugs.

Where it falls short

• Heavy grease and baked-on food. It needs a proper degreaser or oven cleaner and more time.
• Disinfecting. Not a substitute for a labelled disinfectant.
• Hard water scale. Alkalis don't dissolve mineral deposits. Acids do (post 5).
• The fizz trick. Pouring baking soda and vinegar together makes a dramatic foam, but the two neutralize each other, leaving mostly salty water. They work better one after the other than together. For drains, the fizz can move light residue but won't clear a real clog.

Surfaces to be careful with

• Bare aluminum. Alkaline cleaners can dull or darken it.
• Polished or high-gloss surfaces, and soft materials like some acrylic, can show fine scratches or haze. Test first.
• Natural stone sealers. Repeated scrubbing can wear them.

Tips

• Make paste as you need it, about three parts baking soda to one part water.
• Rinse well afterwards. Dried baking soda leaves a chalky film, especially on dark surfaces.
• Keep a shaker with holes in the lid for sprinkling. It saves waste.

Next in the series: post 5, white vinegar.

Kleanly cleaners are trained in when baking soda helps and when a stronger product is the better choice, and choose based on the surface and the level of build-up. Book a clean

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White vinegar: where it shines and what never to use it on

Kleanly Team · 3 min read · Mar 3, 2026

Vinegar is brilliant on hard-water spots and soap scum. It's also the cause of a lot of damaged stone, grout and floors.

White vinegar is about 5% acetic acid. That acidity is what makes it useful, and it's also why it needs care.

What it's good at

Acids dissolve mineral deposits. That makes vinegar effective on:

• Hard-water spots and limescale on taps, shower doors, kettles and glass. This matters in Calgary, where the City describes the water as hard (more in post 7).
• Soap scum, which is partly made of minerals. A vinegar spray softens it so a cloth can lift it.
• Streak-free glass and stainless steel. A diluted mix (roughly one part vinegar to three parts water) cuts film without leaving residue. Stainless cleans well with a light spray and a dry cloth wiped with the grain.
• Microwave steam. A tablespoon in a bowl of water, heated for about five minutes, loosens baked-on splatter.
• Rinse aid for residue. A light spray neutralizes leftover baking soda.

For descaling a showerhead, soak it in a bag of vinegar for 30 minutes to an hour, then rinse and wipe. Check the finish first (see below).

What it's poor at

• Grease. Acids don't cut fat. Use a degreaser (post 8).
• Disinfecting. Vinegar has some antimicrobial effect, but it isn't a registered disinfectant, so it isn't a substitute for one where germs matter.
• Heavy dirt. It dissolves minerals and doesn't lift oily soil.

Never use vinegar on

• Natural stone such as marble, travertine, limestone and some granite. The acid etches the surface, leaving dull patches that can't be wiped off. This is the most common vinegar damage.
• Waxed or unfinished wood, and some sealed floors. Several flooring manufacturers advise against vinegar for hardwood and laminate.
• Unsealed grout, over time. Repeated acid wears away the cement.
• Some plated or lacquered fixtures. Prolonged contact can damage the finish. Check the maker's care guide.
• Rubber seals in dishwashers and washing machines, with regular use. Some manufacturers specifically advise against it.
• Electronics and screens.
• Anything containing bleach. Never mix them (post 9). Health Canada specifically names acids such as vinegar as dangerous to combine with bleach.

How to use it

• General cleaning: about one part vinegar to one to three parts water in a spray bottle. Label the bottle.
• Heavy scale: use it undiluted, and let it sit for 10–15 minutes before wiping.
• Smell: it fades within minutes as it dries. Essential oils added to a vinegar spray are mostly cosmetic and can leave marks on some surfaces.
• Rinse surfaces after long contact so the acid doesn't keep working.

Natural isn't the same as harmless

Vinegar is food-safe, but it's still an acid. It irritates eyes and skin, and it damages some surfaces. Use gloves on cracked hands and keep it off stone entirely.

Next in the series: post 6, lemon.

Kleanly cleaners are trained to know which surfaces can take acids like vinegar and which can't, and choose the right cleaner for each surface and need. Book a clean

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Lemon: a good descaler, a poor all-rounder

Kleanly Team · 3 min read · Mar 17, 2026

Citric acid does real work on limescale and stains. The fresh scent does less than you'd think.

Lemon is a popular cleaning ingredient. Some of its reputation is earned, and some comes from the pleasant smell.

What actually does the work

Lemon juice contains citric acid, a mild acid that, like vinegar, dissolves mineral deposits. The fresh scent comes from oils in the peel and is mostly cosmetic.

Where it works well

• Limescale on taps, kettles and showerheads. Lemon juice or citric acid works the same way vinegar does, with a more pleasant smell. For kettles, boil water with a few slices or a spoonful of citric acid, let it stand, then rinse and boil fresh water before using it.
• Chopping boards (wood and plastic). Sprinkle with coarse salt, rub with a cut lemon half, leave for a few minutes, then rinse. It helps lift stains and light odours. It doesn't sanitize.
• Microwave. Put a few lemon slices in a bowl of water, heat for about five minutes, and wipe the loosened splatter. Most of the work is done by the steam, with the lemon adding scent.
• Copper and brass (lemon with salt). It brightens tarnish on pots and decorative pieces that aren't lacquered.
• Refreshing the bin or sink. Rinds in a disposal are a pleasant extra, but not a deep clean.

Where it falls short

• Grease. Acid won't cut fat, so use a degreaser.
• Disinfecting. Lemon isn't a registered disinfectant.
• Consistency. The acid content of fresh lemons varies, and juice also contains sugars and pulp that leave a sticky film if not rinsed. Citric acid powder is cheaper and more predictable for descaling. Follow the pack directions, which typically suggest a tablespoon or two per litre of water.

Surfaces to avoid

• Natural stone (marble, travertine, limestone): the acid etches it, as with vinegar.
• Unsealed grout, over time.
• Wood finishes and painted surfaces.
• Delicate fabrics, where juice can leave marks and lighten colour, especially in sunlight.

Wear gloves too. Lemon juice on skin, followed by sun, can cause a burn-like reaction in some people.

Lemon vs vinegar

For most jobs they're interchangeable. Pick vinegar for cost and consistency, and lemon or citric acid when you want a gentler smell.

Next in the series: post 7, water.

Kleanly cleaners are trained in using mild acids such as lemon or citric acid only where the surface and the job call for it. Book a clean

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Water: the most underrated cleaning product

Kleanly Team · 3 min read · Mar 31, 2026

Temperature, hardness and quantity change cleaning results more than most people realize, especially in Calgary.

We spend a lot of attention on products and almost none on the water. Three things matter: how hot it is, how hard it is, and how much of it you use.

Temperature

• Warm to hot water dissolves grease and sugary soil faster. It's the right choice for greasy dishes, stovetops and most mopping.
• Cold water is better for protein stains like blood, egg and milk. Heat sets them.
• Check the label. Some disinfectants and fabrics specify a water temperature.
• Very hot water can damage some finishes, crack cold glass, and burn you.

Don't assume hotter is always better. For delicate fabrics and surfaces, lukewarm is usually enough.

Hardness, and why Calgary is a hard-water city

Hard water carries dissolved calcium and magnesium. It leaves white spots on glass and taps, scale in kettles and showerheads, and makes soap lather poorly.

The City of Calgary describes the city's water as "hard." It reports hardness of about 141–200 mg/L (as calcium carbonate) from the Bearspaw plant and 181–274 mg/L from Glenmore, with the lowest levels during spring snowmelt. The City also notes there are no known health effects from these minerals.

In practice, that means:

• Water spots are normal. Dry-buff taps, glass and stainless after cleaning, since water left to evaporate leaves minerals behind.
• Acids are useful. Vinegar or citric acid dissolves scale (posts 5 and 6). Don't use them on stone.
• Use less soap. Hard water doesn't rinse soap well, so extra detergent just leaves more film.
• Distilled or demineralized water helps in some places. It leaves no spots, so it's ideal for a final glass wipe and for steam cleaners, where scale builds up inside the machine. Many manufacturers recommend it in hard-water areas, so check your manual.

Softening your water is a personal decision with costs and maintenance. The City recommends researching the options before deciding.

Quantity

Too much water is a more common problem than too little.

• Laminate, engineered wood and unsealed wood swell and warp when water seeps into the seams. Use a well-wrung, damp mop (post 11).
• Electronics and appliance controls: wipe with a lightly damp cloth, and never spray directly.
• Mirrors: liquid can creep behind the edge and damage the backing, leaving black marks. Spray the cloth near the edges.

Plain water is often enough

A clean, damp microfiber cloth removes a surprising amount of everyday dust, fingerprints and light film. Before reaching for a product, ask whether water and a cloth would do. It's cheaper, gentler and leaves nothing behind.

Quick reference

Sources: City of Calgary: water quality, water hardness and water data

Next in the series: post 8, choosing between cleaners.

Kleanly cleaners are trained to adjust water temperature and amount to the surface and the stain, so each job gets only as much water as it needs. Book a clean

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All-purpose, degreaser, disinfectant: which one you need

Kleanly Team · 3 min read · Apr 14, 2026

Cleaning, degreasing and disinfecting are three different jobs. Using the wrong one wastes money and sometimes damages surfaces.

A cupboard full of sprays can be reduced to a simple rule: acids for minerals, alkalis for grease, and neutral for anything delicate. Disinfectant is a separate job altogether.

The main types

Cleaning is not disinfecting

Cleaning removes dirt. Disinfecting kills germs. A disinfectant won't work well on a dirty surface, because soil shields germs and uses up the product. Always clean first.

Reading a disinfectant label

• DIN. In Canada, disinfectants must carry a Drug Identification Number (DIN), an eight-digit number from Health Canada. If a product claims to kill germs and has no DIN, it isn't an approved disinfectant.
• Contact time. The label lists how long the surface must stay visibly wet, typically several minutes. A quick spray and wipe doesn't meet it.
• Rinsing. Surfaces that touch food usually need a rinse after the contact time. Follow the label.
• Sanitizer vs disinfectant. A sanitizer reduces germs to a safer level. A disinfectant makes stronger kill claims. They aren't interchangeable.

You don't need to disinfect everything. Focus on toilets, taps, door handles, switches, remotes and anywhere raw food has been. A regular wipe-down with all-purpose cleaner is enough for most other surfaces.

Using a degreaser well

1. Spray on a cool surface and give it a few minutes (follow the label).
2. Agitate with a non-scratch pad or brush on baked-on areas.
3. Wipe off with a damp cloth, then rinse the surface. Degreaser residue attracts dirt, and on food surfaces it should not be left behind.
4. Dry and buff.

Warm water helps because heat softens fat. Cold, hardened grease is much harder to remove.

Oven cleaner is a different product

Commercial oven cleaners are strongly caustic. Use gloves and eye protection, ventilate, and keep them off aluminum. Check the oven's manual first, since many self-cleaning ovens advise against them. A baking soda paste is a gentler alternative for light to moderate build-up (post 4), though it takes longer.

"Natural" and "green" labels

These labels aren't regulated in a way that guarantees safety or performance. A plant-based cleaner can still irritate skin or damage a surface, and a "natural" product isn't a disinfectant unless it has a DIN. Read the ingredients and instructions as you would for any other product.

A minimal cupboard

For most homes, four products cover almost everything:

1. An all-purpose cleaner.
2. A degreaser for the kitchen.
3. A bathroom descaler or a vinegar or citric acid solution (not for stone).
4. A DIN-labelled disinfectant for toilets and high-touch points.

Add a glass cleaner, a stone-safe cleaner if you have stone, and an oven cleaner if you use one, and you're set.

Next in the series: post 9, what never to mix.

Kleanly cleaners are trained in the difference between cleaning, degreasing and disinfecting, and choose the right product for each job. Book a clean

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Never mix these: a cleaning safety guide

Kleanly Team · 3 min read · Apr 28, 2026

Some everyday cleaning products produce toxic gas when combined. Here is what to keep apart, and what to do if it happens.

Most cleaning accidents at home happen when someone combines two products, thinking more power will help. It doesn't, and some combinations are dangerous.

Health Canada's guidance is blunt: never mix household chemical products, because some mixtures produce harmful gases. It specifically names bleach combined with glass cleaners, other products containing ammonia, or acids such as vinegar.

The combinations to know

The first two are the most common causes of accidents. Many people don't realize that their toilet cleaner, tub cleaner or limescale remover is acidic, or that their glass cleaner contains ammonia.

Using products one after another

Mixing in the bottle is only part of the risk. Applying products in sequence on the same surface can also react.

• Rinse and wait between products. In a toilet, don't add bleach on top of a descaler or an acidic bowl cleaner.
• Ventilate. Open a window or run the exhaust fan during and after use.
• Use one product at a time, finish, rinse, then move on.

Safe habits

• Keep products in their original containers. The label tells you what's in it and what to do in an emergency. Never put cleaner in a drink bottle.
• Label every spray bottle you fill yourself, with the contents and the dilution.
• Wear gloves, and eye protection for oven cleaner, drain cleaner and anything splashy.
• Don't mix leftover amounts of different products "to use them up."
• Store out of reach of children and pets. Health Canada advises keeping products tightly closed, in their original containers, and out of sight.
• Read the hazard symbols and signal words (Caution, Danger, Extreme danger) on the label.
• Store solvents and fuels outside the living space.

Natural products still need care

Vinegar and lemon are food ingredients, but they're acids. Combined with bleach, vinegar releases chlorine gas, and combined with peroxide it forms a corrosive acid. Natural doesn't mean combinable.

If it happens

1. Leave the area immediately and get fresh air. Open windows and doors behind you if it's safe to do so.
2. Keep others and pets out.
3. If anyone has trouble breathing, is unconscious, or is having a seizure, call 911.
4. For other symptoms or advice, call Alberta's Poison and Drug Information Service at 1-800-332-1414, available 24 hours a day. Outside Alberta, use your local poison centre.
5. Have the product containers on hand so you can read the labels to the operator.
6. Ventilate for a good while before going back in.

A good rule of thumb

If you want a stronger result, use the right product, give it more time, and use some friction. Don't add another chemical.

Sources: Health Canada: use household chemicals safely · MyHealth Alberta: poison and drug information

Next in the series: post 10, steam cleaning.

Kleanly cleaners are trained in product safety, including which products must never be combined, and use one product at a time with ventilation in mind. Book a clean

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Steam cleaning: what it's good for and what it can ruin

Kleanly Team · 3 min read · May 12, 2026

Steam cleans without chemicals and reaches into grout and crevices. It also warps laminate and cracks cold glass.

Steam cleaners use hot water vapour to loosen and lift soil. They're a good tool in the right places and an expensive mistake in the wrong ones.

How it works

Heat and moisture soften grease, loosen stuck-on grime and lift dirt from textured surfaces and gaps. A cloth or pad then wipes it away. It uses only water, so it cuts down on chemical products.

Where steam works well

• Sealed tile and grout. It loosens dirt in grout lines that brushes struggle to reach.
• Shower glass, taps and fixtures. It dissolves soap film and light scale.
• Stovetops, oven doors and range hoods. It softens baked-on grease.
• Sealed, finished hard floors (check the manufacturer's guidance).
• Upholstery, curtains and mattresses, if the care label allows steam.
• Hard-to-reach crevices, such as door seals and window tracks, with a small nozzle.

Where steam causes damage

Heat and moisture damage materials that aren't sealed or that are held together with glue.

Many "sealed" floors still have worn spots or seams where moisture gets in, and some manufacturers void warranties for steam. Check your flooring's care instructions before buying a steam mop.

Calgary note: don't point steam at very cold window glass in winter. The temperature difference is the risk.

What steam doesn't do

• It isn't a labelled disinfectant. Steam can reduce germs if applied long enough at a high enough temperature, but the temperature drops quickly at the surface, and results depend on how long and how close you hold it. Where you need a documented kill claim, use a disinfectant with a DIN (post 8).
• It doesn't remove soil chemically. Melted grease re-solidifies and smears if you don't wipe it up straight away.
• It doesn't replace a clean. You still sweep or vacuum first.

Pros and cons

Using a steam cleaner well

1. Sweep or vacuum first.
2. Test a small hidden area.
3. Keep the nozzle moving. Don't hold it on one spot, especially on floors.
4. Wipe straight away with a clean microfiber cloth so loosened soil doesn't settle back.
5. Use distilled water if your tap water is hard, and follow the manual on descaling.
6. Use water only, unless the manufacturer says otherwise. Vinegar, scents and cleaners can damage seals.
7. Keep it away from outlets, electronics and people. The steam is hot enough to scald.
8. Wash the pads after each use, without fabric softener.

Is it worth buying one?

If you have a lot of sealed tile, a chemical-sensitive household, or you want a no-chemical option for grout and glass, probably yes. If most of your flooring is laminate, engineered wood or vinyl plank, probably not.

Next in the series: post 11, mops.

Kleanly cleaners are trained to match the cleaning method to the surface and the need, and to avoid methods that could damage a finish. Book a clean

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Mops and floors: matching the tool to the surface

Kleanly Team · 3 min read · May 26, 2026

String, flat, spin or steam: each mop suits different floors. Here is how to choose one and use it without leaving streaks or damage.

Floors take up more of a home than any other surface, so a bad mop habit costs a lot. Choose the mop by the floor, not the other way round.

Types of mop

For most mixed-floor homes, a flat microfiber mop is the best all-rounder.

Match the cleaner to the floor

• Sealed hardwood, laminate and luxury vinyl plank: a pH-neutral floor cleaner, and a very well-wrung mop. Don't use vinegar, and don't flood the floor.
• Ceramic and porcelain tile: most mild cleaners work. Grout benefits from separate attention (post 12).
• Natural stone: a pH-neutral stone cleaner only. No vinegar, lemon or acidic products.
• Sheet vinyl and linoleum: a mild cleaner, with little water.

If you're unsure what the floor is, check the manufacturer's care guide or ask the owner.

Technique

1. Dry first. Vacuum or sweep so you're not mopping up grit.
2. Use the two-bucket method where you can: one bucket with cleaning solution and one with rinse water. Dip the mop in the solution, wring it, mop, then rinse the mop in the second bucket before dipping again. This stops you spreading dirty water.
3. Start at the farthest corner and work toward the exit so you never step on a wet floor.
4. Work in sections, and overlap passes.
5. Change the water when it gets cloudy. Dirty water just redistributes dirt.
6. Let it dry, with the windows open or a fan on if you can. Block off wet areas so no one slips.

Wring it out

On hardwood, laminate and vinyl plank, the mop should be damp, not wet. Water that pools in seams can swell the material. If you can see a film of water on the floor that takes more than a minute or two to disappear, the mop was too wet.

Streaks and haze

Streaks usually come from too much product, dirty water or the wrong cleaner. Use less cleaner than you think you need. In hard-water areas like Calgary, a rinse pass with clean water, or a final dry buff, cuts down on residue.

Winter floors in Calgary

Ice-melt salt tracks in as a white film that scratches and dulls floors. Sweep or vacuum first (salt grit is abrasive), then damp mop with plain warm water, since the salt dissolves, followed by a pass with your cleaner. Mats at every entrance reduce the problem a lot.

Looking after your mop

• Microfiber pads: launder after each use, without fabric softener, and dry fully.
• String mops: rinse, wring and hang to dry so they don't sour.
• Buckets: rinse and store upside down.
• Replace mop heads when they're matted, thin or smell even after washing.

Next in the series: post 12, bathrooms.

Kleanly cleaners are trained to match mop, cleaner and moisture level to each floor type, and choose based on the floor and the clean you've booked. Book a clean

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Bathrooms: soap scum, grout and mildew

Kleanly Team · 3 min read · Jun 9, 2026

Bathrooms combine moisture, minerals, soap and germs. Different problems need different products, and the right order.

Bathrooms are the room people dread most and the one guests judge hardest. They're easier if you treat each problem separately.

What you're actually dealing with

• Soap scum: a film of soap and body oils bound with minerals from hard water.
• Limescale: mineral deposits from hard water.
• Mildew and mould: growth in damp, poorly ventilated spots.
• Germs, particularly on toilets, taps and handles.

The order of work

1. Declutter the counters, shelves and floor.
2. Spray first, scrub later. Apply cleaners to the shower, tub and sink and let them work while you do the next step.
3. Toilet: apply disinfectant under the rim and around the bowl, leave it for its contact time, then scrub.
4. Mirrors and counters: glass cleaner on mirrors, all-purpose cleaner on counters.
5. Go back to the shower and tub: scrub, rinse and wipe the glass and taps.
6. Sink and taps: clean, disinfect and polish.
7. Floor last: sweep or vacuum, then mop, with extra attention behind the toilet and under cabinets.

Use top-to-bottom order and dedicated cloths. The toilet cloth never touches anything else (post 2).

Soap scum

Soap scum has two parts, so it needs two approaches.

• An acidic bathroom cleaner (or a vinegar spray, on surfaces that tolerate acid) dissolves the mineral part.
• Time and a non-scratch pad do the rest.

Spray, wait several minutes, scrub with a non-scratch pad, and rinse. Corners and the base of the tub collect the most. On acrylic and fibreglass tubs, avoid abrasive powders and pads, which scratch.

Grout

Grout is porous and holds soil.

1. Apply a baking soda paste to dampened grout.
2. Scrub with a stiff grout brush along the line (post 3).
3. Spray vinegar afterwards to lift the residue, then rinse well.

A premixed "vinegar and baking soda" scrub is less effective than it sounds, because the two neutralize each other. The paste does the scrubbing, and the vinegar rinse removes residue and mineral film.

For stubborn stains, an oxygen-based bleach product (following its label) is gentler on grout than chlorine bleach. Don't use acids on natural stone tile.

The limits: if grout is crumbling or stained all the way through, cleaning won't fix it. It needs sealing, regrouting or re-caulking. Sealing cement-based grout periodically helps it resist stains.

Mildew and mould

• Clean small surface patches with a bathroom cleaner and a brush, rinse and dry thoroughly.
• Black staining in silicone caulk usually runs deep. Scrubbing won't remove it, and re-caulking is the fix.
• Prevention beats cure: run the exhaust fan during and after showers, squeegee the glass, and hang towels to dry.
• If mould keeps returning or covers large areas, there's a moisture problem that cleaning won't solve. Find the source.

Chrome and glass

• Polish chrome with a dry or barely damp microfiber cloth to remove water spots.
• Hard-water film on shower glass responds to vinegar spray, but check that the glass doesn't have a protective coating. Abrasives and strong acids can damage coatings.

Safety

Never mix bleach with a descaler or acidic cleaner, and ventilate the room. See post 9.

Next in the series: post 13, the kitchen.

Kleanly cleaners are trained in bathroom cleaning order and which products suit which problem, and choose based on whether the job is soap scum, grout, mildew or a regular turnover. Book a clean

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Kitchens: grease, appliances and the fridge

Kleanly Team · 3 min read · Jun 23, 2026

A practical routine for kitchen surfaces, plus step-by-step guidance for the fridge, oven and microwave.

The kitchen gets the most grease, food residue and foot traffic, so it needs a structured approach.

The routine

1. Declutter the counters, sink and floor.
2. Sink and taps: scrub, rinse and polish to remove water spots.
3. Surfaces, top to bottom: cabinet doors and handles, counters, backsplash, then appliance exteriors.
4. Degrease where needed, such as around the stove and range hood (post 8).
5. Appliance interiors if they're in scope.
6. Floor: sweep, then mop, with extra care in corners.
7. Bins: empty and replace the liner.

Keep a separate cloth for surfaces that touch raw meat, and a separate one for the rest of the kitchen.

Surfaces

• Stainless steel: wipe with the grain using a damp microfiber cloth, then dry. A light vinegar spray gives a streak-free finish. Avoid steel wool and chlorine bleach, which can cause pitting.
• Granite, quartz and marble: a pH-neutral cleaner only. Vinegar and lemon can etch or dull natural stone and damage sealer.
• Stovetop: lift grates and burner caps and soak them in warm soapy water. Degrease the surface. Don't use abrasives on glass cooktops.

The fridge

You'll need a mild detergent, microfiber cloths, a non-scratch pad, baking soda and a toothbrush or small brush.

1. Unplug it if you can, or work quickly.
2. Empty it. Put perishables in a cooler (try to keep them out of the cold for no more than about two hours) and throw out anything expired.
3. Remove shelves and drawers. Let glass shelves reach room temperature before washing them in hot water, because cold glass can crack from sudden heat.
4. Spray the interior and leave it for a couple of minutes.
5. Wipe, then use a toothbrush on crevices and door seals where crumbs collect.
6. Wash shelves and drawers in warm soapy water, rinse and dry fully.
7. Reassemble. Wipe sticky containers before they go back in, and group food by type, with everyday items easy to reach.
8. Add an open box of baking soda if you want (post 4).
9. Wipe the exterior, and the handles.
10. Plug it back in and check the temperature setting.

The oven

1. Remove racks and wash them separately.
2. Spread baking soda paste (about half a cup of baking soda with enough water to spread) or a commercial oven cleaner on the interior, avoiding the heating elements.
3. Leave for at least 20 minutes, longer for heavy grime.
4. Wipe with a damp cloth. Use a small brush on stubborn spots.
5. Finish with a light vinegar spray and a dry cloth.

Before you start: check the manual. Many self-cleaning ovens advise against commercial oven cleaner, which is also caustic. Wear gloves and eye protection and ventilate.

The microwave

1. Fill a microwave-safe bowl with water and add a few lemon slices or a tablespoon of vinegar.
2. Heat on high for about five minutes.
3. Wait a minute or two before moving the bowl. Very hot water in a smooth bowl can boil suddenly when disturbed.
4. Carefully remove the bowl and turntable, and wipe the inside.
5. Wash the turntable in warm soapy water.
6. Clean around the door and control panel with a small brush or cloth, keeping water away from openings.

How often?

Wipe surfaces and the stovetop regularly. The fridge, oven and microwave interiors are usually a periodic job, or an add-on in a standard clean. For short-term rentals, the fridge matters at turnover for any items left behind.

Next in the series: post 14, glass.

Kleanly cleaners are trained in kitchen and appliance cleaning, and choose methods by surface and by the type of clean booked. Book a clean

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Streak-free glass and mirrors

Kleanly Team · 3 min read · Jul 7, 2026

Streaks are almost always caused by too much product, the wrong cloth or the wrong conditions. Here is how to avoid them.

Clean glass changes how a room looks more than almost anything else. It's also where mistakes show most.

Why glass streaks

• Too much product. The leftover film is what you see as streaks.
• Dirty or linty cloths. Paper towels leave lint, and cloths with fabric softener residue smear.
• Cleaning in direct sun, where the liquid dries before you wipe it.
• Hard-water residue. In Calgary, tap water leaves mineral spots on glass.

What you need

• A squeegee for large windows.
• Clean, lint-free microfiber cloths (a waffle-weave glass cloth is ideal).
• Glass cleaner, or a weak vinegar solution (roughly one part vinegar to three parts water).
• A bucket of warm water.
• A small brush or toothbrush for corners, frames and tracks.

For a bucket solution, a drop or two of dish soap per litre is enough. More soap leaves streaks.

The method for windows

1. Prepare. Move furniture and curtains, and make sure you can reach safely.
2. Dust the frame, sill and edges first with a dry microfiber cloth or brush. Otherwise you'll push the dust into the wet glass.
3. Apply cleaner to the glass without soaking it. You want an even coat with no drips.
4. Wipe in small circles with a clean cloth to lift stubborn spots.
5. Squeegee from the top corner in a straight, vertical stroke, wiping the blade with a cloth after every stroke. Overlap the strokes down the pane.
6. Inspect and touch up with a clean cloth in small circles.
7. Wipe the sill, frame and handles with a damp cloth.

For small panes and mirrors, you can skip the squeegee and finish with a dry microfiber cloth.

Mirrors

• Spray the cloth, not the mirror, near the edges. Liquid that creeps behind the glass can damage the backing and leave black marks.
• Finish with a dry cloth and check from an angle.
• Frames and surrounds: a damp cloth only. Don't let cleaner soak into wood or gilded frames.

Conditions that help

• Work out of direct sun, or on a cloudy day or the shaded side first.
• Skip hot water on very cold glass. In a Calgary winter, a big temperature difference can stress the pane. Use room-temperature solution on cold windows.
• Use distilled water for the final rinse if you see spotting.

Fixing streaks

If you find streaks afterwards:

1. Don't add more product.
2. Wipe with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.
3. If streaks remain, lightly dampen a clean cloth with plain water, wipe, and dry-buff.

Tracks and sills

Vacuum loose dirt first. Use a brush with a little cleaner to loosen the rest, and wipe with a damp cloth. Window tracks are often forgotten, and they show up in a deep clean (post 15).

Surfaces to be careful with

• Tinted or coated glass: check for ammonia warnings and avoid abrasives.
• Shower glass with protective coatings: strong acids and abrasives can strip them.
• Screens: use a slightly damp microfiber cloth and no spray.

Next in the series: post 15, deep cleaning.

Kleanly cleaners are trained in streak-free glass technique, and choose the method and tools based on the glass, the conditions and the type of clean. Book a clean

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Deep cleaning: the places a regular clean skips

Kleanly Team · 3 min read · Jul 21, 2026

A regular clean keeps a home presentable. A deep clean reaches behind, under and above, and it should be planned, not improvised.

A regular clean covers visible surfaces. A deep clean is more intensive and goes after the places that build up soil quietly: behind furniture, inside appliances, around vents and along tracks.

What's in a deep clean

Kitchen

• Clear counters, shelves and drawers so everything is reachable.
• Degrease counters, backsplash and appliance surfaces, paying attention to corners and handles.
• Clean inside the oven (let oven cleaner sit 15–20 minutes, or use the longer baking soda method) and inside the fridge, including seals and handles (post 13).

Bathroom

• Scrub grout and fixtures, and remove soap scum and mildew in corners and at the base of the tub (post 12).
• Disinfect high-touch points with a labelled disinfectant, following the contact time.

Floors

• Vacuum edges and under furniture, then mop with a cleaner suited to the floor (post 11).

Living areas and bedrooms

• Dust thoroughly, high to low: ceiling fans, vents, picture frames, baseboards, sills.
• Use microfiber so the dust is trapped, not moved around. A damp cloth works better than a dry one.
• Clean behind and under large furniture.
• Wipe light fixtures, switch plates and air vents with a damp microfiber cloth. Turn lights off and let bulbs cool first.

Glass and frames

• Windows and mirrors, plus frames and tracks (post 14).

A few practical tips

• Ceiling fans: slip an old pillowcase over each blade and pull it back, so the dust ends up inside the case and not on the floor.
• Vents: vacuum first, then wipe. Remove the cover if it comes off easily.
• Baseboards: dust before you damp wipe, because wet dust smears.
• Top of cupboards and fridge: often thick with greasy dust. Use a degreaser on a cloth, not a spray.

Moving furniture

Behind a sofa or bed is where dust collects, but heavy furniture is a real injury and damage risk. Move only what you can lift safely, use sliders under feet, ask for help with large pieces, and protect the floor. If something is too heavy, tell the homeowner or host instead of forcing it.

How often

These are general guidelines. Adjust them for your home, pets, allergies and occupancy.

Regular clean vs deep clean

Plan, don't improvise

A deep clean goes better with a checklist and a clear scope. Agree what's included (inside the oven? inside cupboards? behind the sofa?) before starting, so nothing is missed and nothing is done that wasn't wanted. A walkthrough at the end confirms it.

On Kleanly, a deep clean is available as an add-on when you book a turnover, and every clean ends with a photo-verified checklist.

This is the last post in the series. Start from the beginning with post 1, "The five rules behind every good clean".

Kleanly cleaners are trained in deep cleaning, and choose the scope and methods based on what the home needs, from a regular clean to a full deep clean. Book a clean

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Terms of service

Last Updated: September 2, 2026

1. Acceptance of terms

Welcome to Kleanly, a home cleaning marketplace operated by Kleanly Services Inc. ("Kleanly," "we," "us," or "our"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Kleanly website, mobile applications, and related services (collectively, the "Platform"). By creating an account, booking a clean, applying to clean, or otherwise using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you may not use the Platform.

2. Description of service

Kleanly operates a two-sided marketplace that connects customers who book home cleaning services ("Customers") with independent cleaning professionals ("Cleaners") who perform those services. Kleanly facilitates scheduling, payment processing, and job verification through a photo checklist system, but Kleanly does not itself perform cleaning services.

3. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age to create an account or use the Platform, whether as a Customer or as a Cleaner. By using the Platform, you represent and warrant that you meet this age requirement and that you have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms.

4. Accounts and registration

To book a clean or accept cleaning jobs, you must register for an account and provide accurate, current, and complete information. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. You agree to notify us promptly of any unauthorized use of your account.

5. Bookings, pricing, and payment

Cleaning pricing is calculated based on the scope of the job, including property size, frequency, and any add-ons selected. The exact cost is shown to the Customer before a booking is confirmed. All payments on the Platform are processed through Stripe, a third-party payment processor. Kleanly does not store your full payment card details. When a Customer books a clean, payment is authorized but held, not charged, until the job is confirmed complete via the photo checklist. Funds are released to the Cleaner only once completion is confirmed. Once a job is confirmed complete, Cleaner payouts are typically released within one to two business days of confirmation.

6. Cancellations and refunds

Customers may cancel a scheduled clean free of charge, with a full refund of any authorized payment, provided the cancellation is made at least 48 hours before the scheduled start time. Cancellations made less than 48 hours before the scheduled start time are not eligible for a refund, as a Cleaner has likely already been matched and reserved that time for the job.

7. Cleaners are independent contractors

Cleaners who accept jobs through the Platform are independent contractors and are not employees, agents, partners, or joint venturers of Kleanly. Cleaners are solely responsible for the manner, means, and methods by which they perform cleaning services, for their own tools, supplies, and equipment, and for compliance with all applicable laws, including tax obligations arising from income earned through the Platform.

8. No liability insurance; disclaimer of liability

Kleanly does not carry liability insurance covering the acts, omissions, work quality, or property damage caused by Cleaners in the course of performing home cleaning services. Kleanly is a marketplace and scheduling platform; it is not a party to the cleaning service itself. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Kleanly disclaims all liability for any property damage, personal injury, theft, or other loss arising from or related to a Cleaner's performance of services booked through the Platform. Customers and Cleaners are encouraged to maintain their own appropriate insurance coverage.

9. Photo checklist and completion verification

Every cleaning job is verified through a guided photo checklist completed by the Cleaner at the end of the job. Customers may review the checklist and flag concerns before funds are released. Kleanly relies on the photo checklist as the primary basis for resolving disputes about whether a job was completed to the required standard.

10. User conduct

You agree not to use the Platform for any unlawful purpose, provide false or misleading information, circumvent the Platform to arrange payment for cleaning services outside of Kleanly after being introduced through it, harass or abuse other users, or attempt to interfere with the security or proper functioning of the Platform.

11. Dispute resolution between customers and cleaners

In the event of a dispute between a Customer and a Cleaner regarding job quality or completion, Kleanly will review the photo checklist and any other evidence provided and make a good-faith determination regarding release of held funds. Kleanly's determination in such disputes is final as between Kleanly and the party disputing a payment decision, but does not prevent either party from pursuing other legal remedies directly against the other party.

12. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Kleanly shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or related to your use of the Platform. Kleanly's total aggregate liability to you for any claim shall not exceed the total amount of fees paid by you to Kleanly in the twelve months preceding the event giving rise to the claim.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Kleanly and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including reasonable legal fees, arising out of or connected with your use of the Platform or your violation of these Terms.

14. Intellectual property

All content on the Platform, including text, graphics, logos, and software, is the property of Kleanly or its licensors and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

15. Termination

Kleanly may suspend or terminate your account at any time for conduct that violates these Terms. You may close your account at any time by contacting us.

16. Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Alberta and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. You agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in Calgary, Alberta.

17. Changes to these terms

Kleanly may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by an updated "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.

18. Contact us

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us at care@Kleanly.ca.

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Privacy policy

Last Updated: September 2, 2026

1. Introduction

Kleanly Services Inc., operating as Kleanly ("Kleanly," "we," "us," or "our"), is committed to protecting the privacy of individuals who use our website and mobile applications (collectively, the "Platform"). This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use and share it, and the choices available to you. Kleanly is based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and this Policy is designed to comply with Alberta's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and, where applicable, Canada's federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

2. Information we collect

We collect the following categories of personal information: Account Information (name, email address, phone number, and password, when you register as a Customer or Cleaner); Property Information (property address, size, and access details, when a Customer books a clean); Payment Information (billing details processed through our payment processor, Stripe — Kleanly does not directly store full payment card numbers); Identity and Background Information (identity verification and background check results, for Cleaners); Job and Checklist Data (photos submitted as part of the completion checklist, job notes, and scheduling information); and Usage Data (information about how you interact with the Platform, collected automatically through Google Analytics, including pages visited, device and browser type, and general location derived from IP address).

3. How we use your information

We use personal information to operate and improve the Platform, match Customers with Cleaners, process bookings and payments, verify Cleaner identity and eligibility, communicate with you about your account, bookings, or support requests, resolve disputes, detect and prevent fraud, and comply with legal obligations.

4. How we share your information

We share personal information only as necessary to operate the Platform: with Stripe, our payment processor, to process payments and payouts; with Supabase and Vercel, our hosting and infrastructure providers, who store and process data on our behalf on servers located in Canada; with Google Analytics, to understand aggregate usage of the Platform — Google Analytics is provided by Google LLC, a company based in the United States, and use of this tool may involve the transfer of usage data outside of Canada for processing, subject to Google's own privacy practices; between a Customer and the Cleaner matched to their job, to the extent necessary to complete a clean; and with law enforcement or regulators, where required by law. We do not sell personal information to third parties.

5. Data storage and security

Personal information is stored using Supabase and Vercel, both configured to store data on servers located in Canada. We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect personal information against unauthorized access, loss, or misuse, including encryption of payment data by Stripe and access controls on our infrastructure. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Cookies and tracking technologies

The Platform uses Google Analytics, which places cookies on your device to collect usage data as described above. You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings, though doing so may affect certain functionality of the Platform.

7. Data retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to provide the Platform, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Job and checklist records, including completion photos, are retained for a period sufficient to support dispute resolution and are deleted or anonymized when no longer needed for these purposes.

8. Your rights

Under Alberta's Personal Information Protection Act, you have the right to access the personal information we hold about you, request correction of inaccurate information, withdraw consent to certain uses of your information subject to legal or contractual restrictions, and request deletion of your account and associated personal information, subject to our legitimate need to retain certain records for legal or accounting purposes. To exercise any of these rights, contact us at care@Kleanly.ca.

9. Children's privacy

The Platform is not directed at, and may not be used by, individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from someone under 18, we will take steps to delete it.

10. Third-party links

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites or services. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party services, and we encourage you to review their respective privacy policies.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by an updated "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.

12. Contact us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us at care@Kleanly.ca.