Illustrations by Vidhya Nagarajan
You can simply rearrange the furniture in your home or totally redecorate, but if it isn’t clean, you’re not going to be thrilled. So in the theme of the issue, to love the house you’re in, we decided to research the best the city has to offer for getting the home you have in shipshape condition.
HOUSE CLEANERS
When you want your home to get a deep clean, you must first make some choices about what’s most important and then carefully explain those expectations to the service provider. Things like dusting ceiling fans, cleaning blinds, washing baseboards, clearing out the refrigerator, and scrubbing the oven might not be standard for that cleaning service. But those might be the exact reasons you’re seeking professional help. You might need to try out a few enterprises to find the perfect fit.
The Cleaning Authority
We learned something crucial for homeowners from this company: Many cleaning companies consider themselves to be cleaners and not maids. That means places such as The Cleaning Authority will only clean, which translates to no doing the dishes, no laundry, and no organizing. But as far as cleaning goes, the service does a spectacular job. Upon request, a specialized team will come and do ultrasonic blinds cleaning. A national company, The Cleaning Authority also offers window cleaning—and gift certificates. 314-416-8117, concord.thecleaningauthority.com.
Cleaning by House Beautiful
The company serves central and west St. Louis County. Homeowners receive the same cleaners on every visit, and the team brings its own supplies. A number of St. Louisans swear by the company. Some have Cleaning by House Beautiful come in monthly; some make sure to hire this business before friends and family descend for the holidays. 314-423-2121, housebeautifulonline.com.
Clean ’N’ Mama
The owner, Amanda Lopez, is both a wife and a mother, and she knows all too well about the difficulties of trying to do it all with limited time. When asked, she says she believes her greatest strength is in “detail cleaning. After years of cleaning for people, I know it’s important to them that I clean the baseboards, picture frames, and things like that. I clean their houses like I clean my own.” 314-479-1073.
The Dirt Collectors
Consider this service as being in the same vein as when you get your car detailed before listing it or slipping the For Sale sign on the dash. The Dirt Collectors offers complete home detailing, as well as basic home cleaning. Realtors absolutely love the service. 223 Salt Lick, Ste. 267, St. Peters, 636-734-1981, dirtcollectors.com.
Extra Step Cleaning Service
Extra Step uses a variety of green products. The cleaners can use your products, bring their own, or buy what you want and bring the products each time to your house only. The company says every customer has a different set of requests, and it will try to completely accommodate your needs. Services range from biweekly cleanings to your yearly spring cleaning. 314-365-3650, extrastepcleaning.com.
Herb’n Maid
What do you get when a research scientist and asthma-sufferer husband and wife start up a business? Herb’n Maid. The company defines green cleaning with the products it uses in homes. The cleaning team’s résumés are posted on the company’s website, in case you want to see who will come to your house before you commit to service. The website also offers an eco-concierge to help connect you with and book a variety of other services to help out with your home and personal needs. 314-371-1071, herbnmaid.com.
Marcela’s Cleaning
The owner joins the company’s cleaning team on the first visit to your home to ensure that all of your expectations are met. Marcela’s Cleaning offers a number of specific services, including deep cleaning, garage cleaning, and general house cleaning. Each of the service’s teams works off of a checklist to complete every job. 314-443-9496, marcelascleaning.com.
Mid America Appliance and Electronic Repair Service
The service doesn’t clean homes, but it does clean dishwashers, washing machines, TVs, high-end kitchen appliances, and more, handling all brands. The owner comes out to assist on high-end appliances to be sure that no damage is done on the job. 328 Jungermann, St. Peters, 636-928-4131, midamericarepair.com.
Mold Solutions
If you suspect that mold resides in the cracks and crannies of your home, you’re going to need the deepest kind of cleaning out there. The owner will come out and do free inspections with a gadget that will have you Googling where to buy one of your own. If your home turns out to have mold, the affected areas get removed, deep-cleaned, and treated within a contained zone. Meticulous is an understatement. 314-993-6653, moldstlouis.com.
Mops in Motion
The name of this outfit certainly strikes us as well-phrased—it’s hard to really clean without putting some mops and brooms into action. The owner, Donna Guttmann, offers both routine and heavy cleaning services. As she points out in her motto, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them!” 3541 Pearson Pointe, 314-487-1519, mopsinmotion.net.
DRIVEWAY REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE
Concrete Crack Repair and Sealer
314-427-2170, ccrns.com.
Creve Coeur Paving
165 Arnold, St. Peters, 314-427-3303, ccpstl.com.
Hot Shotz Mobile Power Wash
636-939-0600, hotshotzmobilepowerwash.com.
Ram Driveway Sealing
314-423-4055, ramdriveway.com.
Ron Sansone Construction
119 N. First, Pacific, 636-271-4844, ronsansone.com.
CHIMNEY CLEANERS
Absolute Clean
314-327-5745, absolutecleanstl.com.
Clean Sweep Chimney Service
636-477-9966, cleansweepchimney.com.
English Sweep
636-391-2226, englishsweep.com.
PYM
314-229-0435.
Welsch Chimney Service
314-921-3427, welschchimneyservices.com.
WINDOW WASHERS, POWER WASHERS, & POOL CLEANERS
Let the sun shine in; get the green mold off the siding, deck, and patio; and open the pool for company to enjoy. You’ll need help to get any one of these projects done.
Chaney Pool Services
Chaney is certainly not the cheapest service around, but the quality is high, and owner Troy Chaney knows what he’s doing. The company works on pools in the central corridor and West County. 314-993-6965.
Dan’s Pool Service
Pool owners are particularly fond of Dan’s Pool Service, because the company lets homeowners deal directly with contractors instead of marking up someone else’s work. The company has been working on pools for the past 40 years. 314-849-5699.
Deluxe Cleaning Service
Keep an eye out for Deluxe coupons in order to get your windows cleaned for less than $100. Most cleanings include both windowsills and screens, but spe-
cify your needs when scheduling an appointment, and the company will seek to meet them. Deluxe will clean your air ducts and gutters, too. 9527 S. Broadway, 314-631-8188, deluxecleaningstl.com.
Fish Window Cleaning
Fish offers cleaning on all types of windows, including skylights and other hard-to-reach areas, plus hard-water stain removal. While the cleaners are there, have them step inside to clean chandeliers as well. 320 Brookes, Ste. 104, 314-731-7800; 114 E. Elm, Ste. 1, O’Fallon, Mo., 636-379-3473; 200 Enchanted Parkway, Manchester, 636-779-1500; 7536 Watson, 314-961-3371; fishwindowcleaning.com.
M&P Window Washing and Gutter Cleaning
For the past three decades, M&P has been making houses shine inside by taking care of the outside. Winter grime and full gutters can lead to window damage and leaks. The dedicated team works seven days a week. 314-968-1356, 636-529-1529, mpwindowsgutters.com.
The Pool Company
One of our more detail-oriented friends highly recommends Tim Couch of The Pool Company. “He’s really great,” she gushes. He does everything from opening the pool to weekly cleanings. 11901 Olive, Ste. 211B, 314-567-7665, thepoolcompanystl.com.
PowerWasher Plus
It might seem silly to wash the outside of your home, considering elements such as snow and rain. But a pressure wash for your house can make it sparkle like a new coat of paint, add a season of life to your deck, and rinse the salt stains off of your concrete driveway. 9648 Woodson Terrace Industrial, 314-427-9274, powerwasherplus.com.
Professional Industries
This family-owned company has been opening, cleaning, and closing pools since 1965. The firm offers weekly maintenance and repairs—all at competitive prices. 8676 Olive, 314-428-6095,
Windows R Us
If you find that you need painting or touch-ups, you can get it all done at once. Windows R Us offers cleaning, painting, and even trash removal. 636-875-8228, windowsrusstl.com.
AIR DUCT/HVAC SERVICES
Air Comfort Service
11920 Missouri Bottom, 314-480-3384, aircomfortservice.com.
Anton’s Air Conditioning & Heating
314-638-4711, antonshvac.com.
Siebels Heating and Cooling
5305 Caroline, High Ridge, 314-307-0140.
Total Comfort Group
11137 S. Towne Square, 314-378-5795.
Welsch Heating & Cooling
2175 Welsch Industrial, 314-872-8070, welsch-heatcool.com.
LINENS, DRAPERY, & FURNITURE CLEANERS
Dust collects everywhere, so no spring-cleaning effort is complete without shaking out the curtains, sending the bedspreads and bed skirts to be washed and pressed, and pulling out sofa cushions to find and vacuum up all of the detritus left behind.
Al’s Wydown Laundry & Cleaners
A good pillow is important—and some of us spend more than $100 on one. Experts recommend replacing them every year, but Al’s can save you the time and expense of getting a new one. For $19.95, the service washes pillows; for $24.95, you get Al’s reticking service. That means the cleaners take the feathers out of your pillows, run them through a cleaning machine, and put them back into a brand new pillow case. 7620 Wydown, 314-721-2004.
Marquard’s Cleaners
Devotees refer to Marquard’s as the clothes doctor. But the company also cleans drapes, pillows, and rugs. An on-site machine uses ultraviolet light to kill bacteria in your pillows. Workers open each pillow and send it through another tumbler that breaks up those lumps that form after years of sleep. Pickup and delivery service is available for rugs and drapes. Some argue it’s a pricey cleaner; others say the services are worth it. 7480 Delmar, 314-727-0830; 14380 S. Outer 40, 314-576-4141; marquardscleaners.com.
Morgenthaler’s Cleaners
This venerable business has been around for nearly 120 years and is still family-owned. It offers much more than mere bedspread, tablecloth, and drapery cleaning. At Morgenthaler’s, you can get new window systems and treatments for your existing apparatus or even professional takedown and rehang service with cleanings. The company creates new drapes and will reupholster or fit slipcovers for ratty couches and worn-out chairs. And the staff could not be nicer. 7227 Southwest, 314-647-0234, morgenthalers.com.
Pleats Cleaners
If you don’t keep banker’s hours, Pleats offers free pickup and delivery, which certainly makes hauling bed linens and tablecloths a lot easier. Pleats also has a night-owl drop-off, for when you realize the night before an event that your husband hasn’t cleaned his tuxedo in a year and your gown still has a wine stain. 13275 Manchester, Des Peres, 314-779-0171, pleatscleaners.com.
Yorkshire Cleaners
This isn’t your average dry cleaner. Yorkshire has been around for decades, offering same-day service on some items, home pickup and delivery, and linen and drapery cleaning. And by linen cleaning, we mean Yorkshire will even iron your sheets. 8080 Watson, 314-843-1881; 5620 Telegraph, 314-846-2646; Suburban Cleaners, 126 E. Lockwood, 314-961-1330; yorkshirecleaners.com.
PEST CONTROL
It’s hard to feel safe and sound at home if termites are gnawing on the wood, fleas are hopping off your dog’s back, bats are flying in the attic, and possums are nesting in your basement. Time to summon the pest pros.
2 Nice Guys Termite & Pest Control
Serving the area for more than 30 years, these very nice guys will rid your house of all sorts of pests, from termites to bedbugs. Their website even educates you on the ways of the little annoyances. The firm does work without requiring a contract, and coupons are frequently available. 636-464-1411, 2niceguys.com.
The Bug Lady
You may have seen the trucks emblazoned with an illustration of a foot shod in a high heel, squishing the life out of a bug. The company’s motto is “We’ll stomp ’em out…with style!” The Bug Lady specializes in such tormentors as clover mites, fleas, roaches, spiders, and bedbugs. Owner Linda Doering was a teacher; on the side, she worked with her father and a group of other teachers to divest homes of pests. 314-494-9726, thebugladystl.com.
Eagle Termite & Pest Control
The sprays used by Eagle Termite & Pest Control are odorless and so safe that several day-care operations have hired the company to keep the bugs at bay. Eagle covers all kinds of pests, termites, and moles. It will make quarterly visits to ensure that your home has not been invaded. 636-978-7378, eagletermiteandpestcontrol.com.
Al Fields
Fields is the person who other industry providers recommend. He has been exterminating pests in homes across the area since the ’70s and has been self-employed since the ’80s. He’s the kind of guy, our sources say, who can let himself in and out of your house without a worry. 314-428-0963.
Holper’s Pest & Animal Solutions
Jeff Holper is, well, a mole hunter. But his company tackles all kinds of pests, not just rodents. Holper will create a custom plan for your house to determine how the critters are getting in and what you can do to keep them out. And by the way, when the holiday season comes along, Holper’s hangs Christmas lights, too. 9223 Gravois, 314-544-7378, holperspest.com.
Rottler Pest & Lawn Solutions
The largest family-owned pest-control company in the area, Rottler eradicates all kinds of problems, including bedbugs, ants, mice, moles, spiders, ticks, and bats. Its specialists go from the cellar to the attic and cover all the rooms in between. Multiple locations, 314-426-6100, rottler.com.
Woods Mill Pest Control
When a friend’s home turned into a possum motel, it was Woods Mill Pest Control that quickly found the source of the problem and managed to resolve the situation. Owned by Jim and Dianne Gerken, the service has been working in St. Louis since 1988. Aside from removing larger wildlife, this team tackles termites and other nasties. 636-391-7003, woodsmill.com.
ORGANIZERS
Got papers stacked up in the corner? Does your house resemble the latest episode of Hoarders? Call in the declutterers—ASAP.
Clutter Contained
A frequent guest on local TV shows, owner Shelly Collins will straighten out your world by starting with a home-organization binder that covers things such as planning meals, home upkeep, kids’ schedules, and finances. She will also get you on an action system: things to file, bills to pay, homework for the kids, etc. Every piece of paper is put in its proper place. 636-410-9212, cluttercontained.com.
Peace of Mind Organizing
Janine Adams, author of The 12 Most Common Organizing Mistakes, believes that anyone can master a mess of clutter around the home. From organizing your handbag to packing a suitcase, developing organizational habits, and setting up apps that can help, she covers it all. 314-707-3022, peaceofmindorganizing.com.
Perfectly Organized STL
Martina Kenney and Lisa Bianco will happily tackle every room in your house. Their talents extend right down to organizing files, photographs, and Christmas ornaments. If you ever want to hold a garage sale, they’ll do the setup, pricing, and staffing, too. 636-485-3964, perfectlyorganizedstl.com.
Perfectly Placed Organization & Design
The owner of Perfectly Placed, Susan Stewart, believes so passionately in organized files, straightened shelves, and accessible storage that she teaches classes on the topics. The goal is to cre-
ate an environment that accentuates calm and eliminates chaos. 636-686-0048, perfectlyplaced.org.
Simplified Living Solutions
In business for the past seven years, this company will come in and get every room in your house in order. Not only will it work alongside you, it will also leave you with helpful tips (like the names of florists who will trade free fresh flowers for your empty vases). As one might suspect, the work is done promptly and efficiently. 12430 Tesson Ferry, Ste. 244, 314-221-5232, simplifiedlivingsolutions.com.
CARPET CLEANERS
Once the windows are washed, you clearly see—with a gasp—exactly how dirty your carpets actually are. It’s an unpleasant realization. We offer up our own favorite companies, as well as those of our faithful but demanding friends.
ABC Chem-Dry
Known as the greener carpet cleaner, ABC Chem-Dry also specializes in cleaning hard-to-remove pet stains, dried-in spills, and leather surfaces. So after a visit from the relative who always seems to spill red wine on your couch, these guys may be your best bet. One advantage with this company is, the carpets dry quickly. The company also cleans furniture and tile. 636-441-4430, greencarpetcleaningstl.com.
McCall’s Carpet Cleaning Service
Working with his two sons, Art McCall takes deep cleaning to the extreme. McCall’s specializes in deodorizing and stain removal with a unique handheld cleaning machine. It takes in a foamy cleaning solution with your dirt, so the carpet pads don’t get wet—and carpets don’t stay wet. McCall says his company doesn’t offer false hope for hard-to-tackle stains. His employees get in there and “see what they can do.” 636-288-2127, cleancarpetworkofart.com.
Midwest Carpet Cleaning
Midwest pulls up to your home with a truck-mounted cleaning system. So if you’re worried that all of the dirt in your carpets will just be redistributed throughout the house when it’s extracted, know that it actually will leave your house entirely, through a hose and into a tank that Midwest then drives away. The company also offers spot cleaning, for those times when you just have a little spill or stain. 636-498-1515, midwestcarpetcleaning.com.
The Spot Man
Jobs aren’t limited to spots. The Spot Man cleans tiles, grout, air ducts, and furniture, as well as carpets. The service will even recoat your hardwood floors. And The Spot Man offers a money-back guarantee. 638 St. Louis, Valley Park, 314-504-4615, thespotman.com.
True Clean Carpet
The company promises drying times of one to two hours by using a special steam-cleaning system that reaches 200 degrees to extract dirt, rather than applying shampoos and wet cleaning solutions. And the prespray solution that is applied is organic—the company claims it’s even drinkable. In addition to carpets, the service also cleans upholstery. 636-978-3260, 314-427-9500, truecleancarpet.com.
Winschel Carpet Service
Winschel’s slogan is “Clean rugs last longer.” Designers swear by the company for carpet cleaning—and installing carpets and floors. The owner of Winschel Carpet Service started in the business more than 60 years ago, and now his son and daughter run the operation. 2060 N. Highway 67, 314-831-8181, winschelcarpet.com.
Woodard Cleaning & Restoration Services
Long considered the granddaddy in the field, Woodard doesn’t have many limits to its services. From cleaning up pet stains and spills to full carpets, couches, cushions, and full restoration jobs, the more you have done, the more you can save. Ask about the six-month spot-and-spill warranty that comes with the Scotchgard application. And if your pipes ever burst—or, God forbid, you have smoke damage—you’ll want to call Woodard Cleaning & Restoration Services pronto. 9308 Manchester, 314-961-9102, woodard247.com.
FREE PICK-UP CHARITIES AND JUNK REMOVERS
Rarely do we make it through life without lamenting over piles of unwanted items—and thinking of just paying someone to haul all of it away. And there are those times when you buy a new bed or sofa, but need to dispose of the existing one first. Many charities and organizations offer free pickup for a variety of items, and you can even get a tax deduction by simply clearing out your house.
1-800-GOT-JUNK
It’s not free, but this junk-removal company will take almost anything you want out of your home. Items accepted range from broken furniture and appliances to ruined carpets, mattresses, and tires. The advantage over simply leaving the items at the curb is that these movers come to your house, carry your junk out to their truck, and haul it all away. Problem solved. 6185 Olive, 800-468-5865, 1800gotjunk.com.
American Kidney Services
Homeowners can schedule a pickup for the next time the foundation’s truck is in the area or call to arrange for a special pickup that includes larger items. If you just can’t wait to get rid of your stuff, there are drop-off locations in Fenton, Shrewsbury, and Normandy. Donations go directly to local kidney-disease patients and their families. The service is looking for clothes, furniture, books, and toys, but it will accept much more. Multiple locations, 314-332-2810, akfpickup.com.
Charity Clothing Pickup
Donors are asked to leave their donations, which must be light enough for a single person to lift, outside their doors. Here, you can actually choose where the items you’re donating will go. Your choices are Children’s Home Society of Missouri, Women’s Another Chance, the American Red Cross, or St. John Bosco Children’s Center. Or if you prefer to get rid of the things as soon as possible, you can leave items in one of the Charity Clothing dropboxes. Multiple locations, 314-416-1300, clothingpickupstl.com.
Habitat for Humanity
When you decide to replace your carpeting, tile, lighting, shutters, doors, cabinets, appliances, sinks, windows, and more, Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore is willing and waiting to pick up the items that are simply too big to fit in your car. In St. Louis, there are now two ReStore locations, the original on Forest Park Avenue and another near Sam’s Club off Manchester Road. The stores are looking for all types of gently used or new building materials, as well as items that will furnish a home. They will even take unopened cans of paint. 3763 Forest Park Ave., 314-531-4155; 2117 Sams, 314-678-4596; habitatstl.org.
International Institute of St. Louis
When a family immigrates to St. Louis and needs help setting up the household, the International Institute comes to the rescue. Check the website for a wish list before you call. The organization doesn’t have storage space, so it collects items as families require them. But generally, the institute is looking for items like fans, furniture, cleaning products, pots and pans, dishes, silverware, teakettles, and toasters. The staff is small and is only available to pick up large items.3654 S. Grand, 314-773-9090, iistl.org.
Miriam Switching Post
Don’t be surprised to see your favorite decorator perusing the aisles of this shop. For years, it has been a reliable resource for treasures. The store, which supports the Miriam School and Learning Center, accepts all sorts of household items, including furniture, antiques, crystal, china, silverware, table linens, lamps, mirrors, collectibles, and jewelry. It does not accept appliances, mattresses, bedding, electronics, or exercise equipment, but it will provide pickup services for large pieces of furniture. 2171 S. Big Bend, 314-646-7737, miriamswitchingpost.org.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is seeking appliances, computers, clothing, furniture, household items, and books. Items donated are sold through The Salvation Army’s Family Stores. Proceeds go to the organization’s Adult Rehabilitation Centers. If you don’t have the Salvation Army truck pick up your donations, you can drop them off at one of the locations. Multiple locations, 800-728-7825, stlouis.satruck.org.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul of St. Louis
For years and years, St. Vincent de Paul, an international charity, has clothed and assisted the impoverished. Frank McCourt wrote of the organization in his memoir, Angela’s Ashes. The charity accepts gently used household items, clothing, and furniture. Multiple locations, 314-881-6000, svdpstl.org.
Vietnam Veterans of America
The list of items this organization can use is pretty mind-boggling. Vietnam Veterans of America accepts antiques, artificial flowers and trees, desks, dishes, entertainment centers, eyeglassses, pillows, pots and pans, playpens, sewing machines, socks, wall decorations, window blinds, towels, toys… In fact, it would probably be easier to list what it doesn’t take than what it does. 800-459-8387, vvapickup.org.
RECYCLE, REUSE, & RESELL FOR CHARITY
These shops don’t pick up, but they do happily accept your castoffs. Because these are nonprofits, you have the additional incentive of that tax write-off—and the good feeling that comes from helping the disadvantaged.
MERS Goodwill
Known as a bargain-hunter’s mecca, local Goodwill stores will accept pretty much everything—right down to that TV that isn’t HD. But be forewarned: The organization doesn’t take mattresses or large appliances. Multiple locations, 314-241-3464, mersgoodwill.org.
Potentials
This nonprofit shop raises money for Youth In Need by reselling clothing, furniture, artwork, mirrors, lamps, household goods, and home-decor items. 325 S. Fifth, St. Charles, 636-925-1763, potentialsresale.org.
GUTTER CLEANERS
Aerotech Gutter Service
2480 Lark, Fenton, 314-842-9977, thegutterexperts.com.
Signature Exteriors
2025 Zumbehl, Ste. 106, St. Charles, 314-827-5376, signatureexteriorsinc.com.
Steve Dreyer
314-965-0183.
The Window Man
332 S. Fillmore, 314-965-2221, windowcrew.com.
