THE CLEAN TEAM

It must have been when Jake and Emma were about five or six years old that things got pretty desperate around the Lamson household. We lived at 816 E. Third Street in Flint. The house was pretty small, Brooke was full-time at the Journal, I was delivering The Detroit News by car early mornings and the care of the children plus (apparently) the cleaning of the house fell to me. The house was a horrible mess. I even took pictures just in case anything ended up in court, I'd have some evidence.

A family member had heard a cleaning expert on the radio and ended up sending me a copy of the expert's catalog. The expert was Jeff Campbell and the catalog was the Clean Team Catalog. Maybe Jeff Campbell's book, Speed Cleaning, was sent also. This was perfect for me. If I find a carefully laid out plan to accomplish something I see it as very valuable, All the leg work has been done.

Jeff Campbell had worked for the phone company in California and started a business of cleaning houses. He developed a team approach in which each member of a three man/woman team had specific responsibilities and tools. They were able to clean an average home in San Francisco in Forty-one minutes! The main idea is, you get your cleaning done and then you have time to enjoy life...movie, reading etc.

At the heart of the system is the cleaning apron. Since much time is wasted in cleaning by having to go back and forth throwing things away, getting cleaning solutions or tools, etc. with the apron you have all the basic tools with you plus a bag to throw away small items you come across...once around the room and you're done. Then the vacuum person comes through and finishes up. There is a list of Clean Team Rules to be followed also. 1. Make Every Move Count. 2. Use the Right Tools. 3. Work from Top to Bottom. 4. If it isn't dirty, Don't clean it...Beyond getting done fast, I thought it would be great for our family to work together as a team. It would be fun! Then we'd do something fun together!

WRONG! WRONG and WRONG! This plan was not written for this family. I was devastated. The clean team had turned into an Army of One, and that was before the U.S. Army had started using that phrase. The total plan had been a failure, but I had all the cleaning solutions (mainly Blue Juice and Red Juice) plus the tools and cleaning rags. I use them to this day. When it comes to cleaning, I have a plan and the tools to carry out that plan. Ask Lisa about it this Summer.

I recommend you to thecleanteam.com ...maybe your family can do it. Just do what they say.

I called up to order some supplies and none other than Jeff Campbell answered the phone. I was flabbergasted. It was totally unexpected. Enough said. If you try them let me know.



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