Welcome back to the Five Door Media Podcast blog, where we break down real-world strategies from real service business owners. In our latest episode, we sat down with Derek Hazelwood, entrepreneur and the driving force behind Raleigh Cleaning Company, Ricochet Business Solutions, and Hazelwood Insurance Group.

Derek knows how to lead under pressure, and he’s bringing that same intentionality to the hiring and retention game - a major challenge for most cleaning companies right now.

There’s a moment that happens to just about every cleaning business owner.

You decide it’s time to “get serious” about marketing. You open your laptop, maybe Google a few things, and within 10 minutes you’re being told to post more, blog more, optimize more, and somehow do all of it yesterday. It’s a lot.

So the real question becomes a practical one. If you can only focus on one right now, where should you start?

Welcome back to the Five Door Media podcast blog! We’re deep into Season 6, and if you’ve ever felt like hiring is the bottleneck in your cleaning company’s growth, you’re going to love this episode. This week, Drew sat down with Jon Karmazyn, founder of Revive, to talk about how his team hires fast without sacrificing quality.

From power washing to holiday lighting, Jon has built a two-division business that operates across two markets in Pennsylvania. But what sets him apart isn’t just the service; it’s the systems behind the scenes that allow Revive to grow without chaos.

If you run a cleaning company, you’ve probably been told (more than once) that you “should be doing email marketing.”

But here’s the real question no one answers:

What does a good email campaign actually look like for a cleaning business?

Not the fluffy, corporate version. Not the spammy “20% off this week only!” blasts.

We’re talking about email campaigns that:

• Build trust

• Keep your company top of mind

• Generate repeat business

• And actually get opened and read

In this article, we’re going to break it all down, honestly and practically, so you can see what works, what doesn’t, and how to do it right.

Because the truth is, email marketing for cleaning companies isn’t about being clever.
It’s about being helpful, consistent, and human.

Hiring isn't just a struggle in the cleaning industry, it's the struggle. High turnover, no-shows, underperformance... sound familiar? On this episode of the Five Door Media Podcast, we sat down with Cristóbal Mondragón, founder of Bumble Bee Cleaning and 7Figure Cleaning. His hiring systems have helped dozens of cleaning companies build reliable, motivated teams that actually stay. Here's how.

If you’ve run ads for your cleaning business, you’ve probably asked yourself this: “Which platform actually works?” And if you’re being honest, the answer hasn’t always been clear.

Maybe you’ve tried Facebook ads and got a bunch of messages that didn’t go anywhere. Maybe you’ve tested Google Ads but felt like the cost was too high. Maybe you’ve turned on LSAs and hoped for consistency… but didn’t always get it.

So what’s the truth? It’s not that one platform works and the others don’t. It’s that each platform works differently, and if you don’t understand when to use each one, it’s easy to feel like none of them work.

Hiring Isn’t an HR Problem. It’s a Marketing One.

If you’re still hiring out of desperation, spinning up a Facebook post when someone quits, you’re not alone. But you’re also stuck in what we call "hiring hell."

In this episode of the Five Door Media Podcast, Brandon Vaughn, the CEO of HireBus, joins us to talk about one of the most overlooked truths in home service: hiring isn’t just an operational challenge. It’s a marketing one. And the businesses that figure that out are the ones building stable, scalable teams, even in a tough labor market.

Let’s just go ahead and say the quiet part out loud.

At some point, every business owner has at least thought about it.

You’re staring at your Google profile. Your competitor down the street has 147 glowing reviews. You’ve got… like 12. One of them is from your cousin, and another is from a guy who thought you were a carpet cleaner and still gave you three stars.

So the idea crosses your mind. What if I just… gave things a little boost?

I get it. Truly.

But here’s the honest answer.

Buying fake Google reviews for your cleaning business is a bad idea. Not just morally. Not just technically. It’s a bad idea for your actual growth, your reputation, and your sanity.

Let me explain.

Hiring is hard, especially in the cleaning industry, where competition for great workers is fiercer than ever. But what if we told you the secret to better hiring isn't just job boards or fancy funnels, but a mindset shift? In this episode of the Five Door Media Podcast, we sat down with Shawn Day, founder of Hire Lead Chill, to talk about building hiring systems that work with your business, not against it.

Whether you're stuck in hiring hell or scaling fast and need better people to keep up, Shawn brings the straight talk and strategy that cleaning business owners need right now.

If you run a cleaning company, you’ve probably asked yourself this: “Are social media ads even worth it… or am I just wasting money?”

It’s a fair question, and here’s an honest answer:

For many cleaning businesses, social media advertising is too expensive. But not because of the platform. It’s expensive because of how it’s approached.

Let’s break down what’s actually driving the cost, what you should expect, and how to do it the right way, without burning through your budget.

Welcome to the Five Door Media blog, where we dive deep into the systems, strategies, and stories that move the cleaning service world forward. In this episode of Season 6, we sat down with hiring powerhouse and Woot Recruit founder, Libby Delucien. And if there’s one thing Libby does better than most, it’s cutting through the fluff when it comes to recruiting and company culture.

This one’s a must-listen if hiring feels like your bottleneck and you're looking to scale your cleaning business without sacrificing sanity. Below, we’re breaking down the highlights of our conversation including Libby’s best practices, biggest hiring mistakes she sees, and the real reason culture can make or break your business.

For years, word-of-mouth was how most cleaning businesses grew. You did great work, a customer told a friend, and the referrals kept your calendar full.

But things have changed.

Word-of-mouth still matters – maybe more than ever – but it’s no longer enough on its own. Not because people stopped talking, but because the way they act on those recommendations has changed.

Season 6 of the Five Door Media Podcast kicks off with a must-listen episode for every cleaning business owner struggling with hiring and retention.

We sat down with Lacie Nash and Kari Merrell, co-owners of Clean Squad, and got a front-row seat to one of the most intentional, people-first hiring systems we've ever seen in the residential cleaning world.

This conversation wasn’t about generic hiring tips. It was a deep dive into the mindsets, tools, systems, and culture that make or break your ability to build a team that sticks. Whether you’re hiring your first cleaner or scaling to 30+, what Lacie and Kari shared will absolutely shift the way you approach recruiting.

If you run a cleaning company, chances are you’ve been told you “need to post on social media.” But what should you actually post, and how does that help you get real paying clients, not just likes?

The truth is, social media can be one of the most powerful marketing tools for cleaning companies, if you post the right kind of content.

The best-performing cleaning brands right now aren’t just sharing pretty photos or generic “Book Now!” graphics. They’re building trust with consistent, authentic, and educational posts that show real people and real results.

Here’s what’s working, and how to make your organic content and paid ads work together to grow your business.

Welcome to the Five Door Media Podcast Blog. In this episode, we sat down with a true icon in the residential cleaning industry: Debbie Sardone. From building her own multi-million dollar cleaning company to mentoring thousands through her Cleaning Business Fundamentals (CBF) program, Debbie has helped shape what it means to grow a profitable cleaning business.

This season, we’re diving into one of the most powerful levers in the cleaning industry: financial clarity. Because if you're going to build a business that creates lasting wealth, not just pay the bills, you've got to understand the numbers.

Your Google Business Profile isn’t just a digital listing. It’s the front door to your business online. For many people searching, it’s the first (and sometimes only) thing they’ll see before deciding whether to reach out.

The most successful cleaning companies don’t just “set it and forget it.” They treat their profile like an active part of their marketing. So, what exactly are they doing differently?

Let’s take a look at what sets the best apart and how you can apply the same strategies to your own Google Business Profile.

In this episode of the Five Door Media Podcast, we sat down with Lyn Askin to break down what EOS really is and why so many growing businesses swear by it. From getting your leadership team 100% aligned on the vision, to building real accountability and traction, to creating a healthy, cohesive team that actually enjoys working together, this framework is all about building a better business and a better life.

Running a cleaning business today takes more than doing great work. Whether you're offering residential cleanings, commercial janitorial services, or specialty treatments like carpets or windows, your reputation is everything. In a world where potential clients are Googling “cleaning service near me” before they ever make a phone call, the reviews they find can make or break the deal.

That’s where review-management tools come in. These platforms help you collect, monitor, and respond to customer reviews across the internet – and for cleaning companies, they can be the difference between a slow month and a steady stream of leads.

In this episode, we sat down with Michael Dahlke, a serial entrepreneur, investor, business turnaround specialist, and business coach. After years in the financial world, Michael stepped directly into entrepreneurship, where he now helps cleaning companies navigate big but solvable problems: leadership gaps, strategy breakdowns, cash flow pressure, and the “profitable on paper but stressful in real life” reality.

This conversation will feel like someone turned the lights on. Let’s break down the key takeaways and how you can apply them inside your cleaning business.

When it comes to online advertising for cleaning companies, one debate always comes up:
Do video ads or static image ads perform better?

With social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google prioritizing visual content, it’s not a small decision. The type of creative you choose can directly impact cost per lead, engagement rate, and overall return on investment (ROI).

Let’s look at what the data and performance patterns show about each format.