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.

If you're growing your cleaning business but still feel like you're broke, you're not alone.

In this episode of the Five Door Media Podcast, we welcomed Justin Boyd, founder of Cash Flow Co-Pilot, a fractional CFO and bookkeeping firm that specializes in home service businesses. Justin isn't your typical finance guy. He's a translator between spreadsheets and strategy, and he’s on a mission to help business owners move from financial chaos to clarity.

We covered a lot in this conversation, but here are the biggest takeaways every cleaning business owner should hear.

You’ve seen other cleaning companies post about how Facebook ads “blew up their business.” So you give it a try. You set up an ad, pick your audience, write a few lines about your services, hit publish… And then – crickets.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

At Five Door Media, we talk to cleaning business owners every week who are frustrated with Facebook ads that just don’t work. But here’s the truth: Facebook ads can work, if you know how to avoid the common traps that make them flop.

Let’s walk through why so many cleaning businesses struggle to get results and what you can do differently.

In Season 5 of the Five Door Media Podcast, we’re doing something different. We’re getting uncomfortable. We’re talking about numbers. In our latest episode, we kicked things off with a powerhouse guest: Meaghan Likes, founder of Likes Accounting and Bookkeeping Academy Online. Meaghan isn’t just an accountant. She’s a straight-shooting business owner who’s helped thousands of home service companies simplify their finances, increase profitability, and reclaim their time. She also owns multiple businesses herself, including a window cleaning company, so she gets it.

If you’re a cleaning business owner who knows it’s time to get serious about your finances but isn’t sure where to start, this conversation was made for you.

Most cleaning company owners hit this point eventually: your word-of-mouth business is steady, you’ve dabbled in social media, and you’re ready to grow.

Then comes the big question: do you hire someone to handle your marketing full time, or do you bring in an outside team?

Both can work. The trick is knowing what you’re really paying for with each.

If you’ve ever thought, “I didn’t start a cleaning business to become an accountant,” you’re not alone. But as Sharon Cowen says in our latest episode of the Five Door Media Podcast, getting your financials right is non-negotiable if you want to survive (let alone thrive) in this industry.

With decades of experience owning and advising service companies, Sharon brings a sharp, no-nonsense perspective that’s helped hundreds of owners turn their businesses around. This episode is full of gold for any cleaning business owner tired of guessing their way through finances.

Let’s break down the big takeaways.

The way cleaning companies attract customers is changing fast.

Referrals still matter. So do reviews. But if you want consistent, predictable leads in 2026, you need to show up where customers are actively searching, and where the competition is getting louder every day.

The good news? Lead generation doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.

You just need to know what’s actually working now,  and what’s not.

Here are the top strategies cleaning businesses are using to keep their schedules full in 2026.

If you own a residential cleaning business and feel like your books are just... fuzzy, this episode of the Five Door Media Podcast is for you. We brought back, Matt Ricketts, founder of Better Life Maids and an M&A-savvy leader in the residential cleaning industry, to dive into the financial side of building a business that grows and lasts.

Matt doesn't just talk theory. He's built and scaled his own successful company and now advises other owners on how to grow sustainably, structure their businesses to sell, and think like an operator, not just a technician.