Cleaning Brooklyn's brownstones and rowhouses
Much of brownstone Brooklyn, from Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill to Park Slope, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill and Bedford-Stuyvesant, is rowhouses built in the 1800s and early 1900s. Some are single-family homes spread over three or four floors; many are divided into a garden apartment, a parlor floor and floor-throughs above. Cleaning them means stairs, lots of original trim and moldings that collect dust, and often radiators in every room.
If you own or rent a whole house, tell us how many floors and bathrooms there are and whether the cellar or garden is included. For a multi-floor home, we plan the work so we are not carrying equipment up and down repeatedly, and we can bring more than one cleaner for larger homes.
Walk-ups, prewar co-ops and new towers
Brooklyn's housing stock is mixed. Bushwick, Greenpoint and Sunset Park have many walk-up apartments above storefronts or in older brick buildings. Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Flatbush, Crown Heights and Bay Ridge have large prewar elevator buildings with deep closets, tiled bathrooms and steam heat. Williamsburg's waterfront, Downtown Brooklyn and DUMBO have newer high-rises and converted loft buildings with open plans and big windows.
Each type has its own habits. Older bathrooms need careful grout and tile work. Newer buildings often have stone counters, glass shower enclosures and integrated appliances that need suitable products. Lofts have high ledges and large windows. Tell us about your apartment when you request a quote and we will plan accordingly.
Access, parking and building rules
Many Brooklyn buildings have no doorman, so we will ask how to get in: a lockbox, a key left with a neighbor or super, or meeting you at the door. Doorman buildings usually need our name in advance. Some buildings require vendors to use a service entrance or freight elevator, especially on move days.
Street parking varies a lot by neighborhood and alternate-side days, so tell us if your building has loading zones or rules about vendor vehicles. Ask about availability for the dates you have in mind; we reply to every request with a custom quote.