Spring Cleaning Queen | Cindy Gilchrist
Swept Away…
Cindy Gilchrist has been in Hermanus for nearly ten years and the owner of Cindy’s Carpet Cleaning, here in town and in Cape Town. She has a reputation for being the best, many South African sports stars choose to make use of her house and carpet cleaning services. On her down time she is witty, vivacious and always has time for a chat and a good laugh.
See what this local lady has to say to us…
When did you come to Hermanus?
We bought our House in Vermont in 2000 and it was a holiday house until June 2005, when we moved here full time.
Why did you decide to move to Hermanus?
I always use to come on holiday to Hermanus as a child, Onrus to be exact, so the love affair started many moons ago and luckily for me Lionel (Cindy’s Partner) also loved Hermanus.
What made you decide to start and run a cleaning business in Hermanus?
I started Cindy’s Carpet Cleaners in May 1998 in Cape Town and decided to start building a business here when we moved. It was only carpet cleaning to begin with and for the last 4 years we have branched out to actual house cleaning, which mainly focuses on holiday houses. The Hermanus side of the business was built mainly by word of mouth. I still travel to Cape Town for carpet cleaning.
If I was any house cleaning instrument I would be…
I would be my carpet cleaning machine, as it always does a good job and is always highly sort after!
The worst part of my job is…
The traffic going from one job to the other, especially over the December period.
The best part of my job is…
Being my own boss, secondly all the wonderful people I have met over the last 16 years.
What is the most important advice that you could give to a person when it comes to choosing a cleaning agency and letting unknown people into their house?
I would say get a reference from other people who use the same agency. I have built my cleaning of houses service by word of mouth and that always speaks for itself.
Insist on some kind of supervision!
Hermanus is…
Heaven on earth!
I love Hermanus in the…
Late summer, usually around February/March, as the weather is beautiful and warm with no wind. It is the best place in the world at this time of the year.
My favourite area in Hermanus is…
Difficult to say, there are a few, but if I must choose I would pick the coastal pathways around Vermont/Onrus where we walk our dogs daily, the area is forever changing.
My favourite place in the world is…
Thailand at the moment, because it is affordable with our rand, it has beautiful beaches, great shopping, wonderful people and food. Italy is a close second for me!
I wish I knew then what I do know about…
Travelling the world, I would of done a lot more of it when I was in my twenties!
My best memories are…
Spending holidays at the beach, it is in my blood and I cannot imagine ever living away from the seaside.
Happiness is a freshly cleaned house – Anonymous
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