Steven Beeder
Housecleaning
Computers
Odd jobs
Housecleaning
This is my main "thing"; it's what I do. I have been doing it for over 20 years - since 1988.
I am currently booked solid, but occasionally have time to do "one-off" cleaning projects, such as windows. Yes, I do windows!
What to expect
If given no instructions, this is what I will do:
Bathroom:- Mirror
- Sink, faucet and countertop
- Bathtub: tiled walls if necessary, glass doors (if applicable), tub and faucet
- Shower stall: walls, faucet and floor
- Toilet tank (outside), lid, seat, bowl, rim and base
- Floor (sweep and wash)
- Sink, faucet and countertop
- Refrigerator top and handles
- Microwave front and top, and inside
- Stove top (remove burners, clean trays and rings)
- Vent hood (above stove)
- Outside of other appliances
- Floor (sweep and wash)
- Light dusting (using a Swiffer duster to flick dust from surfaces without moving objects)
- Vacuum
- Marks on walls
- Windows
- Oven
- Inside of refrigerator
- Wash hardwood/laminate floors
- Intense dusting (using a combination of Swiffer duster and damp cloth, moving objects)
I am here to serve, so I am ready to do just about anything else you may need done.
Note: I don't do blinds. I will run a duster over your blinds, but to clean them would take far longer and cost far more than if you were to have a professional blind cleaner come in. I understand Coit does a good job, but please do not take this as a recommendation. I cannot vouch for them or their work.
What I need
Cleaning Supplies:(Mouse over items for a reference photo.)
- Windex (Regular, plain blue Windex - no generic or store brands please.)
- All-purpose cleaner (Mr Clean, Pine-Sol, or any such generic or store brand.)
- VIM Bathroom Cleaner (This comes in many flavours, but I prefer the regular original version which comes in a white bottle with green trim and a blue-ish label; there may be generic or store brands available and those are fine.)
- Cream cleanser (VIM, Soft Scrub, or any generic or store brand.)
- Toilet bowl cleaner (Toilet Duck or any generic or store brand - comes in a bottle with a crooked neck.)
- Paper towel - the cheaper the better (really!)
- Dish soap (Any dish soap will do.)
- Disposable Erasing Pads (Mr Clean Magic Eraser or any generic or store brand - not the kind with an additional scouring pad on one side.)
- Swiffer duster (or equivalent generic or store brand.)
- Fantastik (or equivalent generic or store brand.)
- Mop (Bee-Mop preferred.)
- Bucket (If it comes with the mop, all the better.)
- Broom (no preference)
- Vacuum
Pictured: "warehouse" size - these can be purchased separately.
On the subject of Bleach
I don't use bleach. Some people want bleach used to clean their kitchen. I use dish soap and that has been sufficient for over 20 years. Here's my reasoning: you use plain old dish soap to wash your plates and then you put food directly on those plates and then put that food directly into your body. How is dish soap sanitary enough for that, but not for your countertops?
I use Mr Clean (or equivalent) in the bathrooms. Believe me, that's strong enough for most jobs. If there is a mildew problem I will request that you purchase a bleach-based cleaner (like Tilex) to obliterate the stains, but otherwise no, I won't use bleach. The fumes are just too debilitating and dangerous.
Please do not purchase the above-listed cleaning supplies in the "bleach-added" forms. It is no better than the regular version.
I do not need your rubber gloves – I bring my own. I will also bring my own cleaning cloths, though if you have some that are suitable I will use them instead.
What makes a cleaning cloth "suitable"?
I use a regular dish cloth in the kitchen. Not a J Cloth, but a cloth designed specifically for washing dishes or cleaning the kitchen. (Something like this.) In the bathroom I use a regular wash cloth that one may find in any bathroom. Similarly I use a hand towel to dry things in the kitchen and a bath towel to dry things in the bathroom.
If you have a stainless steel refrigerator, I must request a microfibre cloth to polish the outside – a regular cloth simply doesn't get into the grain. Microfibre cloths are also good on problem mirrors (mirrors that streak, no matter what), but I don't like using them to clean other things as they are too thin.
Price
$60 for the first three hours (or portion); $20 per hour (or portion) thereafter.
Computers
This is a sort of hobby of mine. I have been messing with computers since 1995. While I haven't really kept up with technology in the past few years, I feel that I am still qualified to fix simple computer problems that may arise. I have experience using Windows 3.1, 95, 98, XP and 7. I am familiar with Windows ME and Vista. I have some DOS knowledge but that's just showing off - it's so unlikely that you have a DOS-based computer! ;)
My main focus is to take a computer and strip out all the extra "crap" that is not needed, specifically programs installed on new computers or unwanted software that is secretly installed when installing wanted software. All of these things slow down the performance of your computer, so essentially I would be speeding up your computer. I can also diagnose problems you may be having in other areas.
Another thing I do on computers is create, maintain and fix websites. Quite honestly, my creative skills aren't that great (as you can see from this site!), but if you have an idea for a website, I can make it happen. If you already have a website that isn't doing what you want, I can fix it. If you have a website that you are paying too much for simply because you don't know how to update it, I can take over for a nominal fee.
I have experience with WordPress, as well as extensive experience with HTML and CSS. I embrace XHTML and have successfully implemented JavaScript for many different things (including this page). I do not do Flash. It is good for web games and a few other applications, but it is a terrible base for a website. Unless you want your Flash site converted to HTML, I can't help you.
Please note that I have no artistic abilities: most graphics will need to be provided to me.
- The Official Lee Aaron Web Site *A WordPress site that I took over
- Canadian Classic Rock *I created this from scratch
- Official Headpins Home on The Web *Created by someone else; fixed and maintained by me
- John Cody: Words & Music *I created this from scratch
- Doug And The Slugs *Created by someone else; fixed and maintained by me
- Semiahmoo Family Place *Created by someone else; fixed and maintained by me
Prices
Fixing your computer: $60 for three hours; $20 per hour after that.
OR
If it's a laptop/notebook and I can take it home with me: $60 flat fee.
Website: Start from scratch - $900
Modify existing site - $500
Simply maintain existing site with updates, etc - $100/month (pre-paid monthly) or $1000/year (pre-paid annually).
Odd Jobs
This is something that is fun for me. :)
This entails pretty much anything. As long as I am physically able to do it, it can be done.
In the past I have moved furniture, steam-cleaned carpets (you supply the steam cleaner), installed electrical lighting, re-routed light switches, fixed cupboard doors, put up shelves, built a coffee table, cleaned patio decks, cleaned moss from rooftops, installed phone jacks, changed the oil in a car and even replaced the brakes, just to name a few things. The only caveat is that I suffer from acrophobia, so some heights are out of the question. Generally speaking, I can get to about ten feet up before I start freaking out. If I can put it out of my mind, we'll be ok. But I won't change the light over the stairs without a seriously stable ladder.
I don't garden, but if you want to point out what weeds to pull (as opposed to the plants), I have done that as well.
I don't paint. No exceptions.
Price
$60 for the first three hours (or portion); $20 per hour (or portion) thereafter.