Bellefonte-based cleaning company has new name, eye on expanding services

Blanca’s Detailed Cleaning, a cleaning business based out of Bellefonte, recently unveiled a new name and branding. Going forward, Blanca’s Detailed Cleaning will be known as Plum.

Owner Blanca Jimenez, who said she’s been cleaning houses on and off since she was about 15, made it an official business two years ago.

“The name has served us well, but I really just wanted to stand out. I wanted us to be something memorable, for people to see that Plum logo and understand not only the service we’re providing but also our story,” she said.

Jimenez was born in Mexico and came to the United States at age 2. She launched the business as a single mother, embracing the standards she learned as a teen working alongside her mother, who is also involved in the business, according to Plum’s website.

With the new name comes a new website, where Plum now offers a transparent and easy booking process. Potential clients can obtain an online quote with just a few clicks and, if the quote is to their liking, book an appointment.

“It’s supposed to be an easy and painless experience,” Jimenez said. “And if anyone calls into the office, they’ll get a real-life person, not a machine, which is very important to me.”

Services detailed on the new website include regular maintenance cleaning, one-time cleaning visits, move in or move out cleaning, market-ready cleaning to prepare homes for selling, special event cleaning, Airbnb cleaning and commercial cleaning, which Jimenez says is an expanding part of the business.

“We are knowledgeable. We’re continuously learning how to clean properly. A lot of people can pick up a broom and a mop and say, I own a cleaning company now. It is one of the easiest, I would say, side gigs to get started. ... The hard part is being able to maintain it and making sure your customers are happy with your cleaning and you’re always improving,” she said.

For many, she continues, cleaning is as simple as picking up any cleaning product and using it, without first checking the chemicals in a product and how they might impact the surfaces of your home. The Plum team is continually studying the best cleaning methods and ways to maintain a home’s value.

“We are studying not only how to provide the best service, but how to make sure we’re cleaning your home properly,” Jimenez said.

Currently, the Plum team is made up of four individuals, with team changes occurring in reaction to the coronavirus pandemic.

“My first and foremost thought is to take care of my employees. I know if I take care of them, they’ll take care of my clients. That’s a big piece of the puzzle for me,” she said.

Moving forward, Jimenez’s goals for the business are clear: “We want to be the go-to for people when they think of house cleaning, be it to keep their home clean every week or two weeks, or if they’re moving out or in or they’re getting ready to sell their home. We want to be the go-to, where people know that they’re going to get that great service.”

Plum offers cleaning services in State College, Boalsburg, Port Matilda and Bellefonte, or anywhere within a 30-minute drive of the company’s Bellefonte office.

This story was originally published May 16, 2020 at 6:00 AM.