Your house, cleaned by the people who own the company.
Elbow Grease is a co-operative of fourteen cleaners on Glasgow's Southside. No agency taking half, no zero hours. The same person every week, products that don't make your eyes water, and a price you can work out below.
The same person every time
You get one cleaner, and they learn how you like things. If they're off sick, we ring you before anyone else comes round.
Paid properly
Every cleaner earns the Real Living Wage as a minimum, gets paid travel time between houses, and owns an equal share of the co-op.
Products that don't sting
Plant-based, refilled from big drums at our unit, and unscented if you ask. We bring everything, including the hoover.
No contracts
Cancel with a week's notice. Pause for holidays. We'd rather you stayed because you're happy.
Work out your price
£17.50 an hour, with a bit off for regular cleans. That covers your cleaner's living wage, their travel, the products and their share of the co-op. Nobody in between.
Each fortnightly clean
£42
About 2.5 hours with one cleaner. All products included.
Fourteen owners, no boss
In 2019, five cleaners at an agency in Govanhill worked out they were getting £9 of the £20 an hour their clients paid. So they left and started their own. Every cleaner is a member with one vote. Profits get split at Christmas.
Last year that came to £1,140 each, on top of wages. This year the members voted to buy a second van and pay for driving lessons for anyone who wants them.
Two of the fourteen
Precious Ncube
Member since 2019
Founding member. Listens to Afrobeats while she works, and you'll come home to a very shiny floor.
Shona McKenna
Member since 2021
Ten years in hotels before joining. Does the end-of-tenancy cleans that letting agents can't fault.
From the houses we clean
“I've had cleaners for years and it's the first time I've known the person's surname. Shona's been coming every Thursday for three years. She's family now.”
Morag F.
Shawlands
“Got our full deposit back. The letting agent asked who did it.”
Kamil and Ana
End of tenancy, Battlefield
“My asthma used to flare after every clean. Not any more. That alone was worth switching.”
Rachel O.
Strathbungo
Say hello
We cover G41, G42, G43 and G44. Ring Mon to Fri 9 till 5, or email any time and Precious will get back to you.