Mike Wills Jr.
Co-Founder & CEO
I've been running Maid Marines in New York City for over a decade. Born and raised in Queens, still here with my wife and two kids. We've cleaned more houses and apartments in this city than I can count, which means I've spent a lot of time thinking about what happens in people's homes, why they hire help, and what separates a cleaning company people trust from one they tolerate. I write here because the business generates enough real observations that it's worth writing them down.
Articles by Mike Wills Jr.
How Much Does House Cleaning Cost in NYC? (2026 Price Guide)
Real 2026 prices for house cleaning in NYC: flat rates from $149 to $699 by bedroom count, $70 per hour per cleaner, deep clean costs, and recurring discounts.
The NYC Move-Out Cleaning Checklist That Gets Your Deposit Back
A room-by-room move-out cleaning checklist ordered by what NYC landlords actually inspect, with deposit basics and when to hire it out instead.
Same-Day House Cleaning in NYC: Your Fastest Options
Need a cleaner today in NYC? The fastest route is instant online booking with live availability and upfront pricing. What to have ready and what to expect.
How to Choose a House Cleaning Company in NYC
What to check before hiring a house cleaning company in NYC: insurance and bonding, W-2 employees, vetting, reviews, guarantees, and online booking.
Can You Hire a Cleaner for Just One Room? (Kitchen-Only Cleans in NYC)
Yes, you can hire a cleaner for just one room. Our NYC hourly service is $70 per hour per cleaner with a two-hour minimum, and you set the priorities.
Do Maid Services Do Laundry? What House Cleaners Will (and Won't) Do
Yes, some maid services do laundry. Here's what a standard house cleaning includes, how the $40 linens-and-towels add-on works, and what cleaners won't do.
What to Expect From a Professional House Cleaning in NYC
What actually happens during a professional house cleaning in NYC, from the products cleaners bring to what 2, 3, or 4 hours covers and how you pay.
How to Clean Engineered Hardwood Floors (The Pro Method)
Engineered hardwood needs a dry dust, a damp mop, and a pH-neutral cleaner. Steam, vinegar, and wet mops are what ruin it. Here is the routine pros use.
The Knicks Are Up 2-0 in the NBA Finals and the Series Is Coming Home to New York
The Knicks won Games 1 and 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals and NYC feels like a different city. The series shifts to Madison Square Garden next.
The Knicks Are Moving On and the City Feels Different
The Knicks playoffs have NYC buzzing after a six-game closeout. A cleaning business founder on playoff momentum, belief, and what this city feels like now.
Why Your NYC Apartment Gets Dirty Again So Fast
NYC apartments get dirty fast because of construction dust, soot, radiator grime, and foot traffic in tight spaces. It's not you. It's the city.
I Dormed in Downtown Brooklyn in 2002 and Nobody Thought to Hire a Cleaner
College students in NYC are hiring apartment cleaning services, and it's the move we never made. A cleaning company founder reflects on dorm life at Brooklyn Poly in 2002.
How I Think About Layering Summer Scents Through Every Room in the House
How to layer summer home fragrance across every room and outdoor space. Scent-zone techniques from a home stager, plus tips for patios and small apartments.
Why Friday Is the One Day Every Cleaner on Our Team Works
Friday cleaning is always at full capacity — every cleaner working, every slot filled. Here's why it's the most popular day to schedule a house cleaning in NYC.
Shorts Weather Is Back in NYC, and Your Apartment Knows It
Warm weather quietly changes how NYC apartments behave. Stronger odors, open-window dust, humidity on tile. What spring actually shifts, and what to do.
Knicks Playoff Season Is Here
The 2026 NBA playoffs are about to start and as a lifelong New York Knicks fan, the energy around this team right now is something else.
Why Trust Is Everything When Someone Cleans Your Home
How we vet cleaners beyond background checks — founder interviews, supervised training, and why getting the same cleaner every time is how real trust builds.
What the Hallway Tells Me Before I Walk In
NYC cleaners read apartment hallways and building lobbies before reaching the unit — not for cleanliness, but for context about what the job requires.
The New Baby Deep Clean
The cleaning before a newborn comes home isn't really for the baby. It's for mom, and the priorities are different than a standard deep clean.
Lawn Care and House Cleaning Are Both Recurring Services, but They Operate in Different Worlds
Two recurring home services, same neighborhood, totally different standards. A reflection on lawn care vs house cleaning quality from someone who deals with both in Queens.
The Allergens Living in Your Older NYC Home (And Why I Finally Got Serious About Air Purifiers)
Older NYC homes hide dust mites, mold, cockroach allergens, and more. Houses, apartments, brownstones — add spring pollen and it compounds fast.
Cleaning a New Development vs. a Prewar Apartment in NYC
New dev and prewar apartments clean completely differently. Approach, surfaces, and order of operations all shift depending on which one you have.
Why the Name Maid Marines?
The real origin story behind the name Maid Marines. No military background, no gimmick. Just a name that captured the right qualities.
Why Move-In Cleanings Carry More Weight Than Move-Out Cleanings
Move-out cleanings are practical. Move-in cleanings are personal. There's a real difference, and it matters when expectations don't get met.
Recurring Cleaning vs. One-Time: Why the Schedule Changes More Than Just the Frequency
A recurring cleaning schedule and an on-demand one aren't just different frequencies. They create different homes and different states of mind.
What I'm Actually Going to Write About Here
Not a content strategy. Just whatever is actually on my mind about running a cleaning company in New York City.
Training and Customer Service Are the Only Things That Actually Separate Cleaning Companies
Most cleaning companies think customer service is a policy. The ones that last a long time treat it as an identity. Here's why that distinction matters.
NYC Spring Is Too Beautiful to Spend Indoors Cleaning
After a rough NYC winter, the hours you reclaim by not cleaning are worth more than the cost. Spring in this city is too short to spend scrubbing floors.
Why Spring Cleaning Actually Matters
Spring cleaning isn't really about the cleaning. It's about resetting how you relate to your space after months of just tolerating it.