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.
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.
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.
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.