by Mary E. Knippel

Betty Acosta (right) with two of her crew: Rocio Abila and Luz Covarrubias. Photos: Mary E. Knippel.

July 1, 2010 — Does your household include a Robot Ready Rosie, Always Available Alice, or Totally Talented Tony? Probably not, because we live in the real world of toddlers, teens and stressed-out spouses — family members who are either too young or too over-scheduled to help out around the house. In today’s hectic world where home caring has become a domestic industry, the Jetson, Brady and Bauer TV households aren’t the only ones who could benefit from some outside help. Betty Acosta, owner of Betty’s House Cleaning, has been making things picture perfect here on the Coastside for over 20 years.

“When I was young in Mexico,” Acosta said, “we were expected to learn how to cook, how to sew, and how to do women things. It’s a different culture there. But I didn’t like all that. So instead I cleaned the house. … I cleaned everything, moved things around, and rearranged furniture all the time. That was just something I really liked to do.”

Acosta began her business in response to a request to clean someone’s home. “I was working at a hotel in El Granada,” Acosta said. “I’d never cleaned for a family before, but I discovered I was good at it! I worked for this lady after I was done with my job at the hotel. She started telling her friends about me and I got my confidence up to go look for more business.”

Whether your residence is a glass space capsule, a split-level or a two-story colonial, your home is your pride and joy. However, once you get your home looking good, sometimes it’s a struggle to keep it that way. Employing a house-cleaning service could solve that dilemma and make life so much easier.

While she was establishing the business, Acosta, along with her husband David, worked long hours together. “We had no holidays or vacation,” Acosta said, “and our 2-year-old daughter, Sandy, was always with us. My husband is a gardener and he did his regular job, too.”

Acosta instills in her employees a sense of purpose and pride in a job well done. “I tell my employees that it’s not just because you need to work,” said Acosta, “it’s because you want to do this work and you really enjoy what you are doing. Also, you get paid!”

While house-cleaning duties involve predictable activities of vacuuming, washing and polishing, Acosta and her crew feel their responsibilities go beyond house cleaning to caring for all the members of the household. Betty’s House Cleaning’s attention to detail has extended to dealing with some sensitive client needs, such as maintaining hospital-caliber cleanliness while a client coped with a major illness — and even dealing with a canine in need of immediate medical attention.

“I’ve been here for many years,” Acosta said. “We’re a local business serving the community. My satisfaction is their satisfaction. My clients are my friends. Our cleaning services are not just about cleaning; we also care for our clients.” Thursday and Friday are the busiest days for the staff of eight. The holidays are also hectic when so many clients are entertaining or having overnight guests.

“Betty’s crew breezed through my home like a lovely cleaning machine, leaving it spotless and fresh,” said Ellen Joseph. “They accomplished in a couple of hours what would have taken me five or six hours if I worked very fast. … I am very pleased with Betty’s flexible scheduling, reasonable rates and friendly, professional manner. I feel confident entrusting my home to Betty and her crew.”

Although she is named after her grandmother Beatrice, Acosta said her family nicknamed her Betty. “I didn’t like the name Beatrice as a child,” Acosta said, “but now I really think it is a pretty name.” Acosta’s daughter Sandy, who was a toddler when her mother started the business, now has a little boy of her own. Acosta also has a 6-year-old son, David.

Whether you choose to have a professional house cleaner come to your home to help out once a week, once a month, once a season, or once a year, Betty’s House Cleaning is ready to restore sparkle to your home. Contact Acosta at 650-712-9313, or visit online at http://bettyshousecleaninghmb.com.