Upper West Side cleaning,
pre-war dust included.
Half our Upper West Side clients live in buildings older than their grandparents: brownstone walk-ups on the side streets, big pre-war co-ops on the avenues. Both collect dirt in ways a new building never will, and both are what we're built for.
What we clean in Upper West Side
Brownstone and townhouse walk-ups
Side-street floor-throughs and studios, three to five flights up. Original hardwood, plaster walls, a radiator under every window.
Pre-war co-ops on the avenues
Central Park West, West End, Riverside. Doorman buildings with boards, service elevators and COI requirements, and apartments with moldings that hold a decade of dust.
Family apartments
More two- and three-bedrooms than anywhere else we work. Kids' rooms, strollers in the hall, and a kitchen that gets used three times a day.
What the dirt is like here
- Radiator dust is the defining problem. Steam heat runs October through May and moves everything that isn't wiped off the fins in September.
- Avenue-facing windows get an oily soot from Broadway and Amsterdam traffic that smears if you dry-dust it.
- Plane-tree pollen off Central Park and Riverside in late April coats sills and screens for three weeks.
- Original hardwood can't take standing water; we damp-mop, never wet-mop, and dry as we go.
Getting in: doormen, keys and COIs
Walk-ups: a key, a lockbox or a neighbor works. Doorman buildings: we check in at the desk, use the service elevator where the house rules require it, and send a COI to management before the first visit. Most UWS co-ops allow contractors 9am–5pm on weekdays; we schedule inside those hours.
Deep-cleaning a pre-war walk-up studio on the Upper West Side →
Real apartment, real photos, what we found and what we did. Or read the guide that applies here: How to clean a pre-war apartment.
Questions Upper West Side clients ask
Do you clean walk-ups and pre-war apartments?
They're most of what we do. Radiators, crown mouldings, original hardwood and old tile all need different handling than a new build; our pre-war cleaning guide explains how we approach them.
Will I get the same cleaner every time?
On a recurring plan, yes. The cleaner who learns your apartment is the one who comes back, and if they're ever away we'll tell you in advance and send someone from the same small team.
My building needs a Certificate of Insurance (COI). Can you provide one?
Yes. We're bonded and insured, and we issue COIs naming your building's management company on request, sent before the visit so the front desk has it on file. See how it works in our Upper East Side co-op case study.
Are your products safe for kids and pets?
Yes. Our default products are non-toxic and fragrance-light. Pets are welcome to stay home; just let us know at booking so your cleaner knows who to expect.
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