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Lucy Leyva

How to Keep Allergens Out of Your Home

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We hope these tips will help prevent the causes of allergies around your home.

Here in Prescott, we work hard to maintain our homes. As much as we try to keep things clean, we unknowingly track things into our homes – including the dreaded allergies from pollen. Prescott Maid to Order wants to share some tips with you on how professional cleaning can help reduce allergies in your Prescott home.

HEPA Filters

High-Efficiency Particulate Air – HEPA for short – filters are specifically made to trap allergens in the home that can make it past other vacuum cleaners that are only designed for suction. If your vacuum doesn’t have a HEPA filter, then you are likely breathing in allergens as you are vacuuming.

Here are a few tips about what else you can do to eliminate some of the allergens that get into your home:

Cutting clutter: getting rid of boxes can help with dust and hidden allergens in the home like dust mites and cockroaches.

Wearing a mask while you are cleaning will help, but we also recommend leaving your house for a few hours once you are done. This will limit your exposure to allergens you might have lifted into the air while cleaning.

Keep your bathroom free of mold by scrubbing tile regularly.

Wash sheets weekly in hot water with unscented cleaners and detergents.

Don’t air dry your laundry outside where it can be exposed to pollen, which again enters your home unknowingly.

Clean entryways by sweeping or vacuuming.

Don’t use do-it-yourself shampoo on carpets because of the risk of mold growth or dust mite populations. Get them professionally cleaned.

If you are allergic to dust mites, ask another family member to do the cleaning or hire a professional cleaning company.

Prevention

These are certainly not required, but they will make your life easier when you are cleaning and help prevent allergy flare-ups.

Rugs and carpets can trap allergens, so having hardwood, tile or vinyl flooring will reduce your exposure to these. Getting smaller rugs that you can wash will also help.

Encase mattresses and pillows with dust-proof covers to reduce problems with dust mites.

Consider replacing drapes or horizontal blinds with roller shades, which will keep dust and allergens at bay.

If you do have drapes and curtains, wash them regularly.

Make sure to have the high pot shelves cleaned a few times a year. They collect a lot of dust and are often forgotten because you can’t easily see them.

Taking off shoes before you go inside the house will also help keep allergens from being tracked in.

Keeping pets out of the bedroom is tough for some of us, but if you are allergic, don’t let them sleep on the bed. This is a nightmare for anyone with allergies.

Use air-conditioning instead of opening windows when it is hot. Air-conditioning filters the air, preventing dust, pollens and any other triggers from getting in.

When it comes to allergen control, it can be a challenge, especially in the springtime in Prescott. We hope these tips will help prevent the causes of allergies around your home. QCBN

By Lucy Leyva

Lucy Leyva is the owner of Prescott Maid to Order.

 

Spring Cleaning Brings Renewal

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Enjoy spring! It’s finally here!

A couple weeks ago while taking a walk on the trails at Watson Lake, I looked all around at the dark, cloudy skies and the barren cold trees. As I looked a little closer, there was a hint of green on the very tips of the Cottonwoods. Could it be? I examined the trees up close, and sure enough, there they were, little green sprouts on the tips of the branches. I absolutely love Spring. Everything is so fresh and beautiful. Things start to bloom, and the overall feeling is that of energy and renewal.

We can feel this way at home, too, and explore the possibilities of rectifying any negative effect that the winter has had while preparing for the upcoming warmer weather and plan projects to improve our homes and yards.

The last several months have brought in dust and dirt from wet roads, wind and rain. Your home has most likely been closed for a while, without a lot of fresh air. Heaters and fireplaces have been running. It’s time to clean things up and start fresh.

If you have a fireplace, it is a good time to get it checked out and cleaned by a professional. The same applies to the duct work in your house that circulates the air from your heater and air conditioning unit. There are several companies in the area that can check out the duct work and make sure it is clean and nothing has come loose during the winter months. Another money-saving idea is to have the ductwork sealed after it is cleaned so that it is energy efficient. This is also a good time to have your air conditioning unit checked out. If you wait until the hottest month (usually June) and something goes wrong, you may have to wait in line for someone to come fix it.

Consider power washing any drainage areas in your yard, around your house and clearing out the gutters of debris. Power washing can also clean your driveways and walkways much better than just sweeping or rinsing down with a hose. It is also a necessary step in preparing for any painting fixes or projects you may have on the outside of your house. It will strip away the dirt and loose, peeling paint so that your new paint will look beautiful and last longer.

My favorite thing to have done once spring comes is to have all my windows professionally cleaned, including all the screens and tracks. It feels so good to have all that dirt and buildup cleaned away so that I can clearly see the gorgeous weather and views that our area offers. Having crystal clean and clear windows makes the whole house feel newer, cleaner and fresher.

Have carpets, rugs, upholstery and tile cleaned. There’s been a lot of traffic trampled all over your floors. There have been holiday parties, food spills, wet boots, dog paws, sweet but muddy kids and who knows what else going in and out of the house bringing in all the dirt and grime onto your floors and furniture. Having the carpets and upholstery cleaned will also help to extract any unwanted odors that have been lurking.

Enjoy spring! It’s finally here! QCBN

By Lucy Leyva

Lucy Leyva is the owner of Prescott Maid to Order.

Offering a Bit About Mother’s Day

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Do something special for the ones you love. We offer gift certificates to take some of the work off of your mom’s shoulders.

Regardless of how you fit into the Mother’s Day celebration, as a mom, grandmother, husband to a mother or child of a mother, the day set aside for mothers no doubt has significance. Throughout history, mothers have been revered. Here are a few fun facts:

Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia, who started Mother’s Day celebrations, also filed a lawsuit to stop the over-commercialization of Mother’s Day. She lost her fight. Anna had hoped for a day of reflection and quiet prayer by families, thanking God for all that mothers had done. During and following the Civil War, she made a concerted effort to foster friendship and community between the mothers on both sides of the war. She started a committee in 1868, which established the first glimmer of today›s holiday, “Mother’s Friendship Day.”

President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation declaring Mother’s Day an official holiday on May 9, 1914.

Early Mother’s Day celebrations were in Greece. The Greeks would have spring celebrations in honor of Rhea, the goddess of fertility, motherhood and generation.

Mother’s Day is the busiest restaurant day of the year!

More calls are made on Mother’s Day than any other day – 122 million calls are made on the second Sunday of May every year.

In 2022, more than $31 billion was spent on Mother’s Day.

Though celebrated on different days, Mother’s Day is celebrated all over the world.

The average age for a first-time mother in the United States hit 30 for the first time.

Grandmothers are also celebrated on Mother’s Day. Let’s hear it for grandmas!

Many of the sweaters worn by Mr. Rogers on the popular television show, “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” were actually knit by his real mother.

The nickname “Mom” comes from babies. The sound “Ma” is one of the first sounds babies make, that is why in almost every language, Mother starts with the letter “M.”

Carnations are the special flower for Mother’s Day and Mother’s Day is the third biggest selling holiday for flowers.

Mothers are at the very heart of society. As we approach this valuable holiday, lets turn our hearts to those we love. We look forward to giving of our time and tokens of appreciation for the people who have mothered us, whether it is our own mom, sister, friend, aunt or grandma.

Do something special for the ones you love. We offer gift certificates to take some of the work off of your mom’s shoulders.

Prescott Maid to Order would like to wish all the moms and those who have stepped in to fill that role in one capacity or another a very happy Mother’s Day. QCBN

By Lucy Leyva

Lucy Leyva is the owner of Prescott Maid to Order.

Put a Little Spring in Your Home

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We are Maid to Order and we hope you have a beautiful and clean spring!

This is the time of year that we start thinking about warmer weather. There are things that need to be done to prepare your home for the upcoming spring and summer. Spring and fall are optimum times during the year to take care of several semiannual tasks around the house.

The outside of your home is where you will be spending much of your time as the weather continues to warm up and the leaves start to come back. Clear gutters and downspouts of debris and leaves that have collected throughout the year. Consider some new landscape projects: tree planting, designing the garden you’ve always wanted, adding a deck, or adding rock landscape. It’s time to start planning these projects and preparing the ground and clearing out old plants, bushes, trees and weeds to make way for your outdoor dream yard.

Don’t forget the top of your house, which protects everything inside. Inspect the roof for loose, broken or missing shingles or tiles. You may want to have a professional roofer do an inspection so that you are confident that you are ready for the summer monsoon season. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, this is a good time to have the chimney swept and checked for excessive soot, leaves, bird nests, etc.

And don’t forget windows, windows, windows! How else can you enjoy the outdoors while you are inside other than to have beautiful, sparkling clean windows. Make sure that the window cleaning includes cleaning out the tracks and cleaning the screens. Look up high and down low. Other interior spring-cleaning tasks would include cleaning the fans and light fixtures, getting up and getting all the dust off of those high pot shelves and cleaning doors and door frames. Down low would be cleaning under beds, couches and scrubbing those baseboards that collect so much dust.

Finally, but very importantly, would be to test all of your emergency systems including fire and smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace batteries and make sure all systems are clean, charged and in working order.

Hire professionals that are bonded, insured and businesses that are locally owned. They can make sure the jobs are done correctly and safely, and you can feel good that you are contributing to the health of our Quad Cities area economy.

We are Maid to Order and we hope you have a beautiful and clean spring! QCBN

By Lucy Leyva

Lucy Leyva is the owner of Prescott Maid to Order.

Showing Love to Your Home this Valentine’s Day

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Love your home this month, show it you care. Do the little extras and enjoy the new year with a fresh, new, clean perspective.

So here it is, the month of love. This Valentine’s Day month is a good time to show a little love to your home without breaking the budget. I’m not talking about a renovation project, but rather, lots of little things that you can do to spruce up and “show the love” to your home. Some of the simplest tasks can make a huge difference in the look and feel of your home and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are a few to consider:

Replace some area rugs, curtains or shower curtain. It’s easy to change the feel of a room just by changing the color scheme or adding to it. Change out a room’s curtains or rugs and add in a color or style that is new and fresh.

Use a little scratch cover up or good quality wood oil with the appropriate color in it to give your wood furniture a facelift. Sometimes I forget what a difference it can make.

Pay attention to the details like baseboards, window tracks and door frames. Scrub the baseboards and paint if needed. Clean out the window tracks and clean all the tops and edges of the door frames.

Has it been years since you put those knickknacks up high on the pot shelves? Maybe it’s time they come down, the pot shelf gets cleaned and new, clean and updated décor goes up.

Add a little life to your house. It won’t be long until you can start to plant some outdoor plants, but you can plant indoors any time. Bring in some flowers, freshly cut or potted.  There are benefits to having indoor plants and flowers beyond the obvious, including: reducing carbon dioxide levels; increasing humidity; reducing levels of certain pollutants, such as benzene and nitrogen dioxide; reducing airborne dust levels; and keeping air temperatures down.

Add some new art, change it up, expand your style. It feels good and different and fresh. For that matter, change up the whole theme if you can. Without having to renovate, knock out walls or change flooring, a simple change like changing the art style in your house can give it a completely different feel.

Change filters and clean vents. Filters should be changed out several times during the year. Pollutants and dust particles collect and get blown back into your environment. A dusty dirty vent gives an impression of lack of care.

Love your home this month, show it you care. Do the little extras and enjoy the new year with a fresh, new, clean perspective. QCBN

By Lucy Leyva

Lucy Leyva is the owner of Prescott Maid to Order.

Treating Yourself to a Little Self-Care This Year

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Cleaning up, clearing out and starting fresh can apply to both material things like in our homes, but it can also have a broader meaning.

With the new year, we are usually motivated to do better, feel better and be better. Does it last all year? Sometimes it does. It is a good time to look at our daily lives and see what we can do to make each day better. How we can make a difference, how we can improve health and happiness for ourselves and our loved ones? Whether you have a large family or live alone, there are things we can do this new year to achieve our goals and make them last all year long.

Cleaning up, clearing out and starting fresh can apply to both material things like in our homes, but it can also have a broader meaning. Here are a few thoughts I have to share.

  1. Count Your Blessings

Take stock of what is important to you. Take five minutes each morning to review what you are thankful for and spend time appreciating those things. We all have something to be thankful for and often get too busy to recognize those things. Your day will be less stressful when you take the opportunity to look at the bigger picture.

  1. Let Go

If there are things that are bringing you down that you cannot change, let them go. Let go of past failures. Maybe you didn’t lose the weight last year, or get the dream job or paint the house. Whatever it is, you can’t change the past, so let it go and move forward with renewed resolve.

  1. Don’t Set Your Resolutions Too High

If you are a “New Year’s Resolution” type of person, make sure that you set attainable goals. Little tiny steps that you achieve will do much good for your esteem. It will motivate you to move forward. Expecting too much and not achieving will have the opposite result.

  1. Clean Up

Deciding to clear out the “stuff” and clean up for the new year often has long-lasting emotional and health benefits. It feels so good to get rid of the things you don’t need and that are creating clutter in your life. Do a closet at a time, a section of the garage or one dresser at a time. Have a garage sale or donate items you no longer need. Do a deep clean or hire a professional to help with the big stuff like windows, carpets, ovens, blinds, baseboards. What a great feeling!

  1. Commit to Better Well-Being

Decide what would make you feel better this year. Maybe eat a little healthier, walk a little more, take up a hobby or sport, dance a little, sing out loud (even if you’re tone deaf) and do what you can to get enough sleep. Make a conscientious effort this year to improve your well-being.

  1. Learn to Treat Yourself

You deserve to allow yourself some luxuries. In our industry, we find that at a certain point in life, many people – who have worked very hard for many years – finally come to the realization that they deserve some help with things like the cleaning of their home. Hire someone to do the things you don’t like to do. Maybe schedule a massage or just allow yourself some downtime.

  1. Serve Others

This is such an important concept. Small acts of kindness will lighten your own burdens and lift others. What a way to start the new year. QCBN

By Lucy Leyva

Lucy Leyva is the owner of Prescott Maid to Order.

 Is Your Vacation Home or Vacation Rental Ready for the Season?

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Protect your home by hiring only reputable people to assist you with your part-time home or vacation rental.

Vacation rentals and part-time homes are popular in the Prescott area. More and more people are purchasing homes and using them for their own vacation getaways or renting them out as vacation rentals. There are many things to consider if you do not live in your home full-time.

If you own a part-time home that will be unoccupied during the winter months, it is very important to take these steps: 

  •  Notify the police department that you will be away, and have a trusted neighbor or friend keep an eye on the home while you’re away. You may also hire a bonded and insured company to do periodic house checks. Maid to Order offers this service at a minimal charge.
  • Make your home unattractive to pests by closing up any openings to attics, basements and crawl spaces. Clean and defrost fridges and freezers, turn them off and prop open the door so that mold does not grow. And don’t forget to close the fireplace flue.
  • Drain pipes or set the temperature at 55 degrees to prevent pipes from freezing and unscrew hoses from the hose bib on the outside of the house.
  • Check and test all alarm systems, including fire alarms. Check all locks, deadbolts and window locks to make sure your house is secure.
  • Forward mail and stop newspaper delivery so that your home does not appear unoccupied. You may want to install lighting on timers.
  • Hire a company to remove snow after a storm to keep the outside from appearing unattended.

If you own a vacation rental, keep these things in mind:

  • Hire a reputable, bonded and insured hospitality professional to be your eyes and ears.
  • Make sure the people who are doing the cleaning after each renter leaves is also a reliable and reputable person or company.
  • Get estimates and recommendations for any company you hire to come to your home when you are not there.
  • Have them take pictures of any damage or loss after each visit.
  • Make sure you have access to a handyman or company that can come and take care of the smaller issues such as a leaky faucet, a toilet that runs, burned out lightbulbs, etc., and someone to come and wait for technicians on larger service items.

Protect your home by hiring only reputable people to assist you with your part-time home or vacation rental. Prescott Maid to Order is here to help with any of these items listed previously, including vacation rental cleaning, housesitting, house checks, handyman services, snow removal and yard maintenance.

We wish everyone a very happy Holiday Season! QCBN

By Lucy Leyva

Lucy Leyva is the owner of Prescott Maid to Order. Prescott Maid to Order also offers home maintenance services through our sister company Prescott Property Maintenance and can help with any of these tasks with one phone call.

Prepping Your Home for the Holidays

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Your guests will feel comfortable and cozy, your house will feel like home and sparkle.

Your home is where memories are made. Relationships with family and friends are renewed and grown within the walls of your home and you want this season to be wonderful. Here are some tips for making your home feel comfortable and homey for the holidays.

Keep up on the little daily chores during the holidays so that they don’t grow to be projects. Set a 20-minute timer to do the little stuff, make sure the bed is made and dishes are done. Keep mail in a designated place so that it doesn’t get strewn around the counters and pick up the clothes up off of the floors.

In the kitchen, do a quick check in the fridge to get rid of older leftovers and unneeded extra food just taking up valuable space. Don’t worry about cleaning the oven, save that task for after the holidays.  Make sure that you have all the kitchen tools you will need and that they are in good working order.  Sharpen knives and have plenty of large serving spoons.

Do a safety check around the house for possible hazards to young children and the elderly. Replace batteries in your smoke detectors and test them to ensure they are in good working order.

Declutter and remove any unnecessary items from the guest rooms, countertops, in the entry and on the floors. Less clutter equals less stress and creates a relaxed and clean feeling. Clear out space for guests’ coats and make room in the guest room for their items.

Each room that your guests may encounter should have a nightlight so they can find their way easily.  Make sure outdoor walkways and the address are well-lit.

Make the entry or the first room people see organized and pretty. This is where people come in, say their hellos, give big hugs and it is the first impression. Make it special and warm and welcoming.

Get help when needed. Don’t feel guilty that you are so busy during this season. Your time is precious, so spend it with the ones you love, doing the things that contribute to the joy of the season. Schedule professional carpet cleaning, window cleaning and house cleaning to free up your time and reduce stress.

Now, decorate to your heart’s content. Some like a lot of decorations and some like a minimalist approach. Either way, make it yours, show your style and have fun!

Finally, have something cooking that smells wonderful and festive as you entertain. Even “cut and bake” cookies baking or cinnamon potpourri simmering on the stove will do the trick. You’re all set! Your guests will feel comfortable and cozy, your house will feel like home and sparkle. Have a safe and love-filled holiday season! QCBN

By Lucy Leyva

Prescott Maid to Order also offers home maintenance services through our sister company Prescott Property Maintenance and can help with any of these tasks with one phone call.

Lucy Leyva is the owner of Prescott Maid to Order and Prescott Property Maintenance.

Why a Housekeeping Service?

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Don’t take this the wrong way, but we all learn to ignore our own dirt.

Housekeepers are something only rich people have. Or, are they? The truth is a housekeeping service is more affordable than you might think and is no different than paying someone to cook your meals at a restaurant or change your oil. Someone is happy to have the work and you don’t have to do it. It’s a win for everyone! Prescott Maid to Order explains why you should hire a professional house cleaning service to care for your Prescott home.

Here are some great reasons:

Cleaning Supplies 

You can clean your bathroom with an all-in-one cleaner, but if you want to do it right, you’re going to need more than that: window solution, tile cleaner, toilet cleaner and a grout cleaner. Have you ever seen a housekeeper’s cleaning tray? It’s full of cleaners and cleaning tools for a reason. Professionals know how to get things really clean.

Baseboards

Have you looked at your baseboards recently? Baseboards are where all the hair, dust, scuff marks and whatever the vacuum decided to push out of the way lives. They aren’t hard to clean, but they require a wet cloth and crawling on your hands and knees. Why would you want to do that yourself?

Dusting

Everything in your home has a surface that is collecting dust constantly. A feather duster is easy and kind of fun to use, but unless you are lifting everything up and moving everything out of the way, then you aren’t getting anything clean. And let’s not even mention what’s collecting under the fridge and behind your dryer. Hire a professional and never wrestle a dust bunny again.

Knobs, Handles, Switches 

Do you even realize these items need to be cleaned? Everyone opens the doors and everyone turns on the lights. This is where the germs live. Clean them up!

The Bathroom

Honestly, this should be a no-brainer. But just in case you aren’t aware, your bathroom needs to be cleaned at least weekly. And bathrooms don’t lend themselves to easy access. Ever try to reach that spot behind the toilet? The dirt can. And so can the professionals. They can handle soap scum, mildew, and that weird coloring on the tile in the corner.

The Floors 

All the dirt eventually ends up on the floor. No matter the floor type, all floors should be thoroughly cleaned every two weeks or that dirt starts to settle in for good. Are you really going to do that deep clean every other week? The pros will.

A Better Job

Don’t take this the wrong way, but we all learn to ignore our own dirt. The pros look at your home the way your guests look at it – and make sure it’s up to par. We should probably talk about procrastination at some point, too, but that can wait a bit longer.

You’ll Love Your Home Even More

You know how a sandwich always tastes better when someone else makes it? Your home is the same way. Instead of your home being an endless list of chores always staring you down, let your home be a sanctuary and cross cleaning off of your to-do list.

You’ll Have More Time 

Time is the great equalizer. We all have the same amount every day and we are all about an hour short of what we need. So, hire a pro to get things done while you’re doing all that other stuff, so when you come home you can finally be done.

Time is Money 

Yes, you can clean your own home. And maybe you even have the time to do it. But a professional cleaner is much more affordable than you’d think. Instead of thinking of what you’re paying for the service, think about what that money is buying you: more time with your friends and family, more time for your hobbies and fun activities. You’re not just buying a cleaning service; you’re buying a better experience of life.

Prescott Maid to Order wants to help you live a better life. Find out how we can help you enjoy the good stuff while we take care of the grimy stuff. QCBN

By Lucy Leyva

Prescott Maid to Order also offers home maintenance services through our sister company Prescott Property Maintenance and can help with any of these tasks with one phone call.

Lucy Leyva is the owner of Prescott Maid to Order and Prescott Property Maintenance.

Home Maintenance and our Senior Loved Ones

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Hiring a professional home cleaning service for your aging parents or family members can make a big difference.

If your aging parents or grandparents are finding that household chores are becoming more and more difficult, you might consider hiring a professional cleaning company. A cleaning service can be invaluable for the elderly, especially for those who live alone, and a trusted, professional cleaning company can provide that service.

Many older people lack the mobility, strength, flexibility and stamina to be able to clean their home. Keeping a home clean, presentable and hygienic takes hours a week even for the best of us and can be an insurmountable struggle for someone with physical limitations or chronic health issues.

Typically, problems spring up around specific cleaning tasks that involve uncomfortable positions, like bending over a toilet bowl or a dishwasher, or dusting high areas. Tasks that require standing on aging hip and knee joints, like vacuuming the carpet or sweeping kitchen floors, are also very difficult for the elderly.

There are even dangers to our senior loved ones when it comes to typical home maintenance tasks like changing lightbulbs, cleaning high ceiling fans, changing out batteries in the smoke detectors and replacing filters in the air and heating units. Getting on a ladder is dangerous for those with stability and balance issues.

Hiring a professional home cleaning service for your aging parents or family members can make a big difference.

Professional cleaners will ensure that your elderly parents or grandparents won’t be at risk of a dangerous fall or hurting themselves trying to keep their home clean.

Hiring a service also prevents the elderly from living in a home that is unsafe and unhygienic.

Ensuring that the tasks that would require a ladder are left to professionals.

Sometimes the homes of elderly people are not as clean as they would prefer solely because of inability. It can be very difficult to let people know that they need help. If you have a family member or friend whose home is not up to what you know are their usual pristine standards, they might simply be unable to do all that they want to do.

Encouraging your loved ones to consider getting a professional service prevents them from handling these tasks and allows them to stay off the ladder. It enables them to avoid bending over or getting on their hands and knees to clean the house. QCBN

By Lucy Leyva

Prescott Maid to Order also offers home maintenance services through our sister company Prescott Property Maintenance and can help with any of these tasks with one phone call.

Lucy Leyva is the owner of Prescott Maid to Order and Prescott Property Maintenance.