Interview with Debbie Sardone

Debbie Sardone, founder of the nonprofit Cleaning for a Reason, discusses how she discovered the importance of clean homes to people with cancer and the impact donating one’s services can have on both the giver and the receiver.

How did you start this venture?

Cleaning for a Reason began as a company policy of my first residential cleaning business, Buckets and Bows Maid Service. Around twenty years ago, I was answering phones in my office, and one woman called wanting a quote for cleaning her home. Of course, I told her about our services and prices, and she replied, “I can’t really afford that now. I’m not working. I’m going through chemotherapy and radiation.” Then she cordially hung up.

I remember how that made me feel like it was yesterday. I just sat there and stared at my phone, wondering why I didn’t give her the cleaning for free. It’s not that I didn’t care or couldn’t do it. The thought just hadn’t crossed my mind.

I met with my staff that same day and told them if this ever happened again, offer the service for free. It was to be a new, immediate company policy, and I didn’t even need to be there to OK it—just do it.

How did that policy become Cleaning for a Reason?

We became more proactive about finding people we could give our services away to. And as I shared what we were doing with other cleaning-business owners, they responded. So many told me that they wanted to do the same in their community but didn’t know how to find cancer patients and screen them. I realized I had to turn this into a national nonprofit, which I did in 2006.

I was amazed by how quickly people joined. Seventeen years later, we have over 1,200 cleaning companies throughout the United States and Canada serving patients in their local communities and we have served over 50,000 families, 100 percent free, with no strings attached. That’s the equivalent of $16 million in donated cleaning.

How have you navigated the choppy waters of COVID-19?

In the early days of COVID, I feared that cleaning companies would shut down, but I was amazed at the number that didn’t. We’re also part of a bigger organization, the International Sanitary Supply Association, which we merged with in 2017. ISSA went to Washington and lobbied for businesses in the cleaning industry to be designated as essential, which helped keep most of us open. We always knew it was an essential part of public health, but we needed the government to recognize it.

I also worried that our cleaning companies, which are all independent, would put a hold on serving patients during the pandemic. Most did not. In fact, many doubled down, knowing that our patients are immunocompromised and needed them now more than ever. I was proud to see how they have stepped up not only during the pandemic but also during the labor shortage. Most are small business owners who may struggle nowadays to have enough employees for their paying clients, yet they still say yes to these free cleanings. Many others are mom-and-pop types who are the sole proprietors and do their own cleaning. All are just giving back a little of what they do and finding a way to do well by doing good.

How does a clean house impact someone battling cancer?

I had no idea about its emotional benefits for people whose lives have spun out of control. You have doctor’s appointments you have to make, you’re limited as to what you can do, and you have outsiders helping you with things you could normally take care of yourself: grocery shopping, watching the kids, or tending to the yard.

For example, one of our employees, Stacey, was originally a patient who connected with Cleaning for a Reason. She has been battling stage 4 breast cancer for several years now. She shared with me that when she was recovering from surgery and going through radiation, just taking a shower was almost an all-day event for her and vacuuming was out of the question. Stacey also said that when her family was able to come home to a clean house despite what Mom was going through, it changed everything. She actually said that it changed her life.

Another woman, Carolyn, wrote to us and said that when she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, she had secretly written herself off—she was convinced that she wouldn’t beat it. It wasn’t until the day she came home to a clean house that she felt back in control of her life for the first time since her diagnosis and had an overwhelming sense that she could beat cancer.

And I remember one cleaning-service owner who told me she lost her sister to cancer, which inspired her to join Cleaning for a Reason. She said that she couldn’t wait to start serving patients—and when she does, it’s like “vitamins for her soul.” For most people, Cleaning for a Reason is so much more than just a clean home.

How does Cleaning for a Reason’s example inspire others?

I believe it gets the conversation rolling about how many needs aren’t being met when someone is sick and fighting for their life, which compels people to help more. It also helps business owners become more aware that there are people in our communities who are suffering and that every one of them, whether they’re a repairman or roofer, can make a difference by dedicating time to help. It feels so good when you do good with no strings attached.

We’ve also found that the patients who’ve received our service will often ask how they can help once they get better. They say we supported them during their darkest time and want to give back. For example, Stacey spent several years volunteering before becoming an employee.

How do you feel about how far you’ve come and how many lives you’ve impacted?

You are going to make me cry. [Laughs] I don’t get asked this question very often. I never could have predicted that a cleaning company I started out of the trunk of my car to make ends meet would have grown into this national nonprofit serving so many families that really need the help. It’s been amazing.

For more info, visit cleaningforareason.org