We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lauren Ibinger. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lauren below.

Alright, Lauren thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I had been in the Restaurant industry for most of my career. I went to culinary school and graduated with a bachelor’s in culinary management. Back in November of 2023, I was having a really hard time at the last restaurant I was working at, and I realized the Restaurant industry no longer aligned with my life values. I left the restaurant I was working at without much of a plan for what was next. I did some odd cash jobs here and there over the first few months. I walked dogs, planted gardens, mowed lawns, meal prepped; and then I had a friend that wanted me to start cleaning their house. After the first clean I felt like I had a purpose. That feeling of fulfillment, being able to provide a service that was genuinely creating more ease in someone's space, was a very welcome feeling for me. In the Restaurant industry I was slowly becoming burnt out and no longer feeling that purpose and fulfillment that I so craved. After I realized how cleaning for others made me feel, I knew that I wanted to continue to pursue that feeling of fulfillment. I had friends that were interested in hiring cleaning services and they became my first clients.

Now Blossom Cleaning LLC has grown by word of mouth and a few social media posts. I also really enjoy being my own boss and creating flexibility in both my personal and professional schedule. I went through a divorce two and a half years ago; and have been navigating that and
co-parenting ever since. It has drastically changed my perspective on life in such a positive way. I want to pursue things that align with my values and feel right for me. Starting this cleaning business has not been the easiest venture, but I know that it is the right thing for me right now.

For folks who may not have read about you before, can you please tell our readers about yourself, how you got into your industry/business/discipline/craft etc, what type of products/services/creative works you provide, what problems you solve for your clients and/or what you think sets you apart from others. What are you most proud of and what are the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you/your brand/your work/etc.

I left the restaurant industry and knew that I needed to find something that aligned with my values and provided me with a sense of purpose and fulfillment. I started cleaning a friends’ home in-between jobs. I immediately felt that sense of purpose and fulfillment. I was providing a service to someone that was making a noticeable difference in their space and that had the potential to make beneficial impacts in other parts of their lives. Providing someone with a clean space allows them to focus more on the other things that are important to them, and simultaneously allows them to enjoy their space more. Currently, I am a solo cleaner, providing a service that is tailored to each of my clients’ individual needs. Not every client and home are going to be the same, so I like to get to know the client and their space through an initial walk through. The fact that I am a solo cleaner and have the walk-through process allows me the creativity and flexibility to come up with the custom tailoring cleaning plan for each unique client and their equally unique household. Thus, creating a happier customer adding to my feelings of purpose and fulfillment. I love witnessing and creating small moments of joy throughout my day. With this in mind, my signature is leaving behind a bouquet of fresh flowers after every cleaning. Which in return hopefully creates a small moment of joy for my clients throughout their day or week between cleanings.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Two and a half years ago I hit mental health rock bottom. I was in a relationship that was no longer right for me and had been sitting with the tough decision for some time. Leaving that relationship was the first step in healing. I took about six months off of work to better myself through intense therapy programs. During this time, my son and I lived with my parents. That was so helpful to have their support. As I started to feel better, I slowly started to integrate more things into my life as far as responsibilities go. For example, getting a job and moving back out on my own. This time in my life was so incredibly difficult, however even if it was something small each day I continued to move forward. Now, fast-forward two years and I am starting my own cleaning business. I would not have believed that was possible two years ago. It is nice to reflect on that time and see how much I have healed and grown. It has given me a new perspective on life and truly has me doing things that align with what I want and what make me feel good.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The past few years have been a lot of unlearning for me. A big one is looking at what success truly looks like and what that means to me. I grew up with a very “perfectionist” mindset. And that view was very present in my daily life, never missing days in college or days of work, doing well in school and not allowing failure into my life. After leaving a relationship that was no longer right for me; that was the first biggest time in my life I felt like a failure. I felt like I had let everyone down. No one in my family had gone through a divorce before. I’ve witnessed people “sticking it out” in unhealthy relationships; and I thought that was the right thing to do. As I reflect on it now, and through the help of therapy early on in the separation, I realize that I am not a failure. Rather the opposite, I am actually doing something so good for myself and for my son, by listening to myself and doing what feels right for me.

Success, to me, looks like slowing down and listening to yourself and doing what truly makes you happy. Doing what fulfills you and gives you that feeling of purpose and self-worth. I am still learning a lot of what that looks like, but I am doing my best each day.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: blossomcleaningllc
• Facebook: Blossom Cleaning LLC