Kaitlin now cleans homes as far as Somerset West. Picture: Tracy-Lynn Ruiters
Kaitlin Branco, a 25-year-old mother of two, found an innovative way to provide for her children by offering cleaning services on social media.
Despite facing negative feedback and personal challenges, she decided to put herself out there by publicly offering to clean people’s homes.
Branco sits in her home in the gang-infested Beacon Valley in Mitchells Plain, but her home is sparkling clean and smells like the penthouse suite of a top hotel.
Dressed to go to her next appointment, Branco begins: “It really wasn’t easy but look at how far God brought me.”
Branco’s journey began when she worked in housekeeping at a hotel in Cape Town, but she found the early start times didn’t align with her desire to spend time with her young children.
She moved to a takeaway job, but the schedule still didn’t work for her. Desperate, she turned to Facebook but initially faced harsh criticism.
“The amount of men with the type of messages they sent was shocking and sickening, then the females would say things like you are too lazy to go out and look for a job,” she shared.
However, after she decided to publicly offer cleaning services, her fortunes turned.
“One evening in October, while I was cleaning I told myself, today I am going to put myself out there – name, surname and a picture of myself, no-matter how embarrassing it is and ask to clean people’s homes.
“The next morning I woke up, I saw so many messages and unlike the first time, it was positive with people asking me to come out to them and clean.”
Branco says she did not hesitate a second and immediately contacted people.
Now fully booked and working in areas like Mitchells Plain, Wynberg, Brackenfell and Somerset West, Branco has expanded her business, I&A Cleaning Service (named after her children), and employs four other women.
One is Amina Peters, who enjoys working with Branco.
“I enjoy working and helping working moms, making lives easier. I also enjoy working because I meet new people, and it helps me help others. I’m happy for Branco as a young person helping the community.”
Branco’s clients, like Gabriella Arendse, have praised her work ethic.
Arendse, a business owner and mother of three, shared: “I’m highly impressed with Branco’s work ethic and passion for what she does... She has pride in her work... what’s truly inspiring is that she’s doing all of this for her kids.”
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za
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