Twenty years ago, Monika Schindler launched Housekeeping Maid Easy with three employees, a small loan to cover the first three months of expenses, and exactly one client. Today, that same company serves more than 400 recurring customers each month with a team of more than 20, and has just been named a Nextdoor Neighborhood Fave for the sixth consecutive year. This fall, we are taking a moment to reflect on how far we have come and to say thank you to the clients, the team, and the Indianapolis community that made it possible.
Monika Schindler did not launch Housekeeping Maid Easy with a large team, a marketing budget, or a long client list. She launched it with three employees, one client, and the courage to bet on herself. To keep her team on full-time paychecks from the very first day, she cleaned alongside them during the day and met prospective clients for in-home estimates in the evenings. Within six months, the business had grown enough for her to step back from the field and focus on running the company.
"I think I'm proudest of the courage it took to take that leap of faith," said Monika. "We had just one client when we opened, and we needed to build a customer base fast enough to cover the paychecks of three full-time employees. It took countless hours and a whole lot of hard work, but we made it happen."
What began as a small, hands-on operation has grown into a business with dedicated support staff, established systems, and technology that allows it to run smoothly even when Monika is working remotely from abroad. To learn more about Monika's story and the values that have shaped Housekeeping Maid Easy from the beginning, visit our About page.
The core of what makes the company work, however, has not changed. Clients trust us because we earn that trust, one clean home at a time. That consistency over two full decades is what we are most proud of.
Adrienne H., a client since the company's first year, put it better than we ever could in a recent review: "I have been a client for 20 years and they have delivered an amazing customer experience for the entire 2 decades. The only way this could happen is through the company's commitment to hiring, training, and retaining the people that make it happen."
Twenty years. Same commitment. Same standard. We do not take that lightly.
The 20th anniversary coincides with something we are equally proud of: our sixth consecutive year being named a Nextdoor Neighborhood Fave. This award is not given by a panel of judges or determined by ad spend. It is voted on by neighbors — real people in the communities we serve who take the time to recommend a business they trust.
For a locally owned, woman-owned cleaning company built on relationships and word of mouth, that kind of recognition means everything.
"As a locally owned, woman-owned business, so much of what we do is built on trust, relationships and taking care of our neighbors," said Monika. "What we do is about more than cleaning — it's about giving people their time back, peace of mind, and the freedom to enjoy the things that matter most. This recognition reflects our amazing team and the loyal customers who have supported us over the years."
Six years in a row is not luck. It is the result of a team that shows up consistently, communicates clearly, and treats every home with the same care and respect. Additionally, it reflects the loyalty of clients across Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Westfield, and the surrounding communities who have taken the time to share their experience with their neighbors. That word-of-mouth trust is the foundation our business is built on, and it is something we work every day to deserve.
Monika credits the company's longevity to a simple philosophy: the best way to deliver exceptional service to clients is to take exceptional care of the people doing the work.
Housekeeping Maid Easy offers its cleaners competitive pay, full benefits, and the chance to build a real career rather than just hold a job. The company aims to keep the same cleaner assigned to each weekly and biweekly client, because that consistency makes the service better for everyone. At the same time, every team member is trained to the same standard, so clients can trust whoever walks through their door.
That approach is not common in this industry. Many cleaning companies rely on high turnover and a rotating cast of unfamiliar faces. We have made a deliberate choice to do things differently, because we believe the people who clean the homes are the company. When they are well-treated, well-trained, and invested in their work, clients feel that in every visit.
The team has grown from three to more than twenty over the past two decades. The support structure behind them has grown too — systems, scheduling, communication, and quality control that allow the work to happen consistently regardless of what else is going on. That infrastructure is what makes it possible to serve more than 400 recurring customers each month without losing the personal touch that clients joined us for in the first place.
As Adrienne H.'s review makes clear, that commitment to people is exactly what clients notice over the long term. Twenty years of consistent service does not happen by accident. It happens because the people behind it are genuinely cared for and genuinely proud of their work.
A 20-year milestone deserved a real celebration, and we wanted to mark it in a way that felt true to who we are: personal, warm, and focused on the people who made it possible.
We spent an afternoon with the entire team at Pottery By You in Indianapolis. The day included a taco bar catered by Sahm's, pottery painting, a gift card raffle, and a custom anniversary cake from Classic Cakes of Carmel. We closed with a non-alcoholic champagne toast and sent every team member home with a gift bag. Monika also shared the story of HME's journey over the past two decades, where it started, what it took, and what it means to have built something that has lasted.
"Twenty years in business isn't just about the company — it's about the people who have been part of the journey," said Monika. "I loved having the opportunity to celebrate with the incredible team that has helped make Housekeeping Maid Easy what it is today."
It was exactly the kind of afternoon we needed. A chance to slow down, look back, and appreciate everything the team has built together before getting back to the work ahead.
Twenty years in, we are not slowing down. Over the coming years, Housekeeping Maid Easy plans to keep improving both the client experience and the workplace it offers employees, while building a business resilient enough to weather whatever comes next.
"It's not just about how much we grow," said Monika. "It's about continuing to do what we do well, taking care of our people, and making a positive difference in the lives of those we serve."
That has been the goal since January 2006. It remains the goal today.
If you are a current client, thank you. You are the reason this business exists and the reason it has lasted. If you are considering hiring us for the first time, we would love the opportunity to show you what twenty years of doing this work looks like in your home.
Housekeeping Maid Easy has been serving Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Westfield, Zionsville, Avon, and the surrounding communities since 2006. Get your instant price in minutes and book online today.
