Shaw opens County Cleaning Services

By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    A childhood friend set Suann Shaw onto a new career.
    “My best friend is Bernadette Spellman,” said Shaw. “When I got back, she was my inspiration with her Busy Bee Cleaning.”
    Shaw started County Cleaning Services August of 2011.
    “A year ago in June, I came home to visit and I just knew I was coming back,” said the Monticello resident.
Suann Shaw
    A Houlton native, Shaw left the Shiretown while in her 20s and raised her family in Connecticut.
    “My last one turned 20,” she said. “I had the empty nest syndrome. But, I always knew I would come back. You always come home.”
    Shaw has family in the area, including Molly and Chester Bailey, Josephine McGuire and Charlotte Fleming, as well as her mother Arlene Malone and sister Jane Simpson.
    “My father is Lonny Shaw. He worked for Stone Memorials for many years,” she said.
    While in Connecticut, Shaw had opportunities at many business ventures, but she chose to work on the ambulance, which she does part-time in Houlton.
    “I am kind of a ‘Jill of all trades’,” she smiled.
    Before opening her own business, Shaw was doing per diem work at Community Living Association until her childhood buddy pointed her toward her business pursuit.
    “She said there was plenty of work all around for everyone,” Shaw recalled. “She and Rick are great people and they have their businesses. So, it inspired me.”
    County Cleaning Service offers a variety of house cleaning duties throughout The County. Shaw cleans homes, camps for opening and closing and businesses. She just recently obtained two certifications for crime, trauma scene and unattended death cleanup for both Maine and Connecticut.
    “Blood and gore don’t bother me,” she said. “And messes don’t bother me.”
    Shaw’s hours are fairly flexible at this time.
    “I have my steady houses and businesses to clean,” said Shaw, “But, this is a growing business. It’s still a baby.”
    Shaw is charging $15 per hour, which is the going rate. She will estimate her hours and cost if someone needs her to spring clean. Shaw uses only organic cleaning products.
    “It is so fun,” she said. “You can’t just let anyone in your house. It is such a privilege to be trusted to do that. For me, it means a lot.”
    Shaw has four children — Laura, Jerry and Travis all live in Connecticut, while her other son Michael lives in New Hampshire — and she has five grandchildren.
    Shaw has started another business on the side called Laura’s Kitchen, named after her daughter.
    “I’ve started canning and the product will soon be on local grocery shelves,” she added.
    Shaw doesn’t regret coming back to her roots.
    “It’s great to have the freedom to do that,” she said. “It’s bringing business to The County. I just feel like it is good home grown business … County clean.”
    Since Shaw is self-employed, she has time to pursue her hobbies of fishing, camping, gardening and cooking.
    Shaw can be reached by calling 694-0810 or via e-mail CountyCleaning@ymail.com.