A pair of cleaners from Emma's Eco-Clean did a 3.5-hour session at the house today. I think most of it was spent cleaning and sanitizing the kitchen and bathroom, undoing many decades of living. The shower doors, tub, shower tile, windows, and the enameled surfaces of the range look miles better than before. There was also a window that we thought was frosted but turned out to be covered in apparently something removable...I'm not sure what (do-it-yourself spray-on frost?), but at any rate, it's clear now:

It was also nice that the house didn't smell of harsh chemicals (ignoring the polyurethane from the floor refinishing). We'll wait to give a truly final verdict on Emma's Eco-Clean, but we'll certainly call them back for our first periodic cleaning.

Utility update:
Discontinued Comcast at the old apartment today. Lesson learned: they need at least 7 days advance notice to shut off service (I wonder if this is entirely necessary)...so we're overpaying a little bit. Gotta remember to return the receivers. They will deduct final bill from autopay, and will send last bill paperwork to the new address.

We need a cleaning service to go through the house after the floors are finished. And maybe a cleaning service to clean our apartment too. I queried my coworkers.

Cleaners:
A couple of them use this service:
http://www.emmasecoclean.com/

Coworker's comments:
-not the cheapest, but seem to be average in price
-use non-chemically cleaning items and they are all part of a co-op which is kinda cool (i dig that)

Cool thing on their website: a checklist + quote request form.

Cleaning notes to self:

• ideally Jan 17-19: 1266 sq. ft. house: 1 BA, 3 BD, 1 kitchen, hardwood throughout. Need to sanitize kitchen (11' row of cabinets...two hanging cabinets) and BA, wipe down walls, mop floors, dust windowsills, wipe down closet shelves (3 BD closets, small linen closet, small BA medicine cabinet).
• maybe: clean apartment. How many days notice will they need? Fri Jan. 21, or Mon. Jan 23 or Tue Jan. 24: 900 sq. ft. apartment: need surface, floor, BA cleaning + thorough vaccuum. maybe a steam clean on carpet.

Movers:
One coworker used Budget Movers in San Carlos and was pretty happy with them.
I think this is the Yelp page; not many reviews, but the reviewers sound quite pleased:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/budget-movers-and-storage-san-carlos

Moving notes to self:

• ideally Thurs. Jan 20 or Fri. Jan. 21. - load a very full 10'x10'x8-10' storage locker (everything already professionally packed)
• 1.5 mile away: load 2nd-floor 1-bedroom apartment worth of stuff:
• many boxes, all professionally packed .... 50 or so?
• couch + loveseat + coffeetable + small bench + end table + shelf + dresser + some dissassembled shelves
• dining table & chairs + 2 sideboards
• 1 mattress & disassembled bed
• no kitchen
• no TVs
• no BA
• no clothing
• furniture needs protection, carpet needs protection
• 3.5 mile away: destination: all on ground level. apartment items into house, most of storage items into garage [grill + patio furniture go on deck]
• newly refinished hardwood floors need protection