Ryan Chartrand
Click here to view the College Cleaners’ MySpace page.
College Cleaners is not your average cleaning service.
The “cleaners” are young women who wear revealing clothing, even lingerie, said “Missy,” a College Cleaners employee.
The business caused quite a stir with Cal Poly’s Sexual Assault Free Environment Resource (SAFER) program when College Cleaners posted advertisements across campus. SAFER promptly found, removed and shredded them.
“(The fliers) were posted in the University Union, outside the psychology office and in various buildings around campus. They were advertising their services and recruiting girls . I must say we were all rather shocked to see this,” said Alicia Voorhees, the associate coordinator of SAFER Programs.
College Cleaners advertises that “for a few dollars more than a regular maid service,” a fun and attractive girl in lingerie will clean homes and offices.
“We’re a group of attractive, sweet and outgoing college girls who recently started a unique and fun, sexy maid service here in San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria County,” wrote Missy on the MySpace page for College Cleaners.
“One of us will come to your home or office wearing our skimpiest lingerie; we’ll do your laundry, your dishes, vacuuming, sweeping, appliances, and we’ll even wash your car! Special requests appreciated and considered! Call for pricing and to schedule one of our super-sexy girls!” the ad stated. The MySpace page also hosts pictures of the women posing in revealing maid outfits.
“One has to wonder what type of individuals would call for this service, and these women could really be putting themselves in a bad situation, especially if they are going to homes alone,” Voorhees said.
“SAFER tries to encourage women to avoid situations that could put them at risk for sexual assault, and this is definitely one of those. SAFER wants to keep women safe, and we hope that the women working for College Cleaners will realize how risky their business might be,” Voorhees said.
According to Missy, College Cleaners employs trained bodyguards who accompany every woman to every job.
“I am going to be completely honest,” Missy said. “This very well could be unsafe if we didn’t take every precaution to make sure that our employees are protected. There is absolutely no physical contact between our employees and the clients. If any of our employees feel uncomfortable while working for any reason at all, we will leave immediately.”
“I believe SAFER should back off,” she said. “I know why they are concerned; this could be an unsafe business, but we do everything in our power to make it a safe one . I just want to make enough money to pay the bills, doing something that I enjoy, and do it in a safe, comfortable environment.”