The row house on Prince Street in Old Town Alexandria taught my team more about our craft than any training program ever could. I want to tell you why.
I am Leila, and I have been cleaning homes in Alexandria for over fifteen years. My team has cleaned thousands of houses. Modern condos in Tysons. Family colonials in McLean. New builds in Prince William. But it was a two-hundred year old row house in Old Town that showed us what real, careful cleaning actually means.
WHAT OLD TOWN TAUGHT US“You do not clean historic homes the way you clean modern ones. Every surface has a story. Honor the story first.”
The First Walk-Through
The homeowner met me at the door. She had inherited the house from her grandmother two months earlier. She loved it fiercely. Every piece of furniture had a story. The mantle clock had come with her great-grandfather from Ireland in 1912. The kitchen table had been in the same spot for eighty years.
She said, “I want to keep it clean, but I am terrified of damaging anything. My grandmother would not forgive me. Neither would I.”
What Old Homes Teach You
Old Town row houses are not like new construction. The floors are original hardwood, sometimes with hand-forged nails still visible. The bathroom tile in some homes is from the 1940s and cannot be replaced. The plaster walls are alive with history and cannot be cleaned like drywall. The window frames have layers of paint from every family who lived there.
My team had to relearn everything. We stopped using standard cleaning products on the wood floors and switched to a pH neutral wood cleaner. We stopped using microfiber on the historic tile because it could catch on tiny chips and pull material away. We started using softer brushes on the antique light switches and outlet covers.
The Grandmother’s Silver Frame
Six months into cleaning that house, I was dusting the mantle on a Tuesday morning. I picked up a small silver picture frame with a photograph of a young girl in a First Communion dress. It was tarnished heavily. I brought a soft polish cloth out of my bag and cleaned it gently. It took about ten minutes.
The homeowner came home from work that evening. She saw the frame. She sat down on the couch and cried. She had not been able to see her mother’s face clearly in that photo for as long as she could remember. She said, “I forgot she looked like that.”
That is when I understood the real work we do. We are not just cleaning houses. We are letting people see their homes and their lives again with fresh eyes.
What My Team Learned
Every one of my team members who has cleaned that Prince Street row house has come back changed. They ask better questions. They notice smaller details. They handle every home with more care, even brand new construction where nothing is fragile.
Because once you have polished a great-grandfather’s pocket watch, you never quite touch anything the same way again.
Common Questions Our Clients Ask
How long has DVL been in business?
Fifteen years and counting. Owner Leila Flores started DVL in 2010 with a commitment to combine professional cleaning standards with the warmth of a family-run business. That balance has defined every hire, every process, every client relationship since.
What cleaning products do you use?
Our default product set is EPA Safer Choice certified, pet-safe, and family-safe. For clients with specific chemical sensitivities, allergies, or asthma, we switch to full green-certified alternatives at no premium. Just tell us at booking.
Are your team members insured and bonded?
Yes. Every team member carries full liability insurance and is bonded. Every team member has passed a background check, verified annually. This is not marketing language. It is our operating minimum.
Will I have the same cleaning team every visit?
Yes. Same-team-every-visit is our foundational policy. Our clients typically have the same 2-person team for years. This is why our team members are familiar faces in our clients’ Ring cameras and neighborhoods.
What if something is missed or does not meet expectations?
We come back within 24 hours to make it right. Free of charge. This come-back guarantee has been part of DVL from day one. It reflects our commitment to actual quality, not marketing promises.
Do you serve areas outside your listed cities?
Yes. Our primary service area covers Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, McLean, Vienna, Tysons, Woodbridge, Lorton, Fort Hunt, Manassas, and Prince William County. We serve select clients in DC and other DMV neighborhoods on request. Ask us if your neighborhood is not listed.
If You Live in an Old Town Home
If your home in Alexandria has real history, original materials, or family heirlooms, please choose your cleaning service with care. Not every cleaning company understands historic homes. Some will use the wrong products. Some will move quickly through spaces that need time and attention.
At DVL Cleaning Group, our team is trained on historic materials. We ask questions before we clean anything unfamiliar. We treat every antique and family piece the way we would treat our own grandmother’s things.
If you live in a historic home in Old Town Alexandria or the DMV area and you have been wondering if there is a cleaning service that will truly respect what your home is, reach out for a free consultation. I would love to walk your home with you.
Because your home is not just a house. It is a story. And every story deserves to be cared for gently.
With warmth,
Leila
Owner, DVL Cleaning Group
