The French Quarter is the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans, and its homes show it in the ways that matter to a cleaner: plaster walls, heart-pine floors, twelve-foot ceilings, stairs with no elevator, and a courtyard or balcony that collects whatever the weather and the parades bring. We clean apartments, condos, whole houses and short-term rentals in the Quarter, and this is what we have learned about doing it well, written for owners, renters and hosts who want to know what to expect before anyone arrives.
Older surfaces want gentler products
Most Quarter interiors were finished long before modern paints and sealers. Plaster walls, old paint, cypress and heart-pine floors, marble mantels and original tile all react badly to harsh chemicals and to water left standing. Our approach:
- Wood floors get pH-neutral cleaners and a damp mop, never a wet one. Standing water finds the gaps between old boards and stays there.
- Plaster and old paint are spot-cleaned rather than scrubbed. Flat paint on plaster can rub off under a dry cloth, let alone an abrasive pad, so we test in a corner and keep the pressure light.
- Painted trim, mantels, transoms and interior shutters are dusted and wiped with the mildest product that does the job.
- Brass, marble and original tile get products made for them, not an all-purpose spray.
- If you have a product you trust for a particular surface, tell us when you book and we note it on the estimate.
High ceilings, fans and transoms
Twelve- and fourteen-foot ceilings mean ceiling fans, transoms, picture rails and the tops of armoires that sit well above eye level and hold dust nobody notices until the afternoon sun comes through. On a deep clean we do vents, ceiling fans and window sills along with baseboards, door frames and light switches, and we reach behind and under the furniture that can be moved safely. The practical limit is reach: we work from a step stool, not a ladder, so anything higher than that is outside what we can do safely in an occupied home. Interior windows, window tracks and blinds are add-ons on any estimate.
Humidity, mildew and the bathroom
Quarter bathrooms are often small, windowless and carved out of a room that was never meant to hold a shower, so the humidity has nowhere to go. Routine mildew on tile, grout lines, caulk and window sills is part of a deep clean, and on a regular schedule we keep it from getting a foothold. What we cannot do is anything that has gotten into a wall or a ceiling; that is a different trade, and if we see something that looks like it, we tell you rather than clean over it.
Stairs and no elevator
A second- or third-floor Quarter apartment usually means a narrow staircase, sometimes an exterior one off the courtyard, and no elevator. We bring our own supplies and equipment, so the stairs are part of the plan: we pack light and allow a little extra time. If the stairs are steep, unlit or shared with other units, tell us in the notes so we arrive prepared and keep the noise down for the neighbors.
Courtyards, balconies and galleries
Outdoor space is the Quarter's reward, and it is also where leaves, pollen, parade glitter and street dust pile up. Sweeping a courtyard or balcony and wiping down outdoor furniture can be added to an estimate; just tell us whether it is part of the visit. Yard clean-up and work that needs a ladder are outside what we do.
Getting in: gates, carriageways and keys
Few Quarter addresses have a front door that opens straight onto the unit. The route often runs through a locked gate, down a carriageway, across a courtyard and up a stair to a unit at the back of the lot. Tell us the route and the codes in advance. Keys and codes are used only to do the work, we hold a key only at your written request, and keys are tagged with a code rather than the address. If the building has quiet hours or rules for contractors, tell us and we work inside them, including when we run the vacuum.
Parking and timing
Parking is the part of a Quarter visit that decides whether a cleaner is on time. Much of the neighborhood is permit-only or metered, some streets close to traffic at certain hours, and during festivals and parades whole blocks shut down. We plan extra time for street parking in the Quarter, and the single most useful thing you can tell us is where to park: a loading zone nearby, a garage with a code, a spot the building keeps for contractors. If your block closes for an event, a different day is usually easier than fighting it.
Trash rules are per block
Collection days and where the cans go differ from one block to the next in the Quarter. Tell us which day and where, and we take the bags out as part of the visit rather than leaving them by the door.
Which service fits a Quarter home
- Standard cleaning, weekly, every two weeks or every four, keeps a lived-in apartment or house on top of the dust that high ceilings and open windows let in.
- Deep cleaning is the reset for a place that has not had one in a while: baseboards, fans, vents, sills, grout lines and behind the furniture that can be moved safely.
- Airbnb and short-term rental turnovers between a checkout and a check-in, with your linens, restocking from your supply and a photo report before the next guest. Our turnover guide for hosts covers the Quarter's logistics in more detail.
- Move-in and move-out cleaning for an empty unit changing hands, inside the cabinets, closets and appliances.
Every visit gets a free written estimate based on the size and condition of the home. If we arrive and the home is not as described, we show you photos and tell you the new price before doing anything more; nothing extra is done or charged without your approval. We take before and after photos of the areas we clean; they avoid people, documents and valuables where possible, are kept private, and are never posted or used in marketing without your written permission. Antiques, art and collectibles are dusted only on request, so tell us what to leave alone.
Booking a clean in the French Quarter
FleurShine is owner-operated, insured and based in Arabi, a short drive downriver from the Quarter. We serve all of New Orleans, from the Quarter, Marigny, Bywater and Treme to Uptown, Mid-City and Algiers, plus Arabi, Chalmette, Metairie, Kenner and the West Bank. Request a free estimate on the booking page, or call or text (504) 355-9525, and include the floor, the way in, where to park and any surfaces that need special care.
Questions Quarter residents ask
Can you clean historic wood floors and plaster walls safely?
Yes. We use pH-neutral cleaners on wood, damp-mop rather than wet-mop, and spot-clean plaster and old paint rather than scrubbing it.
Do you handle mildew from the humidity?
Routine mildew on tile, grout, caulk and window sills is part of a deep clean. Anything that has gotten into a wall or ceiling is a job for a different trade, and we tell you if we see it.
Where do you park in the Quarter?
We plan extra time for street parking. If your block has a permit zone, a loading spot or a garage code, tell us in the notes and we use it.
How do you get into a unit at the back of a courtyard?
You tell us the route and the gate codes in advance, or we hold a key at your written request. Keys and codes are used only to do the work and are never shared.
What if I need to move the visit because of a parade?
Reschedule or cancel at no charge with at least 24 hours' notice. With less notice, or a lockout when we arrive, a fee stated on your estimate may apply.
What if something was missed?
Tell us within 24 hours of the visit, with a description or a photo, and we come back and re-clean that area at no charge.