New business spotlight on Rig Maids

When Rig Maids started in February, it began as a business to help the gas industry. With the recent flooding, the company expanded also to help area flood victims.

"We're a janitorial cleaning service for the gas industry," owner David Pfleegor said. "We go on location to trailers."

The business is not limited to just on-site location, however. Pfleegor said his cleaning crew also will go to industry workers' local apartments, man camps, houses and offices.

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ALYSSA?MURPHY/Sun-Gazette
From left, Alicia Hall, Destiny Molino, Missy Palmer and Ashley Wertz stand next to a RigMaids truck.

"We're definitely not limited to anything," he said.

The cleaning staff receives the necessary safety training needed to be on-site.

With the recent flooding in the area, Pfleegor donated cleaning supplies to victims. He also is offering ongoing special rates for people affected by the flooding. Pfleegor used to live on Loyalsock Creek, which is why he wanted to offer a special rate to help. Already the company has helped victims rip up carpet, in addition to other normal cleaning routines.

"If they're a flood victim, it's a discount," he said. "It's no promotion. It could take months to get back to normal. They have to wait for an estimate. It'll take a while."

Pfleegor did not imagine the need to help flood victims when he began.

"(The gas industry) is why the company was created," he said. "We're trying to help beyond that. These people are limited in their resources."

The biggest surprise for Pfleegor is the rapid growth for the business. He started with one van and now is up to four.

"I'm surprised how quickly it took off," he said. "We meet a lot of different people from different parts of the country."

The idea for a cleaning business for the gas industry came to Pfleegor last October.

"I was looking for a good way to break into the gas industry," he said. "I wanted to figure out what they needed. ... The guys work pretty hard. The last thing they need is to come back to messy living quarters."

Ten employees work at Rig Maids. An average cleaning shift takes two people 90 minutes to clean.

"The girls do a great job of cleaning top to bottom," Pfleegor said. "It's full-stop cleaning. There's not much it doesn't include. We clean fridges, bed sheets, laundry, walls, stove and bathroom light fixtures. With all of the soot and mud, we shampoo carpets and power wash, too."

The number of visits depend on the person's preference. Pfleegor said most visits either are weekly or biweekly, but sometimes, emergency calls are received.

"When there's a spot visit from a company, we can come right away," he said.

If an industry worker calls ahead, maids can bring dishes, a vacuum cleaner, sheets, cards or anything else they could want, Pfleegor said, since the workers cannot leave the site to get it themselves.

For more information, visit rigmaids.com or the Facebook page or call 560-0682.