Cleaning the interior of a seafaring vessel “is way more complicated than other types of places,” explained Krystina Fuge, owner of Maritime Maids.
Maritime Maids is an interior yacht cleaning company and concierge business. Fuge said in an email that the cleaning part of Maritime Maids “requires a completely different systematic approach on what to clean, how to clean it and what products to clean it with. Boats have lots of unique surfaces, nooks and crannies, and everything, including the ceilings, are able to be cleaned.
“These specialized surfaces we look for require different kinds of cleaners and processes, which also generally determines how much time the clean will take.”
Fuge and her employees have to be thorough when providing cleaning quotes.
“We look at which types of surfaces she has and diagnose problem areas that we will attack first. We work in one room at a time and work our way out, usually meaning the galley and/or salon will be our last area,” Fuge said. “The level of detail is unmatched since most boats are kept quite uncluttered and everything is at eye level. Our clients expect this type of detail, and we deliver just that.”
Fuge grew up in Morehead City, a popular spot for sport fishing and recreational boating.
“I already knew the industry and how most of the time, the mates and/or captains would be the ones cleaning the interiors,” she said. “After some positive feedback and learning that this could be something worth pursuing since there were no competitors in my market, I took a leap and started Maritime Maids. I first pitched it to captains, mates and owners as ‘the woman’s touch’ and it has grown from there.”
Maritime Maids can do a deep clean and reorganize drawers, cabinets and pantry areas.
“We love making the space clean and tidy but also love helping to make these smaller areas more functional for them,” Fuge said. “(Clients) also love our linen services because if you know how hard it is to make a bed on a boat then you will pay someone to do it for you.”
Fuge said she has plans to expand Maritime Maids.
“In the coming years, I plan to grow business by continuing to partner with more yards, boat builders and marinas by getting them to really embrace the full-service approach for their clients and offer our services alongside theirs,” she said. “This will automatically increase marketing across multiple platforms as well and will continue to grow our reputation by being tied to other industry leaders.”
The Wilmington-based company is working on boats in multiple locations and employs 16 women, a number that Fuge expects will grow as the summer months create more demand.
“We are a woman-owned and run business, and we love what we do. We are growing in so many ways and are loving the support from everyone including people and businesses within the industry,” Fuge said. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without the people, communities and businesses that believed in us. We give back as much as we can because of that and always will. We can’t wait to see what the future has in store for our business and brand so stick around, you won't want to miss it.”
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