Today we’d like to introduce you to Jody Apel.
Hi Jody, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Jody Apel (she/her). My life-partner’s name is Kye (they/them). Together, we started Honeycomb Cleaners LLC here in Kansas City. We provide residential and commercial cleaning services as well as organizing, decluttering, ‘fold & put away’ laundry services, and other special projects. We are a LGBT+ owned business!
You know when you’re lying in bed, thinking about all your dreams and goals? That’s where Honeycomb started.
Feeling uninspired by our daily lives and our 9-5 jobs, we were both dreaming about creating a more free & creative life for ourselves and making a difference in the world around us. We are both dreamers, artists, and very hard workers, so I had no doubt that we could accomplish any goal we set our mind on.
Kye had been working in the cleaning industry on and off for about 7 years both in the medical field & residential cleaning. They spoke highly of their line of work – highly enough to convince me to become trained and join in myself. Most of my professional background is in customer service with a few years in instructional design, so it was all very new for me at the time!
After talking about it and doing research for a few months, we decided to jump right in. Using my background in instructional design, I created some simple infographics about our business, put together a website, hung a few flyers, and posted an ad on Facebook. We didn’t know if much would come from it but in the following weeks we had folks reaching out!
We gained a few clients on our regular schedule a few months later and finally felt confident enough to go full-time. It was a risk, for sure, but what’s life without risks? We had a few really awesome clients who were willing to give our new business a chance and we still have them as clients today!
Our slogan is “Let’s make your home a more peaceful place.” I know in this modern, fast-paced world, it can sometimes feel like choosing between having a clean space and spending time doing things you love (like spending time with family & having hobbies). Our mission as a business is to create personalized plans for each of our clients to make their lives feel less hectic and to maintain beautiful, clean spaces that feel like a breath of fresh air.
Another of our goals for our business is to bring peace to our community as well. As a business, we have a platform to make a difference so why wouldn’t we? We did some digging to see how we could make a difference, and we found Sparkle of Hope Cleaning Foundation. Sparkle of Hope is a locally owned non-profit that provides cleaning services free of charge to those experiencing mental health challenges. We have now partnered with them to spread hope to those who need it most.
We are so grateful for every opportunity we’ve been presented with. We have the best clients in the whole world, they’ve made our dreams come true!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Any local business owner can tell you that it can feel like a roller coaster, especially at first! After gaining a few clients, we went full-time in our business. We felt confident and hopeful, however it was a bit scary! Going full time in our business was like jumping off a diving board. No going back, no looking back, just plunging into the water.
Another challenge we faced was finding the right clientele and gaining confidence. In the cleaning industry, there is sometimes a bias that house cleaning is easy, low-wage work when exactly the opposite is true. House cleaning requires a deep knowledge of what products are safe to use on specific surfaces, product dwell-time, what tools are the most efficient in certain situations, how to effectively use your time, and more. It is highly physical work as well since it includes squatting, bending, kneeling, scrubbing, climbing countertops, lifting furniture, etc. It is also highly personal work. Being a house cleaner means being gentle with every object and every surface. We put care into every clean. Finding the right clientele is about finding those that really value having a clean, peaceful home and a trusted partner to keep it maintained and loved.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We provide residential & commercial cleaning services as well as organizing, decluttering, and other special projects! Most of our business is residential cleaning. We do regular cleaning like weekly/biweekly/monthly, and also one-time deep cleaning!
We also provide fold & put away laundry services for our clients, which really makes us stand out. Multiple of our current clients have reached out to us because of this. As long as laundry is already washed & dried, we will sort, fold and put away! This requires extra special love and attention to each home and family member as no two households are the same.
Life gets so busy. We’re here to help lighten the load. It takes a village after all. doesn’t it?
Another thing that sets us apart is we are an LGBT+ owned business!
We also have an emphasis in our business on building up our community. We only started in April 2025 and have already become a partner with a local non-profit, Sparkle of Hope Cleaning Foundation, to provide cleaning services to those experiencing hard times. We also participated in a trunk or treat at Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council this fall, handing out food items and candy to those in our community.
Another thing that makes us stand out is we’re considered “solo-cleaners” in the cleaning industry. This means that we do not have a huge company or franchise, or any employees. When you choose Honeycomb, you will get the same two trusted cleaners every time. You will always be talking to the same person. It makes the relationships we have with our clients more friendly & more personal. They know each time we’re there that they have trusted, dependable professionals in their home or business.
When starting our business, our main goal was to create a more peaceful life for ourselves and those around us, and we have definitely achieved this. We put love (and elbow grease) into every home we step foot it, leaving it feeling like a breath of fresh air.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned from Honeycomb is that I really can do whatever I set my mind to. Honeycomb went from being a dream, to being a dream come true. When Kye and I first started talking about Honeycomb Cleaners it all felt confusing and far away. With every step, every ad made, every Google search, every interaction with a potential client, it felt more and more real. More and more within my grasp. Every small step felt like an affirmation that we can actually do this.
I wish I could shout it from the rooftops for every person to follow their dream. As long as your heart is in it and you move with intention, anything is possible.
Pricing:
- Our pricing is based on each household, we do free in-person walkthroughs so we can give the most accurate estimate possible. It also gives the client a chance to meet us! It’s an important step to creating that long-lasting relationship.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://honeycombcleanerskc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honeycombcleanerskc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576125008752
- Other: https://www.google.com/search?q=Honeycomb+Cleaners+Reviews
