By Beth Allard
Columnist

I used to tease my sister and ask her if she was waiting for the cleaning fairies to straighten up her side of the room when she let it get messy.  Unfortunately, the fairies never did come to work their magic on the messy closet or make the dust bunnies vanish.
Then I came to college and discovered that the cleaning fairies do exist.  Except they have big carts of supplies instead of wands.
Yes, I am talking about our wonderful Le Fer housekeepers!
I often run into these ladies in the hallways in the morning, vacuuming the floors or mopping the marble stairs until they shine with the nice, lemony floor cleaner.  They always have a “hello” and a “good morning” for me, and my wing always looks nice and clean when I return from class.  
I just want to take a minute and challenge you with this thought:  how do you say thank you?
Think of all the things that the housekeepers take care of for us: the community bathrooms, the staircases, the elevators, the trash cupboard – things we all use every day.
Yet, for every time that I have seen a housekeeper scrubbing the elevator floor, I see someone drop food in there and just walk away.  Muddy boots track up staircases and down carpeted hallways, and crumbs litter the floors under lounge tables.  Still, every morning, our Le Fer cleaning ladies have the place all sparkling clean.
Let’s extend some thanks to these lovely women – can you imagine what this building would look like without them? I’ve always said that Le Fer is like a castle; it truly is a wonderful place to live.  Take a few moments to return the favor. If you drop food, pick it up. If you see trash, toss it. And while crumby carpet and muddy stairs are a little out of our hands, prevention is the best cure.
So, next time you run into a housekeeper in the hall, stop and tell her that you appreciate her hard work.
Remember, the cleaning fairies are all around.
Love your Le Fer life, ladies!

Beth Allard, Le Fer Living