IT IS still a week to the Chinese New Year, but prosperity has already been knocking at the door of those in the cleaning business here.

Some of these companies have seen business go up 50 per cent from last year, as more people paying for professionals to spring-clean their homes instead of doing it themselves.

Spick n Span International, which provides professionally-trained cleaners, has received 220 bookings for spring-cleaning this month, up from last year's 150. It is a record high for the four-year old outfit.

Ms Sherin Gill, its director, said up to seven in 10 of these bookings are made by people in Housing Board flats.

'It's just a matter of convenience, especially since everyone works. Plus, the job takes a couple of hours and the place is sparkling after that,' she added.

Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.