Rachael is the owner of Spruce CLE, a business dedicated to deep cleaning car seats & strollers.
Hi Rachael, tell us a little about yourself & family:
I’m Rachael! I’m a northeast Ohio native, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and full-time secondary special education teacher. My husband and I have a full household, with three kids ages 13, 11, and 8, and two giant pups.
What are your things to do with your family/favorite things about NE Ohio?
My family is obsessed with all things Metroparks. We love to hike, bike, fish, and kayak. It’s such a gift to have the Emerald Necklace in our backyard, as well as a national park. My kids and husband are also big CLE sports fans. I would rather spend time in my garden… But hey, opposites attract!
What’s your favorite family-friendly restaurant in our area?
The Winking Lizard and Yours Truly are two of our favorite spots for dining-in. There’s something for everyone!
Please tell us about Spruce CLE! Why/when did you start it & how did you know this was what you wanted to do?
Spruce CLE is a small business that focuses on safely and effectively cleaning kids’ gear, including strollers, car seats, activity centers, and high chairs. I also provide car seat install education and support! I’ve always loved detail-oriented work. I get a thrill out of tidying a junk drawer or finding an organizational system for my kids’ LEGO bricks. (It’s weird, I know!) I also understand the struggle to stay on top of the daily demand of laundry and basic household chores. It’s not that parents don’t care or can’t maintain kid gear, it’s that we’re at max capacity! Spruce CLE helps lighten parents’ loads. Many kid items also have incredibly specific cleaning guidelines (lookin’ at you, car seats) and parents sometimes unknowingly compromise product safety by grabbing regular household cleaners, not realizing that not every cleaner or method is safe to use!
How has your community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
My business is hyper-local! My immediate community is responsible for giving me my start – trusting me with their gear, offering feedback, and sharing my services with others. My Seven Hills neighbors, friends, and family are the best!
What’s your favorite part about what you do?
It’s all about kids’ safety and parental support. I love that my work takes one thing off parents’ to-do lists. It also makes me feel good that we prolong the usable life of items, so parents don’t always have to buy new things. The cost of gear adds up, and it’s a bummer to send items to the landfill when they might, with a little cleaning, serve another child (So long as they’re still safe and functional!)
What’s your proudest accomplishment?
Raising kind kids. Completing my masters degree while wrangling those same kids.
How do you juggle being a working mom?
I make lots of mistakes; I forget spirit days and can’t always make it to classroom parties. But I make sure my kids know they’re loved, and I hope I model what it looks like to find genuine joy and fulfillment from one’s work. I’m also thankful to have great neighbors and friends; we help one another with carpooling, meals, and provide much-needed levity in one another’s lives.
Who has influenced you the most to be the mom you are today?
My mom & my friends who are moms. They’re compassionate, they’re real, and they model what it looks like to be a committed parent while still pursuing your non-parenting passions and goals.
For more information, visit: sprucecle.com
