Community Highlights: Meet Kimathi Lewis of Nature Kleen: The Green Cleaning Company, LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimathi Lewis.

Hi Kimathi, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Before launching Nature Kleen: The Green Cleaning Company, I was an award-winning crime reporter for the largest daily newspaper in South Carolina. After years of covering heavy news, witnessing the pressures faced by local communities and documenting the damage people do to each other, I longed for something new; something that would leave a positive impact.

At that time, I used to help out a friend by cleaning her home whenever she was planning to have guests over and I always liked witnessing the transformation after I had taken a messy, cluttered home and turned it into a fresh, clean and inviting space. I also liked seeing the look on my friend’s face after I was done. So when I decided to leave journalism and start my own business, I immediately thought of cleaning.

Still, because of a health issue I had no tolerance for synthetic scents nor did I want to use cleaners laced with chemicals because of their known impact on the environment. I used to have headaches after repeated exposure to conventional cleaning chemicals in workplaces, public buildings and even homes I visited for interviews. Then I realized I wasn’t the only one with this type of reaction to conventional cleaners. Some people complained of skin irritation and others like my mother, who has asthma, would have difficulty breathing, It was then that something clicked and I decided to start a company that specialized in green cleaning.

I knew of no other green cleaning company when I first started in South Carolina and some of the so-called green cleaning products on the market still had ingredients that affected me negatively. So, I began doing research and experiments until I came up with a line of eco-friendly cleaning products that got the job done. And because I made them I could ensure all the products were 100 percent natural.

As I began, I discovered the skills I honed as a reporter, came in handy in helping me to build a successful business.

My journalism career was built on uncovering hidden truths, asking the right questions, and noticing the details that others overlooked. And these are skills that now form the backbone of my eco-friendly cleaning business.
The strengths I garnered as a journalist, now guide the way I serve clients. Through clear communication, a key skill for any reporter, I ensure clients always know what to expect, what products are being used, and how each service supports a healthier home or business. Through my attention to detail, which helped me in writing in depth, complex pieces as a reporter, I now channel to provide a level of cleanliness and order my clients immediately notice.
And through accountability and transparency, once central to my reporting, I now use as essential principles of Nature Kleen’s operations.

And even after moving to Georgia a few years later, those same principles continue to help me thrive today. Now, I just love knowing that after I’m done my clients and their families will be able to bathe in a clean shower, soak in a clean tub, walk on clean floors and breathe in clean air.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t believe the road to success is ever smooth. So, yes, there were obstacles.

When I first started Nature Kleen, there were no other green cleaning company in Columbia, South Carolina. So, there were no set standards to use as a model and as a result I had to create my own. One of the earliest hurdles was identifying products that were both genuinely eco-friendly and powerful enough to meet professional cleaning standards. Many “green” products on the market were either too costly, lacked transparency in their ingredients, underperformed during real-world use or had one or two ingredient that affected me negatively. So, I spent time researching, testing and blending custom solutions until I had a line of products that performed as my clients expected without compromising my goal of using only 100 percent eco-friendly solutions.

Another obstacle was overcoming the misconception that green cleaning products were less effective. Some clients were skeptical about non-toxic cleaners being able to disinfect, deodorize, or tackle tough stains. And a few even asked me to use their own cleaning solutions, which I politely declined. So, to tackle this issue, I created and distributed reading materials and appeared at venues where I would talk about the benefits of eco-friendly solutions and how they were safer for people, pets and the environment. I also showed through demonstrations, videos and before and after pictures that they worked just as well, if not better in some cases, than commercial cleaners, which can affect an individuals health immediately or over time.

And while a lot of progress has been made and more people are interested in eco-friendly solutions today. There are still many who can’t let go of what they have been targeted to belief – that they need to use some type strong chemical in order for their home to be clean.

We’ve been impressed with Nature Kleen: The Green Cleaning Company, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Nature Kleen: The Green Cleaning Company is more than a cleaning service. It is a commitment to healthier living, environmental responsibility and exceptional quality. Built on a foundation of integrity, sustainability and care, Nature Kleen exists to transform the way people think about cleanliness, wellness and the spaces they live and work in.

At its core, Nature Kleen provides premium residential and commercial cleaning services using eco-conscious practices and non-toxic, environmentally safe products, which took years developing in order to reach a level of exceptional performance. The company blends professional-grade cleaning standards with sustainable methods to create a service that is both highly effective and health-focused.

Whether clients need recurring home cleaning, deep cleanings, move-in/move-out services, office cleaning, or specialty green cleaning solutions, Nature Kleen delivers a level of detail, trust and consistency that has become its signature.

We specialize In non-toxic, environmentally safe cleaning; allergy- and family-friendly services; detailed, high-standard cleaning; sustainable, low-waste practices; and customized cleaning solutions. We understand that every client and every space is different, so we’re intentional about curating solutions that match each client’s lifestyle, needs, and expectations—not a one-size-fits-all template.

Also, we are known for our reliability, attention to detail and our gentle yet powerful cleaning methods. Our work leaves homes feeling calm, breathable and truly clean without the harsh chemicals.

Because Nature Kleen was built with sustainability at its core, we don’t just add “green” as a label, we live it in the products, tools and methods we use in cleaning. Our transparency, consistency, professionalism and commitment to healthy living make us a trusted, elevated choice in the cleaning industry.

Nature Kleen stands for clean spaces. clean air. clean living. It’s where wellness and cleanliness meet to deliver a service that feels and smells as good as it looks.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
There have been clients and friends who have been ardent supporters of what I do and who believe in my products. But the person who deserves a lot of credit as a mentor, advocate, supporter and cheerleader is my older sister, Desrene McIver, who is also a business owner. Not only does she provide encouraging words and professional advice whenever I need it, she is responsible for helping with the beautiful branding for my company. She designed the logo, labels and helped built my website. She also interviewed perspective employees on behalf of my company. She has been an invaluable help.

Also, I cannot forget my mother, Jeniffer Lewis, who also worked as a housekeeper. My mother was an accountant in Jamaica, but when we moved to America she took on cleaning jobs to help pay the bills. When I started my cleaning business, I often called her for advice about pricing; about what the job should entail and how she handled any conflict with clients. Also, the way she raised us in Jamaica helped directed my path towards green cleaning. We would wash our clothes by the river; soap our white clothes and lay them out on rocks to be bleached by the sun. We used dried-out coconut husk and wax to polish our tiled floors and brooms made from the stiff midribs and leaves of the Coconut Palm to sweep. We didn’t have appliances such as a vacuum cleaner or a washer and dryer. So, we relied mostly on the products of nature to clean.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.naturekleenatl.com
• Instagram: naturekleen
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066460307467
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NatureKleen

Image Credits
Client dressed in black with multi-surface spray and scrub – Kendra D Client in shorts and t-shirt with vinegar spray cleaner and scrub – Mariah Lopez Client with the glass cleaner – Eric Hawk Rest are file photos – 1st: logo 2nd: spray cleaners (wood, natural stone, multi-surface, stainless steel, glass & window and scented vinegar cleaners. 3rd: Scrub cleaners ( scents: peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, lavender and unscented) 4th: caricature