Working as a housecleaner.

[joeythenutter]

Can someone tell me if what i state below is enough work in 3 hours. I started 2 weeks ago cleaning a 3 bed house, 3 hours once a week. Today, my 3rd week i find a note saying I am now only needed once every 3 weeks!! Owner is in the house every time I clean, but does not acknowledge me when i come in or while im there. I have asked is there any problems or anything that I can do differently but have got no communication.

In the 3 hours I was: dishes, lots, all kitchen surfaces, emptying bins, oven and hob, microwave, clearing kitchen table, all windowsills, dusting, brushing and washing all floors, all rooms hoovered or carpets brushed, stairs brushed, main bathroom full clean, additional bathroom cleaned, all skirting dusted and washed, all bedrooms floors cleaned, beds made, all rubbish and litter in all rooms picked up, whole house tidied, all toys arranged, washing put on or in drier, dirty marks removed from walls and doors.

Out of all the work in the house the tidying and picking up rubbish/clutter takes the longest as its in every room. Does this sound enough work for 3 hours??

I really need some advice as I feel a little deflated at the moment, thinking I am not working hard enough. I don't stop from the moment I enter the house till I leave. I have cleaned houses in the past with no problems and excellent feedback from the owners.

Would appreciate any thoughts.

[SlatternIsTrying]

It may have nothing to do with you. The homeowner may be a bit skint and can't afford you but doesn't want to stop using you completely.

I have to wonder how much use it would be having a cleaner once every 3 weeks. It would be like having a big clean everytime with no maintenace in between.

[gamerchick]

I would bin that one off, she's royally taking the piss. If you go to once a month you'll be gutting the place every time and never get the chance to put a maintenance clean in place.

[Cococo1]

I think they are slobs and you do such a great job that their house stays tidier than they are used to - by the third week it's back to a state even they can't tolerate so they want you in again.

I really wouldn't stress about this.

[0hCrepe]

That sounds like masses. It'll be more that they can't afford it but still want you. Hopefully for you they'll do some in between as well.

[joeythenutter]

When I first spoke to the owners they were quite happy to pay me the rate I asked for, £8/hour, and said if I needed an extra hour they would be fine with it. So not sure why everything has went pearshaped so soon.

[gamerchick]

You're working cheap... Don't put yourself through it. You'll be sick of your life.

[Wombat87]

Are you fucking kidding? That? In 3hours??? If you're in London PM me. I need you!!!

My cleaner is agency and it's a different one each time. Only once in the 3 hours has one managed to do the basics!!

[CocktailQueen]

Blimey, you sound fabulous. All that in three hours? I'd up your rate, if the market can stand it where you live.

Your client sounds very rude - not acknowledging you while you're there? I work from home but make my cleaner drinks and chat to her, Ffs! Do you have other clients?

Sounds like the fault is with them, not you...

[joeythenutter]

I'm quite happy with the rate tbh, I love to clean and tidy, but I also want the person im cleaning for to be happy with what I do. I am fussy, i dont leave a speck of fluff anywhere. I am trying to build up clients doing this, but at the moment no-one really replying to me. So this today has sort of set my confidence back.

[EssentialHummus]

Sounds like it's nothing to do with you OP. Either they're uncomfortable having someone working in their house while they're in, or skint, or God know what. You sound fab!

[joeythenutter]

Thankyou everyone, your views are much appreciated :)

[Wombat87]

No no OP. Are you in London? Are you????

[VaginaRecliner]

They may feel awkward with having someone clean for them, some people do. You sound like a dream. Only natural your confidence is taking a hit, but pretty soon you'll have more clients than you know what to do with.... Word of mouth is your friend.

[TheGreatSnafu]

You are doing loads! You sound fab and you aren't charging much. If you are in London you will do very well.

[Wombat87]

In all honesty, I would offer the first clean at £8ph as an introductory rate and up yourself to £10. If you came to my house and did all that I'd have fuck all problem paying you £10...If your original post is true, stop selling yourself short. You clearly work extremely hard. You should be rewarded so.

[florentina1]

It seems as though you have worked very hard to get their house up to standard and now they just want a 3 weekly maintenance clean.

We are both retired and very tidy and it takes my cleaner 3 hours every week to,do similar to what you are doing. I pay her £10 and hour.

I would ditch these clients. When you go back after 3 weeks it will be hard work to get it back to standard. Cleaners are like gold in my area. I doubt very much that they are unhappy with your work they would not want you back.

You are a professional doing a valuable job and they should respect that.

[notanothercheesesandwich]

wow, I'd love to employ you in Cornwall. Your rate is very competitive and you must work like a demon. Try and use this job a stop gap to people who will appreciate you.

[joeythenutter]

Everything I listed is 100% accurate, even crawling under the kids beds to get the sweet wrappers, capri sun empties etc out. I have always worked my hardest in every job ive done, and others who i have worked with have taken advantage of this. That's why I want to set up on my own and be my own boss. I envisage a lot of work when I go back to this house on the 15th Feb!! I live in NI.

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

Just forget about them, really.

And when you start your next job, don't get quite so much done in 3 hours. Your clients will quickly start to take advantage of you.

Our cleaner cleans one bathroom, hoovers two bedrooms, changes one single bed bed, hoovers a lot of hall, landing and stair carpet, hoovers and dusts two reception rooms, mops kitchen floor, cleans kitchen sink and hob and does about 30 minutes ironing in 3 hours. That's it and I think it is loads and am really appreciative.

[CocktailQueen]

Mm, they are pretty skanky wanting you to clean their dc's rooms - juice cartons under beds? Sweet wrappers? My cleaners don't do that, or bins, and they don't do dishes either.

[SlatternIsTrying]

I'm NI too. Nearly everyone I know pays £10 per hour, including myself. Don't sell yourself short, especially considering what you are doing.

[gamerchick]

They should be quite easy to get rid of. Tell them that unfortunately you need a minimum set of hours per month to make it worth your while and to go to 3 a month you'll have to increase your rate to 25 quid and hour at the least. Seriously you're offering yourself too cheap for what you're willing to do.. They probably can't believe their luck.

[BackforGood]

I suspect it's the opposite of you not doing a good enough job.
I suspect they've realised that you do so much, so well in 3 hours, they don't actually need that amount of work to keep the house to a level they are comfortable with, so are struggling to justify to themselves spending 3 hours on a cleaner every week.

[Pico2]

I'd look to find someone else to hire you for those hours. They are taking the piss. In the longer term you can't take work every 3 weeks as it blocks you from taking weekly work at the same time.